The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1890-06-06
The Egis & Intelligencer
Bel Air. Md, June 6. 1890.
Deer Creek Farmers Club.

The Deer Creek Farmers Club met. last Satur-
day, at the residence of Mr.. John b. Wysong. near
Rel Air Mr.. Geo. II. Stephenson, President, was
in the chair, with MIR. Jas. b. Kenly Secretary.
Other active members present besides The nest
were jas w Manpa. john M"ores WIN M Wm
ID. Lee, X. Harris Archer and +. w: BAKER
Among the guests were Messrs Robert W. ;i H4t-
Messrs Hanna, Munnikhuysen and Lochary
We're apponted COMMITTEES to re e has sa fine
well kept garden, a thrifty young apple orchard
the limbs of which, the committee Thought, are TOO
low a large field of wheat which looks well. mock
Of fine sheep and lambs PAIR OF good calves ms
buildings are substantial and in good repair ana
II short about e ldr Box tree Su over
hundred years old. 1t measures 80 1eet IN cir.
conference and is probably the largest shruD OF
HOW FARMERS CAN IMPROVE THEIR CONDITION.
The club then began to discuss subject of much
interest to them, and indeed to al whose prosperlc
w is i'm any wise connected with the welfare of
farmers. Several things were suggested whereby
farmers. individuals, might possibly better their
condition but considering the interests of farmers
generally it agreed that revision of the tariff
ON the line of equality of taxation and fair dis
tribution of the benefits of protection, would do
more than anything else to ameliorate the present
depressed condition of our agriculturists.
Mr.. WySOng said that the principal products OF
the farm during the last few years, have not paid
the cost of production and there is no immediate
prospect of an advance in prices. A remedy IS
difficult to find. Strict economy and diversity
of crops may accomplish something individually,
but these things do not to the root OF the matter
The only true remedy is in cooperation II tne
farmers of the United States would organize they
could secure equal and Just Legislation III Wnlcn
their interests would be protected. A reduction
in the tariff on necessares of life would benefit
farmers and they should insist upon this. Another
source of agricultural depression is the large
tracts of land cultivated in the West by corpora
tons, often composed of foreign capitalists THESE
aggregations of capital produce everything at a
industrious farmer of the East. These products
are thrown on the market and cut down prices
below the cost Of production mere; Inns matter e
failure is the fact that as soon as man engages
in branch OF farming that proves profitable every
body else PUSHES into the same thing and 1t Is soon
overdone. The middle men, also, absorb too much
of the farmers profits. For instance milk is ship
ped to Baltimore at IA cents gallon and retailed
there at 81 cents gallon or over per cent pro-
lit. The farmer has his capital invested in cows;
feeds and milks them and gets less money 1or all
Thomas Lochary said he had been trying for
thirty years TO solve TINS very question, wiInoat
but it would be advantageous if they could sell
directly TO the consumer and buy from the mai!'I-
James B. Kenly could not suggest any remedy
but hoped things would take turn without any ac-
ton on the part of farmers. He regarded the pres
ent period of depression as the logical sequence of
the flush times OF the war: The pendulum has now
swung the other way. Politics would be serious
obstacle in the way OF farmers organizing, but II
they could organize they might save money on their
purchases and increase their sales All the new
laws made seem to be against the farmer.
II. John Rogers said farmers are not much worse
off than they were forty years ago. The trouble
is that we live differently and more extensively.
The credit system, too, is fearfully abused. He
knows of farmer who last year bought the best
brand of bone dust for cash at S27 a ton while
$50. The dealers, of course, meet with losses and
those who pay their bills must make these up
production, but the farmer has not a fair show in
disposing OF his produces. They must al pass
sns anGs Of nEf tbeE men,
ty of taking advantage of the farmer: Yet they
can not perhaps, be dispensed with: The middle
1t must be nice butter to bring from II to IA cents
in the baltimore Market yet private families can't
buy good butter at less than % cents.
r. Harris Archer defended the commission man,
Who he said. is Indispensable to the farmer As to
the enormous profits made by them farmers don't
know how much they lose.
The President said the middle man charges on
hay 81 commission per ton besides freight, wharf
Mr. Archer said that hay was one of the most
handle. He also argued that the high tariff is what
affects farmers. 1t is our surplus wheat sold in
r and e te Of wbes e
up at least the farmer could buy his clothing and
other things at lower price and be better off In
because itwould increase our traffic with foreign
countries Organization would be impossible
they buy. They had better borrow money from
banks and pay cash than pay such high prices for
fertilizers &c. MIR. Archer said farming is prOflta
BILE at present prices. Farmers are making liv-
ing. improving their property and they must be
John MOores had no remedy TO suggest He
thought things are down to hard pan and are get
ting better. The trouble, last year, was poor crops
80 cents but sold at 65 Organization might do a
good deal, but how can that be accomplished
through tne country Wnen Inc members OF TINS cD
dition. Many say the tariff is the cause of low
prices for farm products and opinions differ Ii
people would pay their debts and the farmer would
be benefited thereby. Eighty per cent. of our ex-
ers get in return9 In 1888 and 1910. when we
had low tariff, coffee was IL cents pound
for pound Of Coffee and TO cents for Sugar.
irrigating lands in, the West. These lands
brought Into cultivation swell the surplus of agr-
cultural products and reduce the price.
Walter W. Preston thought farmers did not take
into calculation what they get off their farms for
the support of their families. A man with farm
worth g 600 and say $500 OF personal property clear
SONS comfortably. The same amount of capital, he
argued, would not accomplish as much in any other
of farmers might thus be stated What can be done
to better the condition of the people? since when
the farmer is prosperous everybody else shares
in his prosperity. The manufacturers prices are
increased by a high tariff. but the farmer is not
benefited except incidentally by the factories
into farming Mr.. Preston said farmers would be
materially benefited by reduction of Taxation
icliIoSiNdnle CtqtC LA, MI SoNOinllicu
being supported by the tax on corporations. Mary
land also ought to get rid of the State tax in the
same way. An effort was made by the last Legis-
lature to accomplish this result but it failed. If
farmers would make better use of their oppor-
tunities by selecting men for Office who would best
represent their interests they would accomplish
something beneficial. There is future in this
lion OF country The lands in the eastern settle
lnents will always be in demand by rich people who
want country places.
The President Mr.. Stephenson, in closing the
discussion, remarked that in his opinion the de-
pressed condition of agricultural interests is due
entirely to the high tariff. Manufacturers have
been directing the policy of the government, and
where class legislation is possible, the class in
power must have an advantage over all others. 1t
is not possible, as some assert for tariff to bene
fit the farmer. American manufactured goods are
sold cheaper in Europe than at home. showing that
the manufacturer takes advantage of the tariff
which excludes foreign competition and makes
us pay more than fair price for his goods In
deed you will find in certain journal quotations
for goods and when you offer to buy at those
prices you will be told that they are for the foreign
trade. not for the trade at home. How can over
production be an injury? If we have the soil and
climate TO enable us to prqdqce, more than any
Than they can be fed elsewhere, and can pro-
luee manufactured goods cheaper. With these
advantages we can compete with the whole world.
He admitted frankly that as a farmer he is in
favor OF free trade. The government can be sup
ported by direct tax. II we can't get free trade
LET us have tariff reform. 1t has been suggested
that farmers should ecOnomlze. He did not see
where they can economize any more than they are
already doing,