The representative. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1893-1901, 1896-02-19
PRICES OF MACHINERY.
The Need of Good Teeth-"Hang Together.

ms Neeo OF GOoo Teeth-''Hang IOeetner,
Editor Representatives:
On visiting the town clerks office today
| learned collector for the "squashed"
waiter A. Wood Company stated that the
farmers would have to take less for their
wheat than they do If they come down in
the price of their products, as machine
companies had on their machines. For
merly they sold binders for 1925 which
now they ask only $3.50. This statement
was made as an offset to the statement of
the farmer the agent was trying to collect
Of. saying it was impossible to pay ma
chine notes and live with wheat only 40
to As cents per bushel This collector said
of the Argentine Republic. where they
work for eight and nine cents per day.
You may rest assured this advice was re-
ceived by the farmer in a Christian spirit,
especially so when this collector said his
Sealskin coat $780,
Let us see about this coming down in
price by machine manufacturers. have
some figures made upon Slip OF paper
by one Of these collectors which shows
that it costs just $28 to make binder
complete. 1t occurs to me $3.50 for ma
chine that costs complete $2S is a pretty
fair price over cost of production. How
does that compare with the price OF all
farm products between cost price and
sale price? The fact is the average far
mer is not making actual expenses, and
shabby $500 sealskin overcoat shows us
the way out of present conditions by call
ing attention to wOrkmen who are earn
ing the munificent sum of eight and nine
cents per day. If this modest collector
mourns over his lot in having to wear
"sha bly, sealslxin overcoat costing the
trifling sum of $500, I would suggest to
him that those eight and nine cent per
day laborers are not likely to be satisfied
with such cheap clothing as seaiskln over
coats, but no doubt point with pride to
their tWO-cent 'breech-clOut.
Farmers, remember those collectors at
tired as this one was. and offering advice
to work for eight and nine cents per day
as way for us to get out OF DEBT, ana
boast Of our great and glorious country,
is not likely to vote the POpuliSt ticket.
On the other hand he will be found giving
pointers to political agricultural papers,
like the Farmers Tribune, and whooping
it up for both of the old parties.
The old parties are now like the lovers,
their "gizzards" beat as one, and they
have but s.single thought" and that is
how they can "hoodoo" the unthinking Ia
boring man and farmer to help continue
a condition that will soon bring US to
working for eight cents per day, IN fact
| most of us have passed that point OF pros
perty. l know of many who have not
| made 10 cents in the past five years above
| cost and living I enclose as appropriate
| in connection with above a plank FORM
| sent out by the Plano Mfg co. TO thelr
| collectors. It beats the census taker all
| hollow:
Collection Department Business, The
| Plano Mfg Co., West Pullman, chicago
| Ill. Claim No.. P. o.. Llves...
| miles MIS-. f. w.. owns.
acres land Homestead. Presumption
| :. Tree Claim. =. Worth ST.. Mtg ~.
due .1S9. Owns. COWS, ....horses
:. cattle. Mtg for So. Has. acres
| . wheat, corn, ....oats. crops Ior
past 3 years has been good. :. bad. -.
| fair. He is. years old, heath,
habits Has wife and. .children
from. to- years old. His reputation
| is good ). bad. e. fair. he IS oeot
| payer. He is a kicker....? He mas
been prosperous and prospects are;
good Satisfied with his macnlne.
| Was note taken for our machine.
| Add anything further we should KNOW.
| Write on back if necessary
We write: His teeth are good enough
to masticate bread made of bark and
sweepings This is important for you to
| know. as when he is reduced to that food
| he will need good teeth so he can keep
| UP his strength to work more
It is very plain now that we farmers
must hang together or hang separately.
and that soon. 1t is an old saying that
| misery loves company" so for one l am
in favor Of hanging together.
-Hamlin V. Poore.