The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1896-09-30

discussion of this and similar topics
editorially in the Ohio Farmer as the
clearest and most practical of any
which come before us. We therefore
reproduce the following extract from an
editorial in that paper as a presenta-
ton of one phase of the subject:
PRICES OF FARM PRODUCTS.
Potatoes have hardly begun to come
in in car lots, but they already quote
down to twenty-five cents. Wheat, a
very short crop, is quoted in Cleveland
at sixty to sixty-three cents, and at in
terror points fifty to fifty-eight cents.
Old shelled corn on track quotes at
twenty eight to twenty-nine cents per
bushel, or $40 per ton. Oats quote in
Cleveland eighteen to nineteen cents.
Shippers pay from two to two and one
half cents for live hogs.
We might go through the long list of
farm products with similarly discourage
ing results, but it is not necessary.
SO far as the causes and remedies re-
late to the tariff and the currency,
they are now the fierce battle-ground of
two great political parties. But there are
certain non. political things that we can
recommend.
l. Since the average price of all our
farm products, in fact of the farms
themselves, has shrunk nearly or quite
one-half, we must insist that all other
things shall shrink to a like extent and
stay shrunk until our products rise
again. Most commodities have shrunk,
except those controlled by some form
of monopoly or trust. But labor, fees
of lawyers, doctors and officials, salaries
of ministers, professors, teachers, book
keepers, railway officials, ETC., and of
county and city officials, railway fares,
hotel rates, and insurance and interest
rates, tuition in colleges and academies
these and many similar things to be
classed as services rather than as COM
modities-these things have shrunk in
cost little if any. Indeed some of them,
like insurance, are actually higher than
ten years ago. Farmers must unite and
secure proportionate reduction of such
things, by legislation if need be, or they
must 60 to the wall.
The Farmer further advises to en-
ploy less labor, unless help can be paid
with the same average number of BUSH
els or pounds of farm produce as before
the war; not to 60 deeper in debt and
not to lose faith in the future. Every
thinking person must cOncede that farm
ers have right to ask that the prices
of all kinds of service be scaled down
to an equality with prices of farm
products. How are farmers going to
live and keep out of debt if what they
sell brings twenty-five to forty or more
per cent less than it used to, while
many things which they need to pur-
chase are as high as ever? This is
especially true of fees, salaries, etc. 1t
is good time for the farmers of Yer
mont to think of these things, as the
legislature is soon to be in session, and
it ought to squarely face these facts.
The last article from which we make
extracts is by Alpha Agee, in the Ma
tional Stockman. 1t presents as cheer
ing view of the situation as we have
found, and shows plainly that farmers
are not the only ones who are suffering.
While not overlooking the hardships of
the farmers, he reviews
SOME OF THE FARMERS ADVANTAGES.
do not care TO repeat what is usually
said about the advantages of farm life.
We realize, at least in part, what it is
worth to man to be his own master,
planning his own work and executing
his plans; to have degree of liberty,
not bound to be an animate machine
for another man fixed number of
hours every working day in the year;
to have good home with wholesome
air, water and food, and no well-nigh
unbearable crowding by neighbors; all
these things have been often discussed,
and should be ever fresh in mind. But,
at this time, there is more than usual
reason for choosing to remain content
with farming. Our towns and cities
are feeling more deeply year by year,
the failure of country folk to buy freely
on account of hard times, and l have
never before seen such extraordinary
exertion on the part of the manufac-
turers and merchants to keep their
sales from falling off to the point
that they would have to close their
doors. Some have given up, and 9TH
ers must, because the people are not
able to buy freely. While many work.
men are out of employment, more must
join their ranks. Capitalist and laborer
are alike facing future no brighter
than that Immediately before us.
In such times the advantage is with
the farmer, if he is not deeply in debt.
He can keep close shore, while the big
manufacturer or merchant cannot. He
can keep his job, which is safe for
bread and meat and fruit, even if ii
pays little else, while the city worker is
not sure of his chance to work. 1t is
true that, as modern farming is carried
on upon large farms, the investment in
production of crops is hazardous when
prices are very low, but have in mind
the very large number of farmers who
pay out little money for labor, and
whose capital, if invested in bonds or
notes, would be insufficient to bring in
| a considerable income They can mike