St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1891-01-03
A TRusT DEFENSE.


The immense harvester combine that
is attracting attention of late is being
made to pose as a great benefactor to
farmers. Some prominent papers find
i'll the scheme occasion for very favOra-
bic elucidation of the claims. 1t is not
quite insisted that the various colIec-
tons of capitalists who have invested
in the manufacture of farm machinery
are actuated by philanthropic principles
exclusively i'll pooling their issues, but
it is asserted that one of their aims is to
cheaper the cost of their implements to
the farmers. That is, they propose to
share the advantages of combination
with the men who buy their wares.
There is plausible, and no doubt in
measure possible, picture in the pres
entation they give. The methods of
carrying on the sale of such machines
involve the employment of vast
number of men and enormous ex-
penses. Travelling statesmen are had
to visit the farmers, attend the
fairs and gatherings and person
ally solicit purchasers. 1t is alleged
that the cost of the machines has been
necessarily nearly doubled on account
Of the coStlineSS of the methods of
sale Every manufacturing firm on
coming into the field found it occupied
by those who had this cumbersome
and expensive system in vogue, and
was compelled to adopt the same agency.
The cost of the machines has been re-
dUced in the past few years, but much
less than would otherwise be the case.
This army of canYaSSerS and statesmen
is computed anywhere from 5000 TO TO-
900 in number, and their salaries and
cost from $l0,000,000 to $15,OO00OO.
This was paid by the buyers of
the implements. The explanation
of why farm implements can be
sold abroad cheaper than in this
country is given here that these
selling agents are not employed
usually i'll the foreign regions. They
wait for the customers to come to them.
This is claimed to be the case also with
American-made sewing machines. The
programme Of the combination or trust
involves the abandonment of most of
the middlemen and the keeping of a
single agency at points where now each
has its force. 1t is also sympathetically
believed that farmers are induced bv
the perSuasions and credit system to
BUY machines that they can well do
without, and thereby involve them
selves i'll difficulty and distress. Nearer
approach to cash sales is to be had with
the cheaper prices. They must be pre-
panng an agreeable surprise for the
farmers if they are to reduce
the cost of their harvesters, now
ers and other implements so greatly
and leave in the pockets of the produ-
GERS dozen millions or so that has been
needlessly extracted. Perhaps, in the
fervor of their philanthropic zeal, they
may neglect to retain a full share of
the assets. The query may be had, if
these intermediates have been the cause
of maintaining the high prices of the
machines, why have they not Topped off
the extra charges in the case of the
dealings with the purchasing agencies
of the alliances and oranges? They
came to the factories and were whole
sale buyers. There was no expensive
soliciting. 1t is not understood that
they have ever been given the full
advantage it is now conceded their
method Of dealing warrants. 1t has
been found in notable instances of late
that when men make large pIaeards
and hang up,announcing theirpurpose to
set new examples OF beneyolence and
Christian ethics i'll their dealings, they
fail to illustrate their precepts. JAY