Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1886-1890, 1890-03-16
HIGHER PRICES FOR FARM PRO.
DUCTS NECESSARY TO GEN
ERAL PROSPERITY.

| To the Editor of the Railway Age.
In your editorial comment upon a
/ former article from me in relation to the
necessity for higher prices for farm pro-
/ ducts in order to increase the traffic Of
/ the railways and benefit the business in
! terests of the country, you jumped at a
/ conclusion and misquoted me, assuming
/ that | take the stand in favor of a com
/ bine on the part of the farmers for the
purpose of withholding the grain and
| other products OF the soil from the mar
kets until The artificially produced search
tY COmpelS consumers to pay the prices
demanded. Permit yne to correct this
impression, and say that the farmers are
justified in combining to stop the artifi-
cial trading III the products of their
labor for the purpose of depressing the
prices for the benefit of few bears, in
Turing the wealth producing industry
and reducing the purchasing power Of a
class who use their money for the devel-
Opment of the country and contribute to
the support of every manufacturing in
dustry and railroad interest.
do not believe the farmers are iusti-
fed in withholding their products from
the legitimate dealer in order TO make
better prices, but they are justified in
saving that person shall not gamble on
farm products to injure the farpsing in
dustry. The fact is, depressed market
exists and this is due, as | believe, par
italy, to the fact that the bears are
educating the people to believe it is
not necessary to handle, legitimatelv, d
product in order to make money. Their
object is to prevent capital from engag-
ing in legitimate business and turn 1t
into option trading. They scare the
business man and tell him there is an
oyerproduction. They scare the farmer
and force him to sell his products.
The bear is no friend of the business
of the country, or he would not use his
power to depress values. He is the
power behind the throne which is driv-
ing the money out of trade and forcing
1t out OF the legitimate channels Of com
merce. They have actually compelled
the bulls on change TO turn bears, and
being SO much more powerful now than
they used 10 be, the commission men o.
the boards Of trade begin to realize that
the bears, il carrying the prices 50 low,
have almost wiped out legitimate specu-
lation.
There must be an upward tendency IN
our markets 10 stimulate business. An
upward tendency draws out money and
places It IN business. The manufacture
must have Il, and every other industry
must have It, II there was an upward
market and higher prices prevailed the
interstate commerce law would partially
succeed. but IS IL Is, it Is Of no use to the
railways or any other kind Of business;
the reason Is because It fails to establish
a market for the produce. Ia fact, the
interstate commerce law destroys that
which makes the railways work for bust
ness-that Is. compstitiOn-a natural law
which Is a stlmulaut 20 al kinds Of bust
ness. No fixed law can control the nat
uTal laws OF trade and commerce. If IL /
were possible for the interstate commerce /
commissioners TO say what each state /
should manufacture, produce and con
sumo. and establish prices Tor the com
modities, then il could regulate freight /.
rates.
You say "the railways, when left IN
fettsred. were most potent influences IN /
establishing manufacturing enterprises /.
at innumerable localities throughout the +
country, etc. This IS true. because +
then there Is competition and healthy
rivalry the S2me ~ n ali other Kinds OF .
business. Il took uen OF ability 70 Sc
cure freight for railways before The an 4
terstate commerce law went into effect. T
but now that Is not required as 1t II al .
machine work.
Competition between railways IS IS s
legitimate rs It = between business men. +
and what would we do II that did not 4
exist: \ successful competitor Is q man 4
OF ability. Destroy competition and y0l
destroy the ability 20 DO and dArs. The /
interstate commerce Law IS preventing
men Of ability from using ihelr sntella-
Eeuce for the benefit q trade and co1l-
-n=Ece. ami sfrap-liug the Development 7
ol Ehe railway Interests % cur country. {
L.st the bears Of Chicago and otaer
cities torIn : combination. ir9sI. -
organization 10 pslll cut Of tie l44ar@ei iQE j