Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1890-03-06
Advising THBKAHsAs FARMER.

ADvIsfNG THE KAHSAs FARMER.
The Kansas farmer has been receiv-
ing good deal Of advice lately on how
to improve his condition and make his
corn worth more than ten cents a
bushel. First, the emergency rate was
the panacea. Then he was advised to
build granaries and store his grain
until he raised its price By creating q
famine. He was told that tho trouble
is that the government dosent coin
enough dollars, and that a1i expansion
of the currency is needed. And now
he is gravely assured that IT, only sure
remedy is to diversity his crops.
Cotton, he is told, is more profitable
than corn, and he must raise more
cotton and less corn or - can never
hope to accumulate bank account.
When the Kansas farmer digests all
the remedies his republican friends
have suggested he will find that none
of them approacho - rost of the evil.
The emergency rate has flooded the
market and his corn II not selling for q
better price than it wss before. He
would like we'll enough to store his corn,
but he must have tho money. It does
him no good to have more money made
if he can't get it without mortgaging
his farm and paying usurous interest.
The diversification Of crops plan ought
to suggest remedy, but not of the
nature intended by the republican
organs.
Kansas soil is peculiarly adapted to
raising corn. 1t is not suited for rails
ing cotton. If it had been the Kansas
farmer would have been raising cotton
long ago. It can be grown, of course,
but not to pay. Now, suppose, how
ever, that the Kansas farmer, instead
of trying to raise cotton, for which the
soil and climate are not adapted, can
trade his corn to the people who need
it and can't raise it for the cotton in its
manufactured state, which he needs,
but does not produce. His corn is
worth just what he can trade it for;
no more. If he can trade it where it is
in demand for commodities which he
requires he is put in position in which
his labor and his corn are worth some
thing. But Until. he is permitted to
trade his corn for what he can get for
it all the artificial stimulus which he
may try will only add to his burdens.
The bearings of these observations
lie in the application the Kansas farmer
will make of them. II he will remem-
ber that he must nov sell his corn in
the open and unpretected markets of
the world without che privilege of
buying in them, he vii Be getting in .
position to see light ahead. II he will
understand that he is not allowed to
trade his corn for the manufactured
goods which he needs. but is required
by prohibitofy protection to pay tax
for the privilege of entering the market
where the manufactured good are sold
he will be on the highway to getting
more for his corn than he does now.
When his acre of corn is worth its price
in cotton he will not be obliged to
raise cotton.
The trouble with the Kansas farmer
is that he is not permitted to trade his
corn. He is obliged to sell for what is
offered and buy for what is asked. Is
there any hope for him as long as he is
ground between the upper milestone
of free trade in the products he offers
for sale, and protection of the COM
modities he is compelled to buy?-K. C.
Tnaes.