The Goodland republic. [volume] (Goodland, Kan.) 1891-1907, 1895-08-23
FORtGALLING THE MARKETS.
An 0fense Under Old English Law and Should
Be So in the United States.
The Government Bureau of Agriculture
Detriment TO Farmers and Farming
Interests-Hand in Glove With Grain
Gamblers.

A good many Sherman county farm
ers refused this year to inform the as
SCISSORS as to the amount of their crop
acreage. Their reason, and it Is a good
one, was that the reports finally reach
ed the agricultural department. and
from them garbIed and erroneous esti-
mates we're made up which we're used
to influence the price of cereals on the
stock exchange. The action of this
department in aiding the grain
gamblers in skinning the farmers has
caused much unfavorable comment to
be launched at this costly but useless
branch Of the government.
According to Blackstone, forestalling
the market was an offense punishable
at common law. 1t was defined in the
English statutes as "the buying of mer-
chandise or Yictuals coming in the way
to market; or disuading persons from
bringing their goods or provisions
there; or persuading them to enhance
the price when there, any Of which
practices which make the market
dearer to the fair trader" Now what
are government and state crop reports?
By the information offered to specuIa-
tors and dealers they aid them in store
stalling the market" When the bar-
vest is near these reports are sent out
and they are often stuffed and exager-
ated as to the amount Of any given
cereal. We do not hesitate 20 state
that the estimates Oh wheat and corn
contained in official reports and pub
lished broadcast over the country, are
exaggerated by at least One-third. Now
what is the result? Dealers and com
bines bear the market, and send cut
their prices current to their agents aud
to other dealers. This robs the farmer
and producer Of a fair price. forces
him to take less than its worth. In the
next six months what happens? The
trusts and combines having cot the
bulk Of these cereals safely cTibbed
and stored, they report q shortage. raise
the price and bull the market. In this
manner the public are caught going
and coming, like rabbits in the darky's
trap.
According to English common law
''regrating" or buying and holding for
sale at higher price in the same mar
ket, OF corn or provisions, was forbid
den because it enhanced the price of
provisions, as every successive seller
must have a successive profit. I'm
crossing" or the getting into ones Dos
session, or purchasing large quantities
Of provisions and holding for a larger
price was also forbidden for the reason
''that it was injurious to the public, by
/ putting it in the power of one or two
rich men TO raise the price of provi.
siOnS at their Own discretion. Ali
offenders we're punished by treble
/ damages and double costs. C0mbina-
tons and corporations convicted Of
breach Of these laws we're severely
/ punished. For the first ofense i'm.
/ prisOnment for y days Oh bread and
water; second Ofsnse, % pounds fine
and the pilloFy; third offense 10 pounds
iine, pillOry, loss Of an ear and per
petuai infamy. This was good old
English law in the days Of Edward VI
Trusts and monOpolies have about
bankrupted the government and are
/ trying to reduce the great mass of the
1 American people to beggary- the
/ government is in the deal. 1t is govern
iment of plutocratie despofism. 1t /.
time TO call halt and demand the ab
clifton Of the bureau Of tips to trusts
! through these stuffed government and
state crop reports.