The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1896-12-31

distribution, the balance being retained in
the secretary of states Office to supply
the legislature and for other demands.
| We have 224 organized counties IN the
state. The number allotted to the de-
partment for distribution, prorated, is n
| fraction over six copies to each county.
have sent out but few copies except
when requested. The supply was soon
exhausted, and almost every mail contln-
ucs TO bring requests for copies. 1t Is
no unusual thing for farmers. when call
ed upon by assessors for information, 10
refuse and withhold the information, and
give as reasons that they never get
a report, and that the lntorma-
ton is wanted for the oehent
| of speculators. The farmers i'll
insist upon greater consideration for
themselves in this respect. l think their
claim is lust and should be honored. This
refusal of the farmers and the reasons
they give for it, to furnish desired IN
| formation, taken in connection Win thY
very limited number of copies Of the re.
mort that are issued and their unequai
| distribution, does not evidence the exist
ence between the farmer ana ms state
government of those reciprocal reiatiohs
of good will and confidence when are
really vital factors in the makeup OF
general prosperity.
"The difficulties encountered by TINS
department are, however, by no means
| confined to omitted statutes. defective
laws and unwilingness of farmers to
| furnish statistics for publications, OF
| which they are entitled to the largest
| share. but which they do not get at all:
| Worse foes than these were here before,
and are here now. They are those VINO
foil not. neither do they SPIN yet they
are always greedy and hungry to prey
| upon the products of the farms labor,
| appropriating the industry OF others 10
| the building up of incomes LOT them-
| selves. Confederated companies ana as
seciations of men, by combination Ior
vicious purposes, at will bear or Duli !nc
| markets of the country, depressing
nrices until agricultural products pass
ont of the farmers hands. This is prac-
tically a coming of the sweat that tails
from the farmers face, while he walks
the furrow between his pillow handles,
into dimes and dollars for his oppression.
1t seems to me that no government can
be, while permitting this, either Just IT.
self or eager in duty to its citizens: Ihere
ia and can be no excuse, no plausible
defense for any one who seeks to deprive
producers of the full market values OF
his products that may be prevailing Ut
the time the sale is made. inns is
prOposition which no one can deny, ana
which no one will in good faith even at
tempt to dispute. 1t embodies and is IN
tended to express no special favorltism
for the farmer. 1t is simply the declara-
that are not Only not of doubtful con-
struction, but also of easy and safe APP
plication, with penalties so severe that
no man would violate or attempt to vio-
late them.
"The evils visited upon the public by
combinations, trusts and syndicate asso-
Citations are by no means limited to those
which prevent the farmer from getting
remuneratlve prices for his products by
sale in open markets, where competition
is possible and where values should be
regulated by the measures OF supply ana
demand. They extend also to those sub
jects of trade in supplies that are ncces-
sary in the management OF household
economies and farm operations. Every
consumer who is not dealer in the par
ticular line of merchandise that is con-
trOlled by trust conspiracy is vitality IN
voyed. Notably among those enforcing
combination methods is the lumber trust,
now actively operating in this state. 1t
is a notorious fact that no one, not
dealer, can purchase it at saw mills for
shipment, even by car lots. Except deal
ers in the article, ali who need it must
buy from some local dealer. This local
dealer obtains it at trust prices from the
mills. These trust prices. the added cost
of transportation and of the local dealers
profits, are accumulated burdens which
the consumer has to bear. 1t occurs to
me that this is not by any means the cor
rect thing to tolerate. Nor is the tolera-
ton a concession of the law, either in
spirit or letter. The following CORE
spondence serves to some extent to dem.
onstrate the workings of this trust, and
emphasizes the pressing necessity OF some
rigorous rule in the interests of equitable
commerce between the lumber merchant
and the lumber consumer.
"'Bremond, Robertson County, Tex,
April II, 1904. J. Rose, ESD, Com
missioner of Agriculture, etc: Respect
ed Sir-I read your report, etc.. as pub
lished in the Dallas News, in which you
classed all those who dealt in futures
as gamblers, and you thought the peni-
Tertiary was the proper place for them.
You seem to feel deep interest in the
welfare of the farmers. Now, If you de-
sire to do something for the Gibbs mud
sillers, | would suggest you step over
and invite Governor Culberson to go
with you to the lumber dealers conven-
ton, which meets in Austin, on the 18th,
and see if you can induce them to do
away with the lumber trust. See II they
will obligate themselves not to boycott
any saw mill man that will sell car
load of lumber to a farmer who desires
| to build a house, that lives near lum-
Der yerd on the railroad, and see what
n combination these lumbermen nave
| made against every man who is not in the
lumber business. See if you can get
these lumber dealers over Texas, VINO
sell lumber direct to the farmers. to sell
lumber for less than so to 70 per cen,
profit. Mr.. Halfway is now in Jail al
| Waco for selling cheap oil to farmers
Can't you and Governor Culberson per
suade these lumbermen to allow farmers
and others who want carload OF lunoel
to buy it direct from the saw mills! i
YOU and the governor will do this for th'
farmer, they will ever feel grateful Il
both of you. OF all the trusts and com
hines that ever were in Texas, this lum
her trust has been and is today the mos
unjust and tyrannical and oppressive
Go in their secret meetings. where the.
all fix prices to rob all those who ar
forced to buy of them. Respectfully.
al. C. ROBERTS,
"Austin, Tex, April IA, 1896. Mr.: j
G.. Roberts, Bremond, Tex: Dear Sir
Replying to your favor of the 18th IN
slant I beg TO say in regard to the lum