Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1889-05-23
From Saturdays Daily.]
PROGRESSIVE FARMERS.
The Farmers Institute holds a Well
Attended and Interesting Session
The Irvine Trust Handled Without
Gloves-Permanent Organization to

Gloves-Permanent Organization to
be Made.
The Farmers Institute, which was
postponed from yesterday on account
of the weather and the impassibility
of the roads, was called to order at p.
N. in the court room this afternoon.
There were present about fifty OF the
leading farmers of the county, all i'm
pressed with the idea of carrying for
ward the cause of the agriculturalist.
The best of feeling and hearty enthu-
siasm was manifested.
The meeting was organized by
electing A. M. German, of Willowdale,
chairman and ]. II. Taylor, of Rine-
hart, secretary.
The following committee on perma-
hent organization was appointed: ]. S.
Hollinger, Glen Bell. B. NJ. Anderson,
j. W. Robson, Harrison Flora.
The first paper called for was that
on ''The Binding Irvine Trust" by G.
+. Livingston, of Buckeye. Mr.. l.. ad-
vised the farmers to stick together and
not be imposed upon. He believed
that the way for the farmers to gain
anything was by united action; they
could do anything if they would act in
concert. He believed that farmers
should not pay more than lac for
Irvine.
H. H. Mcdonald called attention to
the Illinois prison statistics, where it
was stated that the convicts could
make the Irvine at a fraction of the
present price.
NJ. c.. Hemenway stated that after
the plant was secured the cost need
not be more than III cents.
Chairman German advised the farm,
ers to do without Irvine and use wire
OF else 60 back to the hand binding
which can, at the present prices cf
labor, be done almost as cheaply as by
a binder. A header is also good enough
for by it grain can be put in stack fol
from so cents to S1.00 per acre. We
are independent of the Irvine trust.
B. M. Anderson, of Ridge, thought
that farmers were too much like cattle
and led by those who have an interest
in the farmers degradation. Let the
farmers do entirely without Irvine
Let them adopt resolutions as Ridge
township did Monday night, to pay ~
cents and stick to it. He asserted
| that there was no reason for the adj
vanced price of Irvine except that there
was a prospect of big crop and the
manufacturers desired to cheat the
farmers out of part of their profits.
Better pay $500 to honest labor than
81. 90 to dishonest trusts.
! w. S. Anderson believed that the
question was whether we should buy
the cheapest material OF not.
| J. S. Hollinger called attention to
the fact that the State Grange of Hi
nois had offered $4,000 for the inven-
ton of machine which would bind
wheat with it's straw. Straw binding
was the thing to depend upon. In his
Judgment very few farmers could afford
| to paw I2I cents for tWine-it takes of
too much profit.
Wheat can be put up by hand better
better than by paying 12l cents fol
Irvine.
Others did not agree. Labor is toe
scarce. The difference in price is toe
little. The harvest is here; the farm
ers must buy Irvine in spite of organi-
zation or resolutions. A warm dis
cussion, participated in by Messrs.
Hemenway, Decker, Garten, Grice.
German, Cundiff and others, followed,
the price of Irvine being admitted by
all to be outrageously high; especially
when rope consisting of three strands
of twine can be bought for 123 cents.
There was, however, wide diversity
of opinion as to what should be done.
Some thought that heading was the
only correct method; others that there
was nothing like a binder. The dis
cussion included the stacking of grain
and many valuable ideas regarding
this portion of harvesting were devel-
oped. Coming back to the Irvine ques-
ton it was urged that the farmers
stand together.
Hon. J. S. Hollinger took the floor
and offered resolution that the farm
ers bind themselves to pay IA cents for
Irvine and no more. The motion was
seconded by Geo. Livingston. After
further discussion, w. NJ. Campbell
amended to make the price 123 cents.
The amendment was carried. There
being some misunderstanding on the
question, Mr.. Campbell read circular
he held offering Irvine at II cents a
pound delivered. B. M. Anderson
offered a resolution that those present
abide by the resolution just pas and
that they will not pay in excess of 129
cents for Irvine. A rising vote was
taken and the resolution carried.
Nineteen farmers stood up and were