The representative. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1893-1901, 1894-02-14
A GREAT QUESTION.
Organizing the Wheat Supplv
Holding Wheat for High
er Prices.
ADA, MINI. Jan. 26. ;.

err Prices.
ADA, MINI, JAM, 26. '94
HON. IGNATIUs DoNNELLY,
DEAR SIR:-I take the liberty tc
send you few lines to explain the
situation of the farmers in this coun.
ty. Most of them have lost all inter
est in the alliance. They do not
hope for any pecuniary benefit from
the organization. Be this as it may
think more could be done by the
alliance if it was pushed by the otfic-
ers of the same We have reached a
stage where it is necessary to change
the laws, (Which seems to be a slow
and hard task), or organize for self.
protection. believe if the president
Of the alliance would appoint good
man in each county to organize the
county; and extend call to two or
three of the wheat-producing states
to SO organize and cooperate with the
farmers of this state, that much good
could be accomplished. If they made
it an issue TO organize so as to hold
their produce as long as possible out
OF the market, say from six to eight
months; also to make their Obliga-
tiOns due at different times of the
year, instead of in the fall only, then
| believe we could have a strong or
ganization; if it did not take too long,
or too many years before they could
feel the benefit. There is no ques-
tiOn that if three or four states could
be organized to hold their produce,
until a fair and reasonable price was
obtained, that the farmers could fig
ure out their profit in big crop year
as we'll in small crop year; as we
now make just as much on small
An organization of this kind would
have the support of all the well-to-do
farmers, as we'll as the specula tors all
over the world, for if it was know that
three or four states would hold back
their produce, especially corn, wheat,
rye, ETC., until they were asked how
much they wanted bushel forsame,
and as it was needed the price had in
the end to be paid, everybody that
could, would also hold to get the
same benefit of the higher prices.
And if the farmers found it paid to
organize they would all join. In
time this might be an OrganiZa
tion that would give profit to the
farmer in spite of bad system of
laws. A few would be compelled to
sell but most of the obligations could
be exte nded, if it was known that the
produce was still in the graneries.
[ could write much more on the sub
ject but this is now too long. l wish
if you find time to give us your opin-
ion on the plan which would be high
" esteemed.
Respectfully,
JNo. M. HETLAND.
We take pleasure in publishing Mr..
Hetland's letter. He is the populist
and popular register of deeds of Nor
man county, and gentleman of in
nuence and standing.
We have always felt that if the
farmers could act together. as those
in other pursuits do, they could fix
the price of their productions and
achieve wealth instead of poverty;
and hence, in the face of treason and
treachery, and all sorts of abuse
and discouragements we have fought
and struggled for years to keep up
the farmers alliance: and when the
paper that had been our organ sold
us out, and declared that the alliance
was dead, we insisted that the farmers
must establish paper of their own
as a bond of union, and to keep the
alliance alive.
farmers of this state united so far as
to agree to sell their wheat at such
time or times, as might be recon-
mended by central board, the farm
ers of other northwestern states
would unite with us; and that this
concerted action would add vastly to
the price. But such scheme would
require great wisdom on the part of
the producers and great honesty on
the part of their agents. 1t would
not do, for instance, to hold back
all the wheat until the following
spring, for the flood then let loose
would break down prices. Nor would
it do to say that we would put wheat
to dollar a bushel, for every man
would hold back for that price. and
possibly all come in together, in a
collapse. If wheat was 45 cents a
bushel and concerted action put it
up to 60 or 70 cents it would be neces-
sary to let part Of the crop out at
these figures, and hold the remainder
for even higher prices. And the con-
ditions of the whole world would have
to be taken into account, for while
we could do much we could not per-
form impossibilities. We might by
asking to much give up our market
to the Russian, the Hindoo and the
South American, and kill ourselves
by our own greed.
The suggestion of Mr.. Hetland,