Fisherman & farmer. [volume] (Edenton, N.C.) 1887-19??, 1889-11-08
A FARMERS CONVENTION.
First Meeting of It's Kind Ever
Held i'm This Country.
What the Farmers of the Miss
issippi Valley Hope to Effect.

The wheat-growers Of the Mississippi Val
ley assembled in convention at Central
Turner Hall, St Louis, few days since to
organize for future action. Walter n. Al
len, President of the Farmers Federation
called the convention to order and made a
long speech. He said that it was the first
meeting of the kind ever held on this CONT
nent. We are not here" he said, 'fOr the
purpose of denOuncing trusts and combines,
but TO meet the issue of new systems and
conditions in trade. Realizing our individ-
unity of action as class, we
have been called together to con-
slider the proposition 70 delegate
to a power of our own creation the exclusive
and to take such measures as will afford
present relief and future protection to the
agricultural interests of the Mississippi
Valley. The farmer is the only producer
who sends an over-supply of his wares to
market to be sold by some one else, and, like
the goods of the bankrupt, at some one else's
prices; and, when he dares complain of the
sacrifice the answer Of the master is Over
production Over-productio1 cannot, in
justice. be wealth for the nation and slavery
for the producer.
IF farmers would organize like manufac-
turers, to control production and regulate
the output in the public market they could
in common with all producers set the price
on their own products irrespective of over
production, or the power of the Liverpool
markets The unavoidable tendency of the
present established trade system is to bring
the price down to the lowest limit at which a
food supply can be produced under the
most favorable conditions of soil, sea-
son and climate. Now, i'll order to advert
impending ruin, we must reverse this or
der by substituting new system, fixing the
price of farm products at the cost of prOduc-
ton on lands that produce only thirty fold.
This will restore the natural law of exchange
with equal and exact Justice to all In other
words, the difference between the present
trade structure aud the system proposed is
the one tends to the minimum price that
food supply can be obtained without check
ing production, while the other seeks the
maximum that food supply can be sold at
without diminishing consumption.
THE power to establish the value of one
bushel of American wheat and one barrel of
mess pork can control the markets of the
world This power is to be found in the CEN
tralized agency Of the the Federated Farm
ers Of the Mississippi Valley, company le-
gally chartered with capital stock of $50
100000, and as your servant this company
awaits your bidding to enter upon its work
Of redemption
Ex-Governor Charles Robinson, of Kan
SaS, was made Temporary Chairman, and he
addressed the convention, strongly urging
unity of action and organization of the far
mers throughout the grain growing States
Norman J. Coleman. of Missouri, ex-SecretarY
of Agriculture was made Permanent Chair
man; Walter n. Allen, of Kansas, Vice-Presi-
dent; T. 6. Wilson, of Minnesota, Secretary
and J. P. Limenbenef, of Kansas, Assistant
Secretary.
Mr.. Robert Linblood, of Chicago spoke
briefly to- the delegates, stating that he sym
pathiZed with them in their cause which he
thought was good one.
Resolutions were adopted setting forth that
farming, under existing laws, is a losing
business and that Congress and the Presi-
dent be asked to make such reciprocity
treaties with foreign nations will cause
such nations to remove customs duties from
farm products shipped abroad, thereby re-
sulting in a higher price for the product.
Congress was also requested to pass laws
throttling trusts and monopolies. A reso-
luton was also reported requesting Congress
to pass laws declaring option trading a
felony. The resolutions We're adopted. At
the afternoon session the WheatgrOwers' AS
ISOLATION of the Mississippi Valley was organ
lied This is sort of an annex to the
Farmers Federation. Norman j. Colman
was elected President, and an Executive
Board, consisting of two members from each
State OF Territory, was named. The Execrs-
tive Board is to have full power to transact
the business of the association. 1t will fix
the price of wheat, build granaries and store
wheat until the fixed price is obtained.
Agencies will be established in Chicago ST
Louis Kansas City and Omaha on December
for the purpose of handling the product IF
the association. The convention then aG-
iOurned sine die