The great West. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1889-18??, 1890-02-14

4. Z
EDITOR GREAT WEST:
In your issue Of the 31st appears
an article from brother s. w. Powell
concerning cooperation. Hesays he
is firm believer and that the farm
ers should have their Touring mills.
All right, brother Powell, agree
with you. It not only would have
tendency to break up the wheat
rings but would, if carried to the ex-
tent you suggest, completely break
them. But true cooperation does
not mean that the farmers alone
should cooperate and ignore the
mechanic and common laborer whose
labor is necessary to the complete
round at production and distribu-
ton. The mill operative should
have share in the transaction as
the labor of the one is necessary to
the labor of the other and vice versa.
Again, he says that the farmers AL
lance should also have a boot and
shoe factory built on land worth
$40 per acre, each farmer in the state
should own at least one share of $40.
The fact that there are nearly 95
thousand farmers in the state would
convey the idea that this amount OF
capital would be sufficient to build,
stock and operate this plant without
the financial assistance of the cper-
atives or laborers, and would thus
create suspicion that brother
Powell has an eye single to the glory
of the Farmers Alliance, because this
would transfer the ownership of this
means of production from one mon
opo]y to another a little larger as to
numbers. Now, while we seek to over
throw monopoly we should avoid
following into the same pit. While
we seek to cooperate, we should
strive to make cooperation univer-
sal and not limit it in it's benefits.
Let us grant to all labor the same
rights and privileges that we seek for
the farmer.
The operatives of this esta blish-
ment should have cottages built for
them, with land for garden purposes.
True and they should be part owners
in the whole enterprise, and entitled
to an equal share of all it's benefits.
Now you will see, that if we start CO.
operation. We must begin at the bot
tom and in order to make a success
we must base all our transactions
upon the principle of Justice to all
and special privileges to none. Then
when one monopoly is overthrow
above another shall not take it's
place.
The difference in the price of wheat
in the hands of the farmer and the
price of the -four to the consumer,
less the cost of labor necessary in
milling and transportation, should
be divided between the producers and
consumers as a matter of right. This
would divide equally the steal that
the spectators make. 1t is this
same class of spectators that are
robbing the farmers that fixes the
price to the consumer, which is a
part OF the burden that organized la
Dor Is endeavoring to cast of. For
the farmer to retain this amount of
profit would be only to share the
spectators assets and take his place
to the extent of the amount of profit
he compelled the consumer to pay
above actual cost of labor to pro
duce.
Let us strive to broaden our views
and whatsoever We would that men
should do unto you do ye also unto
them" AL. GAppxrR
Mower Co.
The tenor of Bro. Gardner's re-
mark, is sound-sound as q dollar.
But the wording in a few places is
unfortunate II ten men unite to
manufacture boots and shoes for
themselves to save profits that is not
monopoly. The question OF wages
to wOrkmen is one to be considered
surely-but not of necessity in con-
nection with any given question OF
policy. We believe firmly in such CO.
operation. But cooperation without
it does not become monopoly.
INGALLS,, Mimi, Feb. Sd, 1890.
EDITOR GREAT WEST:
Seeing no report from this part OF
the State in your valuable paper I
thought it best to give short one.
We have a Farmers Alliance in this
town called the Spruce Valley Farm
ers' Alliance, No. 631. We have eleven
members. Our next meeting is Mon