The Sedalia weekly bazoo. [volume] (Sedalia, Mo.) 187?-1904, 1890-01-21


fled but few minutes previous that b,
should be called on to occupy the pc
sition to which be was called. II
preside over a body which had before
it such mOmen:ous questions required
a little thought to make an Introduce
DRY talk that would be applicable
There were serious and importsn
questions to consider. He thought b,
could hear the still small voice
of the monopolist who was holding
the farmer down in bis endeavOr Il
rise such people as Jay Gould, the
big Four" and others saying to this
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES are you going tt
do about the situation. 1t laid with
the convention to demonstrate, and il
should be in a specially forcible
manner, to these magnates wba
is proposed to be done
in the matter and their power lay;
| right with the people represented
here.
After the chairman's talk, on mo-
ton, committees of five each were
appointed. first on permanent organi-
cation, consisting of Leonard, David
son, Clark. Longnan and Bond, and
on credentials, consisting of Walker,
Kissingen, Organ and Noel.
While the committees were in con-
ference, the Hon. Norman j. Cole.
man, of st. Louis, was introduced by
Chairman Morehouse, who spoke as
follows
We have met to take into considera.
ton our condition and necessities as far
mers and stock growers, and to endesv, r
to devise some means TO relieve ourselves
from the thralldom 10 which we find our.
selves. In spite of our best efforts TO make
! honest livelihood by cultivating the
soil, and tending our hocks and herds, and
doing all that becomes good citizens, We
find ourselves gradually, but surely, losing
the means acquired. and as We thoughi
had secured, by lives of toll and frugaiity.
Unless something can be done TO relieve
us from our present environments, the
American farmers and stock-raisers are
doomed TO lives of toll and slavery more
than exist in the Monsrchies of
the old world. We are already SLAVES 10
the combinations of capitalists, and are
in their power. Organized cap
ital In the hands OF few selfish, avaric.
iOus men has crushed OUT all honorable
such as existed in former
days for the purchase of our products, and
IL ,ot- .
share and leaves US the bones to pick, and
tells US We are silly to complain at the
new order Of things. Notwithstanding the |
farmers are the creators of all wealth, the |
conceived In sin, and born |
IN iniquiiy, are the receivers of il. Only |
he husks are permitted 70 remain in our
lands. While those forming these combI-
nations reside In princely residences. and /
nave liveried servants, and dress In costly |
Ittire, and live upon the fat of the land,
hink the farmer, who has created all his
Eealth should Be conteat ffl nbtifKKss SPUN.
md wear patched garments, and not mur-
ner at the inequality that exists between
hem and the injustice of things gener-
lily.
L do not want TO be considered an alarm
It. The record of my life shows that
ave not been one, but that have always
cen conservative in public and private
lie. L confess however to a feeling of de-
pondency and bopelessness that / have
ever experienced before. No bird was
yer more completely in the tolls of the
etter than is the farmer In the tolls of the
to rob him of his hard and
eserved earnings in every branch of agri-
nltnre. And this condition of affairs is
0Bhned to no single section of the country.
ut exists all over the broad land, wherey-
r the soil is cultivated or stock is grown.
IS bilghtlng influence is felt as keenIy, as
,verely, in New England where thousands
farms are abandoned, because their cul-
vatIon is attended only with bankruptcy. :
II Is on the broad and fertile plains of !,
lie western states.
The good old days of honest competition,
honest purchasing, are past. The man. !.
,ers OF those industries that must have
I'd use the farmers products, and fatten
BON them, have adopted new and i'm !!
owed methods of securing them.
Inc raising OF hogs was formerly consid-
ed one OF the most profitable branches of =
rTnlng, and would be to-day but for the 7
'lg -Four, who have the hog-raisers at :.
eli mercy. The packers of hogs formed IL
and entered into a contract
hong themselves TO regulate and control d
E purchase and slaughter of hogs, and the -
'Ig -Four" became the leading spirits of ~
is combination, and have had the control IL
1t since. They agreed among them p
yes upon the number each house should
lighter, according TO its capacity, aud y
= house slaughtering more should psy r.
the pooling fund twenty-five cents Der &C
I'd; and any house slaughtering less 10 10
'uid receive twenty-five cents per head IN
the number less than that agreed upon, IN
the result is that many slaughter an
uses have lain idle, being satisfied with os
twenty five cents per head profit on the OF
'acity of their slaughter houses. wi,bo M al
y killing pig for roast They get su
ID profits and do nothing, but out of
ose pockets dosthe profits come? Out co
he big Four" at Chicago? By no mi
ans, or if they do pay them to the idle az an
I. 4