The representative. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1893-1901, 1895-10-02
The Entire American Product Could
be Controlled by an Association
of Producers of Wheat
and Cotton.
FIXING A UNIFORM PRICE.
A Plan to Unite Wheat and Cotton
and Establish Values and Markets
Without Reference to the
Worlds Wishes.
EXPORT TAX ON GOLD AND
RECIPROCITY.

1.-THE wheat-raisers of this country
are in bad shape and the future is
doubtful. We should therefore well
come every honest effort to point out
a way of deliyerance. A little book
has just been published in California
with the above titles. We do not in
dorse all its views: they may not be
practicable; but we want to set the
wheat raisers thinking upon the sub
jects involved; and out of thought
may come wisdom. The West and
South have got to get together for
Observation-Disclosures REP.
The object in placing the par value
OF shares in the association at one dol
lar is not SO much for the purpose of
acquiring capital to work with as it
is for the purpose of securing organic
alton, the sole object of which shall
be to establish price. If the pres
ent jObbers and exporters express a
willingness to take up the products of
the association at the minimum price
fixed for wheat. say Of seventy-five
cents per bushel at the point of pro-
duction or one dollar at the seaboard
and fifteen and twenty cents for cot
ton under the same rule, the purpose
OF the association will have been ac-
complished and there will be no need
of engaging in the several pursuits
outlined, but if they refuse to do this,
the producers with their unlimited
resources can carry out every purpose
of the association, incl uding the for
nation of a banking company upon
the plan outlined in the preceding
pages.
The banking department., operated
rs 1t would be under the laws Of the
several states. would have to be a
separate institution, even though
composed of the same stock holders;
but it could be tacitly understood
that all funds derived either from de-
posits or earnings should be used first
TO take up maturing farm mortgages
and secondly to move crops.
II opposition should develope itself
at this stage, either in the matter of
buying up the crops or lending money
upon farm mortgages, it could be
manifested in only one way, aDd that
would be by offering higher prices to
the producers than the association Of
fered and lower rates of interest to
the borrower than the bank had fixed
and this is just what we want. This
combination, unlike all others, would
thrive under competition. If the OBJ
position should offer one dollar a
buShel for wheat at an interior point
where the company had a standing Of
fer of seventy-tive cents, the company
would very naturally rejoice in the
success of its eff forts in esta bills hing
prices: but if the opposition offered
only sixty cents, it would get no
wheat. The purposes of the pro-
ducers' association would at all times
be governed by the trade conditions
of the country. If the associations
minimum prices were paid by the
present dealers, it would be simply
''social and fraternal organizations"
If not, it would become an active, com
mercial body and carry out all of it's
corporate objects.
The membership of the association
should, for purposes of harmony. be
limited to those actively engaged in
the production Of wheat, cotton and
corn, either as owners, tenants or en-
ployes, and the stock should be limit
o6 fn
prevent any corrupt control or perver-
sion of its purposes. A board of di-
rectors composed of one member from
each state represented in the associa-
tion could be elected each year, as
provided by all general Incorporate
laws, and this board could in turn
elect the officers for the ensuing year.
But some one will say, 1.-THE promise
of profit, such as is contemplat ted
here, will result in stimulated wheat
and cotton raising, wild lands will be
called into use, and the orchard will
60 back to it's original condition."
Suppose it does have this effect,
where is the injury? 1t is not prob
able that any one will in this country
engage in the business for the pur-
pose of selling for less than the associ-
atoms minimum price, nor even in
ture has undergone very radical
change, since they can do that now.
II they come into the association for
the purpose of sharing it's benefits,
they cannot in any way affect its pur-
poses. II the addition Of new land
should increase the output to point
beyond the consuming capacity of the
world, the old lands of Iowa, Ne
braska, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Kan
sas, California, Oregon and Washing
ton could in turn be given much
needed rest, until such time as in
crease in population demand their re-
cultivation. II the curtailed supply
would give to the producer upon the
new lands of Texas or the Mojave
Desert a dollar bushel for his wheat
land twenty cents pound for his cot
ton, instead Of forty cents for one and
seven cents for the other, as is the
Case at the present time, there can be
hut little doubt that he would readily