The farmers' union. (Memphis, Mo.) 1891-1895, 1891-02-12
Is This a Coming Condition.

The other day we were seated at |
table with a pair of exceptionally in
tclllgent travelling mcn-whose bust
ness leads them into large numbers
of town and villages throughout the
western states.
Somehow the conversation drifted
to the condition of the merchants and
store keepers in these towns and we
were amazed to hear the opinions of
these drummers on the subject.
They declared that the financial
situation Of the average country
store keeper throughout the West
was simply APPALLING, and the travel
ing man with the longest and most
extended experience among this class
solemnly affirmed that the average
store keeper in western towns. would
be glad to sell out for IS per cent. of
the original cost Of his stock and fix
lures. The other drummer nodded
his head in acquicscencc with this
declaration.
These men where not rcformcrS.
and he'd on! y 4 casual interest in the
reforms advocated bv the Farmers
foice-they were business men on
the lookout for the main chance and
being keen of observation had mark
ed this growing condition and had
the frankness and honesty to tell that
which they had seen.
Friends! We have again and
again proplesred the extinction Of
our we'll TODD middle class, if the
present iniquitous rule of the Banded
Monopoli>ts continue much longer to
devastate our whole country.
The business men and small man.
ufac:urcrs in little towns are on the
road TO ruin.
B, nc: deceived, friends! because
in all these small burghs there is a
class of money loancrs who are get
ting comfortably off through usurious
interest, that is simply tax on the
productive power of the community
and gives no just equivalent for the
same These money lenders are
merely little sllarks-who are in the
same line of trade rs the big ones
who rule Wall Street. and through
Wall Street the monetary affair of
this Nation.
Look at the situation square in
front, please?
All these western towns grew and
hourishcd because they had pros
porous agricultural country that was
tributary to them.
If there had been no farmers to
dig the rich wealth out of the ground
there would have been no enter
prIsicg little towns--of that fact you
may he sure.
AS the farmers increased in mum
bcrs and prosperity, SO the towns
kept pace with thcm-or rather fol
lowed, for the farmers could make a
shake to get along without the towns,
but how were the towns to get along
without the farmers?
Expect the apple tree to bud, bios
som and bear fruit with its roots out
of the ground and stick straight up
in the air, but 10 not expect Il west
ern town to flourish when the farmer
trade from which it draws its tinan-
cial life blood: is slowly but surely
dying out.
Friends! We live in an age when
magicians are abrcat(-who are far
more terrible, and intinitively more
wonderful than any Of the financial
creatures that we read about in the
! Arabian Nights Entertainments.
Thcs dread nccromances can sit =
thousand miles away in railroad
offices, bank parlors and trust draw
ing rooms and weave malvhcicn'
spells that will at,orb al the produce
of the farmer except bare living
FOR b'.nself and family.
= Aye. More than that! When b,
chance their fell nominations are :
r little stronger than usual-away z
9 the broad acres which tie farmer la
;. grown gray i'll ti!ling-and he and hi
are flung out upon the road as paup
ers- and the old homestead shelter
S a foreign tenant, who is little bette
:. than 4 scrf.
g If you would know how our Amer
p can Yocmanry is being destroyed. 6
;, to Kansas, where Scotch, Englisi
Belgian, And Boston Loan and Ii
vestment Companies are eyicting i'll
Doverished farmers by the hundre
every year.
:, Mr.. Country Storekceper! Ca
l. you expect trade where there is r
" trade?
~ If the Banded Monopolists throue
y their Juggling schemes gobble on
II everything the farmer raises exec
y enough for the subsistence of \ slav
q. how are you to prosper when IL
h farmer has nothing to buy with?
If the railways, banks and trus
1t scoop down On the produce of tt
d. western farmers, carry it off to f
G. rope, and bring back in cxchang
y Jewels, wines, silks and golden ingo1
: which they keep for themselve
T. where does Mr. Country Store Kce
"a er's whack come in?
sc Why! 1t comes in by his bell
glad Of a chance to sell cut at a IL
loss of % per cent. on his inycstme.
If, Tie western farmers are sinkil
os deeper every year into the mire
:; debt, mortgage aud misery-and
~ the business men and small man
H. facturcrs in ten thousand westc
M tounS think IN oscane