The Newberry herald and news. (Newberry, S.C.) 1884-1903, 1891-07-16
A BIG SCHEME.
The Farmers Alliance Ask the Wheat
Growers to Hold Back the New Crop
Till Prices ir. Booming.

Growers to Hold Back the New Crop
Till Prices ir. booming.
CHICAGO, Jaly IA great scheme
has been devised by somebody within
the Farmers Alliance. 1t is proposed
to Withhold this years wheat crop from
market until the farmers can get their
own price, or at least price consider
ably above the average.
The plan is unfolded in circular OF
advice through accredited official chan
nels to all members of farmers organl-
cations in the United States. 1t suggests
a great combination of the 6,OO0,oGo
members of farmers organizations, ard
has the relative Importance and 1orce
of an official order for a strike among
the 100000 members Of the Fedora
ton of Labor or the 100000 members
ofthe Knights ofLabor. The circular,
which is presumed to be secret docu-
ment, is now ready for mailing, and it
will be sent to the 100000 members of
the Farmers Alliance and Industrial
Union, the 100000 members of the
colored National Farmers Alliance,
the 100000 members. If the National
Farmers Alliance Of the North, the
100000 members Of the Farmers Nu-
tual Benevolent Association, the 600,
GOO members of the Patrons Of fAusban-
Srv, the Patrons of Industry, and the
10000 members of the Farmers
League.
The circular is III part as follows:
"The Farmers Alliances demand
unanimously that the speculation for
future deliveries Of cereals shall be pro-
hibited. The greatest competitor OF the
farmer is the speculator. The specula-
tor sells for delivery in any month Of
the year, and, therefore, makes 1t un-
necessary for the actual consumer: to
lay in such stocks as he may consider
reasonably sufficient for his require
ments. The farmer comes in with
actual grain and finds most of his Gus
toners supplied by the specrlator who
promised to deliver. He has no choice
but to sell to the elevator man at a
lower price.
'It is competition between grain and
wind, in which the wind had the ad-
vantage, as the wild crop is never
. short. This manipulation has robbed
the farmer of this country Of $500. 0.OOO.-
600 in the last three years. This year
seems especially designed by Provi-
dence to help our farming interest. Our
wheat crop promises to be good. The
European crops are worse than they
ever n~ve been, and the reserves are
exr sled. Under such circumstances 1t
is ~.:Itain that the true value of wheat
was greater than ever before, aud it
is astonishing that spectators should
dare to bet on low prices. This how
ever, explains itself for the following
reasons:
During the four years from 1884 to
1857 the speculation on low prices was
successful on account Of the worlds
crops being in excess OF the demand
and during the last three years this
same speculation has been carried on
by cheek, and did not result in disaster
only because there were resources to
draw upon. This success for seven
years has made the spectators think
that they have discovered the philoso-
piers stone, and that betting on low
prices can always be made to earn them
money.
"There is no doubt that they would
ruin themselves by persisting IN that
policy during the year, as the condl-
tions are entirely reversed; but if our
crop rushes into the market right after
harvest, there is the danger that most
of it will have been sacrificed before the
speculation for low prices is broken.
There is, however, q remedy, simple,
effective and entirely within your con-
troll. The stocks Of wheat and flour are
hardly large enough to supply the
wants Of this country until the new
crop comes in. If for some reason the
rush of new wheat should not come as
early as anticipated the market for
this crop would start in with double
the price you have obtained during the
last few years.
Could you not act as if early harvest
had been prevented, and could you not
for once avoid undue haste in supply
ing the Spectator with the means Of
keeping down your prices? Resolve,
for instance, that in view Of the condi-
ton of the worlds crop minimum
price Of Sl.35 for wheat in New York is
moderate and conservative, and that
members of your organization pledge
themselves not to market their wheat
at lower prices unless they are under
contract, and that they will use their
best efforts with friends and neighbors
outside OF the organization also to act
on your resolution. Resolve, also that
the State Alliance form a committee
which shall keep itselfposted about the
state of the worlds market, and from
time to time notify the farmers Of
changes taking place, and advise them
upon the minimum prices that they
may reasonably insist upon"
The circular gives lots of figures and
statistics to prove that this scheme
would lie feasible, and dilates upon the
money made on the transactions in |
futures by spectators. Farmers are
told to hold back even when better
prices than those suggested are offered |
they are warned that when the circular |