Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1889-08-16
Farmer. Combining for Protection.

There are growing indications of a
disposition among farmers all over
the country TO combine for concerted
action. against the monopolies, trusts
and other greedy interests which have
been fattening on the labor OF the
agricultural classes. Dire necessity
has driven the farmers to this course:
They are not naturally inclined to act
in a body, as it is inconvenient for
them. separated as they are by con-
siderable distances and absorbed In
duties which keep them at home, 10
meet with any regularity in order TO
consult and devise a practical scheme
of operations. 1t is, in fact, exceed
ingly difficult to keep up an organiza-
ton for any purpose in the country,
especially i'm the thinly settled dis
tricts. But of late the farmers have
been made to perceive that they must
make steady and persistent effort,
even at considerable sacrifice OF time
and trouble, to organize their forces
of resistance il they would save them
selves from the harpies who are fieec-
ing them at every turn. The first
steps in this direction were the COM
bination in the Western States 10
break up the binder Irvine monopoly,
and the similar movement among the
Southern cotton planters TO defeat
the scheme of the jute bagging trust
by resolving among themselves to use
some other material than Jute for
bagging. The binder Irvine and Jute
monopolies were found to be copies
merely of many similar combinations
to force up the cost to the farmers
of every article used in the pursuit of
his calling, and also of all purchased
articles of food and clothing, and, in
short. of all the necessaries of life.
On the other hand, the farmer dis
covered, now that his attention was
seriously directed TO the subject, that,
while he was being forced to pay the
highest price for everything consumed
bv him he received the lowest price
for his products and was practically
at the mercy of the purchaser.
Forced to send his crops to market
as soon as they are reaped, he is COM
pelled to take what he can get, and
the returns in most cases yield him
no profit, if, indeed, they enable him
at the end of the year to make both
ends meet. The situation in which
the farmer finds himself, owing to
these disastrous economic conditions,
which he is at last beginning to real
ize are largely artificial, is most de-
plorable. The steady increase in the
number of farm mortgages In the
most fourishing agricultural counties
of Maryland tells the story OF con-
slant falling behind, which, II con-
tinued, must end, Of course, In par.
tial bankruptcy. a similar state OF
affairs will probably be found TO ex-
isl i'm most of the other States of the
Union. especially along the Atlantic
seaboard, which is unable to cope
with the ruinous competition of the
virgin soils of the West, producing
enormous crops without the AID OF
fertilizers. and yielding the cultiva-
tor a considerable margin OF proht
even at very low prices. Intelligent
farmers. realizing that the combina-
tions against the binder twine ana
lutte monopolies contained the germ
O, the only practicable scheme Tor
Kidding themselves of the evils against
which they have been struggling,
sought to extend the principle of coin
bination. with the view of providing
a general scheme of self-protection
against monopolies, trusts and md
dlemen, who often absorb the prohts'
and also of utilizing the monopollstlc
principle, in modified form. In the
hope of securing better prices Tor
their products. The movement nrst
took shape in Indiana five or SIX
months ago, and has spread with
great rapidity. An organization
known as The Farmers Alliance
has been created, with a large NELL
bership already in many States:
There is a national body, made up OF
delegates from the various States.
whose organizations are composed OF
delegates from the county alliances:
The latter, in turn, are MADE up OF
representatives from the various local.
alliances, formed in particular local.
ties or neighborhoods. The ruling
idea in the alliance seems to be direct
communication between producer ana
consumer. The alliance, through lis
agent, makes purchases for the lndl-
vidual farmer at a stipulated pront
for the storekeeper or mlddlelnan Oh
about per cent. In the West the
system has been extended to milling,
bIacksmithing and harness-mendlng:
A scheme has also been formulated
for advancing money to the farmer
on his crops, with the understanding
that the latter shall be held until
remunerative prices can be obtained.
The general scope of the alliance
SENS to be much the same as that OF
the Granger organizations, and 1t is
to be feared that it will fall into the
same mistake as that which has so
greatly impaired the success OF the
Grange, especially in the West-the
mistake of attempting too much. II
the alliance, on the other hand. adj
heres to a cautious, conservative, pol
lev, it may be able to accomplish I'M
portant results for the farmer; The
great object to which it should ad.
dress itself is the revision OF the tariff
laws. which alone make it possible
for monopolies to flourish in this
country. As long as the farmer con-
tinues to pay bonus to the manu-
facturer for every article he wears
and uses he need expect no apprecl-
able relief from his burdens.-Baf'-
more Sun.