The Weiser signal. [volume] (Weiser, Idaho) 1890-1904, 1894-02-15
SMASH A COMBINE
Plan of the Farmers OF the Dakotas
for United Action.
THEY ARE IN EARNEST
VIII Down the Thrcsher Manufac-
lures Association.

ST. PAUL, Feb. 1.-THE farmers Of
North and South Dakota are going to
smash big combine of the thresher
manufacturers, If organization will do
1t. They are going about their work in
a quiet, determined way, and will hold
meeting attended by at least 300
farmers of the two states Feb. IS. Min
neapolis has been selected as the meet
ing point because of its greater conven-
fence to the delegates from both states
In interest. The tillers of the soil who
will take part In the proceedings are
not the bonanza farmers, the men who
own thousands of acres of land which
they annually sow to grain, but the
small farmers, each of whom owns from
100 to 500 acres. At first 1t was in
tended to get the Minnesota farmers
Into the new organization, but this
scheme has been abandoned, and only
the agriculturists of the Dakotas will
participate. For the last four weeks
letters have passed between farmers of
the two states, In which suggestions
have been made as to the best method
of procedure, and week ago a general
circular letter was directed to all small
farm owners In the two commonwealth,
calling their attention to this opp ,rtun-
ity to throttle the manufacturers
thresher combine. The letter is plain
spoken business one, In which the
status of the case from the farmers
standpoint is given. 1t sets forth that
at the present price paid for grain the
farmer has had hard work to pay legiti-
mate debts, and that any effort to re-
store prices for threshing, which we're
only possible as result of the abnor-
mally heavy crop Of 1892. must mean a
still further reduction of the producers
m argin. 1t is also shown that If the
matter is taken up by the farmers of
the grain growing region with proper
vigor the aims of the combine may be
defeated.
Tho farmers are In great earnest
about the matter, and have agitated
Il not only through their letters and
circulars, but through tho farmers al.
lance Of South Dakota. Tho situation
was hrst canvassed In the alliances by
H. L. Loucks, who has constantly
urged organization. 1t has not been
settled, of course, just what action to
take, but the most reasonable plan
proposed is to form amocg the farmers
an Independent threshers' organization,
half dozen farm owners in each com
munity to cooperate In owning and
running thresher. 1t is proposed to
form an Interstate organization, all
members to pledge themselves not to
engage, under any pretext, a machine
opersted by the combine. The farmers
believe that by pooling their interests
they will be able to defeat the aims OF
the latter, which are, In brief, to re.
store the thresh Ing prices of three
years age. The farmers claim, and
with deal Of justice, that the condi-
lions arc SO changed owing to the gen.
erai depression that they cannot pay
for machines what they did in 1892
They argue that when wheat sells, as 1t
did this year, at from 46 to so cents a
bushel In the Dakotas, there is an actual
loss to the farmer In raising 1t unless
his crop exceeds eighteen bushels to
the acre. The past year, they say,
there were numerous instances where
the crop was from six to ten bushels to
the acre.
The farmers of the Dakotas are tax
Ing this action because of a challenge
thrown down to them by the tbresher
manufacturers last November. At that
time the manufacturers, agents and
operators Of threshipg machines held a
meeting In Minneapolis. At that meet,
ing 1t was said that the owners and
operators of threshing machines had
been running at a loss, and that, unless
prices were advanced, they would have
to 60 out of the business and allow the
farmers of the remote counties OF
North Dakota to thresh their grain
with fails. 1t was finally decided to
restore the former prices for threshing
whichever scents bushel for wheat
and 81 cents for oats. The meeting
was large one, all the manufacturers
Ia the district being represented, and
since that time the organization has en-
rolled as members nearly every owner
or operator of thresher 10 either of
the Dakotas. They have signed an
agree nent to keep prices at the figures
given.
Death of CHS Houser.
Old-timers learned with regret of the
death of Christian B, Houser at Jack
sonville, Or. Mr.. Houser had long been