Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1891-03-12

the question of organizing this great
grain monopoly is not for the sake OF
consistency but for the purpose OF
raising the price of wheat to the con-
sumner. Is the scheme a practicable
one? Does it promise to control the
price of grain and will it increase the
price of farm products to those who
become members of the trust? Such
combine could only be effective SO far
as it partakes of the nature OF
monopoly in buying and selling farm
products. 1t could not, like the COM
bine for the purpose of manufacturing,
have any effect upon the cost of pro-
duction. Its beneficial effects must be
limited by its power to control the
supply of farm products in the great
markets of this and other countries.
To do this to an extent which would
produce any beneficial results the CON-
bine must take in practically all
producers of farm products, otherwise
the efforts of the combination would
only result in benefting outsiders.
When it is considered that about one
half of the sixty-four millions of people
in this country are farmers the magui-
tude of an undertaking which would
unite all of them into a combination
| for the purpose of controlling prices OF
farm products appears rather fOrmid-
able. Dame Nature is impartial and
productive and when those now en-
gagged in farming shall combine to hold
up the prices of her products to point
beyond which they can be prolitably
produced, there are millions of unculti-
waited acres and millions Of men now
occupying the position of consumers of
farm products who will at once become
producers of farm products. 1t would
seem that upon careful investigation
| by any one of the ordinary laws of
supply and demand and the wonderful
/ facilities of American soil, from the
Atlantic to the Pacific, from the Lakes
to the Gulf, for producing farm pro-
ducts, that any effort to combine the
producers for the purpose of controlling
prices is absolutely impracticable.
Such a scheme can only result in add
ing increased competition by attracting
to the farm those engaged in other
pursuits.
The great problem to be solved by
the farmers is not how to make more
farmers. For twenty-five years we
have been offering every inducement
for men to come out west and settle
down on our quarter sections and
become competitors with us iii prOduc'
ing farm products. Uncle Sam" has
given every man farm who would
come and live on it. States, counties
cities, towns and boards of trade have
all had their agents in Europe and al
Castle Garden for the purpose OF
pleading with the emigrants to become
producers and not consumers OF farm
products; 15O,OO0,000 of acres in the
Mississippi valley of the richest lanC
on earth has been turned into one vas
garden during the past quarter of
century. This great farm will yield
more farm products annually than al
the farm lands under cultivation in thu
United States in 1860. More farmers
are not wanted. Il would not furnish
an additional market for one bushe
of wheat or one barrel of pork" i
every quarter section in Kansas shOulC
at once become occupied by Thrift!
farmer and he should produce twenty
five bushels of wheat Or sixty bushels
of corn to every acre. The only result
would be more competition in thu
great markets of the world for the salt
of farm products.
The great problem to be solved
which will result to the good of thu
farmer, is the best method of finding
consumers instead of producers of farm
products. That man who can devils,
some means by which millions of men
women and children can be brough
into this country and settled in occupa
tions whereby they will become con
sumers of farm products, some system
of laws which will bring the 500, 900,
600 now lying idly in the vaults o
eastern banks, and in the stockings o
the old maids of New England on
into this great Mississippi valley, ant
start up great hives of industry every
where, that will consume what tn,
farmer produces, will have done NOR,
toward solving the great agriculture
problem than all the political dems
gogues who are now talking of organ
izing an enormous, unwieldy, impracti
cable monopoly.
Wanted, an extra good butter maker
Call at WHITLAw's GROCERY.
We cheerfully recommend DIR. Snedi
ker's treatment. W. T. NELEIGH.
PAT DoNLEY.
Parsons, Kas., Sept. %, 1890.
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