Kansas agitator. [volume] (Garnett, Kan.) 1890-1905, 1895-03-15
WHERE ARE THE FARMERS AT?

unrest of farmers since they are generally on
the highway to the poor-house. The following
decline in prices as shown by the report OF the
department OF agriculture, will give some 1oea
Of the lean condition of the farmers purses:
Wheat for the year declined 1873 cents per
bushel; rye, ITO cents; potatoes IS TO
per bushel; cotton, 3 As cents per Pouiiu'
horses, "a per cent. per head; mules 70 pei
cent. oxen and other cattle than mich COWS,
ner cent; sheep, per cent. swine, 10 per
cent Everything produced on farms has fallen
excent mich COWS, which have advanced per
cent Taxes have remained stationary or ad-
vanced. No decline in railroad freight Is noted,
and money climbs steadily up to higher rates OF
interest.
Now. while there is a universal decline IN
prices, it is very noticeable that the supply mas
fallen off, compared with last year. 1here IS
decrease in the number of horses OF $4,000;
Of mules. there is decrease of I9,ooo OF oxen
and other cattle except mich COWS, the de-
crease is 2,245, 900; sheep, 2,753,ooo ana the
decrease in the lumber of swine IS 100000.
The increase in tie number of mich COWS Is
1900.
If these figures show anything, they show
that the law of supply and demand has ceased
to control prices Our population increased;
our supply decreased; and yet, there was de-
cline in prices all along the line. Facts retute
theories, and, accordingly, the theory that farm
produce is under law of supply and demand
is a manifest falsehood.
If we reached any conclusion from the lore
going, it would be that prices declined with the
decrease in quantity; as, for instance, hogs de-
creased in number, and, at the same time, de-
clined in price, while mich cows increased IN
number, and, at the same time, advanced in
price.
If normal conditions existed, beef cattle and
hogs should have advanced; so, also, OF corn
and wheat; but we witness the reverse. 1t is
also noticeable that, with the exception of mules
and horses, the decline of prices falls on the
products hauled by railroads and handled by
spectators.
Both the supply and demand for mich COWS
is furnished by the farmers where we
find slight increase and slight advance in
price; and in this instance only do we lind the
absence of the o-betweens-the railroads, the
speculators and the combines. The increase IN
the number of mich cows is not equal to the
demand in the growth of population, and
hence, an advance in the price of mich COWS,
the demand being uninhuenced by outside
forces. The conclusion, and the only conclu-
sion, is that the prices of farm products are
fixed by spectators and corporations, and that,
also, the price of money is fixed by the same
men, or men with whom they are associated and
that there is an understanding existing between
the men who manipulate the markets and the
men who manipulate money.
If it is admitted that this power exists, it is
superhuous to argue that it is dangerous.
If all the water that flows to oceans never
never returned, drouth and heat would leave
the earth desert.
We must admit one thing, and that is, the
farmer is on the his llway to the poor-house, Or
in other words, bankruptcy, if there is no
change awaiting the agriculturist. All farm
ers expenses, including taxes and hired labor,
must decline; also, the rate of interest to the
borrower, or the farmer cannot continue to
stagger under burden not of his own making,
and grievous to be borne.
We have heretofore advocated, and shall COIL
tinue to advocate, organization as the first and
absolutely necessary step in the direction of
self-protection of the agriculturist the meas
ures to be employed in remedying wrong con-
ditions to be taken only after the farmers are in
a condition to enforce their demands, for, with
out organization, as things are now, the farmer
fails to command respectful attention.