The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1891-07-16
Wants of the Farmers.

to prevent the wheat crop especially
from being the prey OF INSCRIPTIONS
spectators. The necessity, in our mind,
has been so apparent, for some such poll
CIV. that the VIRGINIAN had been suspee-
ted of being little cranky on the sub
iect But the power exercised by grain
SPECTATORS has been SO great that the
wheat market has been at their mercy,
to depress or initiate, as suited their IN
terests or designs The farmers were
helpless because there was no concert of
action among them Each ones neces-
sites had to govern him in disposing OF
his crop He could neither select the
time nor determine the price OF sale.
The speculator would decide, and the
farmer had to bow to his command. The
movement, which is epitomiZed below,
recently projected in the West, looks to
correcting this grievous wrong-a wrong
that must meet the condemnation OF
every fair-lninded man, whether he be-
longs to the Alliance or not.
If the farmers would contine organiza-
ton to correcting impositions in this line,
they would have the sympathy and CO.
operation of many of both political par>
ties, who are not members of their or
carnations. But wien they launch out
upon a sea of revolution, assai'ing the
whole financial and industrial fabric OF
the government, upon which the rams
fled interests of business and commerce
aud trade are based, then they necessa-
rily confront opposition, which other
wise would be in entire harmony with
them In the Ocala platform there are
propositions as to finance and curren-
cy, that no student of these questions
could ever think of endorsing Their
practical application in government pol
icy, would mean a fearful arrangement
of all the interests related to the credit
and character OF the Nation, and would
seriously affect not only the financial
system of the country, but would unset
tie the affairs Of the farmer more inju>
riously than any other class. They wonld
suffer from deprecated currency, dis
turbed condition of the financial system,
to a degree they do not now think OF !;
and would enter upon policy OF nncer-
tainty, fuctuation and Generalization,
irremediable harm.
The genuine farmer would bear the
ills Of all this arrangement in settled
methods and policies, while the designs
ing politicians, who have little OF this
worlds goods to lose, and are not identi-
fed with the practical work of the far
mer. would be the only beneficiaries, if
there should be any. They care nothing
for the farmer, except as they can use
him for their own selfish purposes. They
want office, prominence in politics, aud
to gather where they have not srrewn,
at the expense of the very class OF men
they attempt to delude and often do de
lude
What the farmers of Virginia want, is
to coniine their endeavors to such lines
as are indicated below, and then they
would be serving themselves and their
country alike, and no one would be hurt
but the greedy and reckless spectators,
who feed and thrive upon the misfor>
tunes and mistakes of others.
We commend to the farmers of Virgin
la the facts and policy embraced in the
following significant statement of the
purposes of movement recently organ
lied in the Northwest, and which is de>
signed to control the wheat growing
States. It is epitomized by the Baltimore
San. as follows.
st is announced from Chicago that the Far
mers' Alliances and Associations throughout
the country are being advised by circular
Through accredited official channels to with
hold this years wheat crop from market for g
time. SO that price above the average OF recent
years may be obtained for it. A minimum price
of s1.35 per bushel may be had at New York, it is
said If not 81. provided the mem bers of the va
rious farmers organizations, acting in concert.
will keep their grain in hand until there is prop
er demand for it. The conditions at present
strongly favor rise OF price. This years crop
Of wheat will be, it is estimated, some 5O0000,0O0
bushels, 350,06G 900 of which will be required for
home consumption. There would thus be $780,
000,000 bushels for export. The average exporta-
ton in the last ten years. it is stated, has been
127, 000, GOO bushels year. of which amount the
West Indies and South America took 2O000,000
bushels. Ii the wheat crop of Europe and India
were well up to the average, there would be no
special demand for the surplus of 23.000,01a bush
els indicated by a comparison of our crop with
the average home and foreign demands. But it
is not up to the average. On the contrary, the
crops of Europe, including Russia, are far below
the average, and the same is to be said of the
crops of India and Argentina. Consequently
for m wi
with corresponding rise of pi ice, is thought to
be certain. rise Of 25 cents a bushel would
mean an increased profit of $l26 1909 for those
who sell at the right time
To sell at the right time is the important mat
ter for the farmer. IT, as is usually the case, all
the farmers rush their wheat to market as soon
it is tllreshed out, the spepulatOr in grain,
says the circular, will get the whole benefit of
the advance in price. If, On the other hand the
farmers keep their wheat at home till advised
by competent Alliance leaders that the right fig
ure has been touched, the middleman will find
his occupation gone. What is proposed then, is
that the million of farmers engaged in the pro
duction OF wheat shall initiate other classes of
producers and form combination to put up the
price of their product. This is done by coal OPP
orators who among themselves every year fix
the price the public shall pay for coal. Steel
copper, petroleum, sugar, starch white lead
cottonseed Gil, lmseed oil, binding Irvine and
carpets are but few of the many articles the
prices of which are fixed for the farmers ana
others by the combination OF men engaged in
their production The Mckinley tariff is legal
provision that these and other producers shall
get for their wares higher price than they
would get if prices were fixed by free competi-
tition. BY the organization of trades unions
mechanics prevent decline OF their incomes
and sometimes increase them. Dealers of all
SORTS have understandings by which they keep
up what is called "a living price, Even law
yers and doctors have their associations for the
protection OF their interests, and .ethics' which
require them to exact from clients and paying
patients minimum payment for specified SER
vices. There is therefore nothing extraordinary
in the proposition that farmers shall cooperate
to advance the price OF their product, be it
wheat or what not. As persons whose industry
is all-important for the welfare of the country
it is most undesirable that they alone Of all the
members of the community, should enjoy none
of the benefits Of combination. Shrewd obsery-
ers long ago urged the necessity of organization
on the part OF our agriculturalsts to prevent
their being pushed to the wall in the general
scramble brought about by class legislation.
UnquestiOnably the exercise Of discretion in
forwarding the wheat crop to market must af-