The representative. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1893-1901, 1897-03-10
National F. A. & |. U. Department.
PRACTICAL COOPERATION.
Between the Tillers OF the Soil and
Wage Farmers of the Cities.
Edited ny J. &. HANLEY.
S.ate SecretnrY.

DSl w g. IL tIl~ hlSI vi Viz oOil S1IINt
Wage Farmers of the Cities.
Since the birth Of the Farmers AL
lance and Industrial Union in this
state last month, great activity along
cooperative lines has been mani
tested. one Of the most practical
ideas Of working out this plan is de-
monstratcd by the interest awakened
by the al peal of the secretary Of the
organic ton Of this state He called
for a general movement Of all mills
throughout the state which were not
controlled by the English flour com
bine to forward the names the
mills, their loca ton, capacity. the
grade Of the flour 50 manufacture
and such other information as would
be Of interest. A very generous and
hearty response was the result of this
appeal, ana fund Of in formation was
obtained that showed startling
state Of affairs in connection with
5hiS SUBJECT.
1t WAS found that a great MANY of
The mills OF this state were idle and a
great many more were running on
part Time" while other mills were
unable to dispose OF their product In
many cases cooperative mills were
the ones which were effected, and had
the result Of throwing Il damper over
any coop tratve enterprise because OF
the lack OF support given to the one
already in existence. The co-opera.
tive idea suffered accordingly.
This was the picture seen at one
end, while, on the other hand. the
great mills OF the English flour COM
bine were found running at full ca
pacity at Duluth and Minneapolis, and
the products OF those mills were on
sale In every grocery store in the
Twin Cities, and the laboring people
when purchasing, were sure in nearly
every Instance to ask for Pillsbury'S
or Washburn's, the well-known Eng
liSh flour combine brands. The SUB
ject was Investigated further, and
the startling fact was discovered that
the hour manufactured by the Eng
lish syndicate in Minnea polls, Mimi,
was sold in London and Liverpool,
Eng, markets at 81 10 per barrel less
than 1T was sold in Minneal oils, where
1T was manufactured. This illuStra ties
one OF the ways the people of this
country are imposed upon, and by
their Cwn voluntary acts help to per
petuate and aggravate the condition
under Which they suffer.
1t will be seen by the foregoing that
the working classes will insist in pay
ing tribute to the trusts and com
Dimes, which are gradually absorbing
their subsistence and reducing this
nation to an army Of tramps and pau
pers. Will they continue to do this?
lime will tell. What suggestion is Of
substantial remedy? The answer is
cooperation. How can co-ope ration
be best applied? BY the producers of
wealth, who are the great army of
toilers Oh the farms and in the cities.
taking solemn pledge to buy no for
eign trust or combine made goods
when the same are in competition
with our own farmers or mechanics.
and especially when said goods are
dearer than the goods made by native
mills or factories. What condition
would this state Of things produce:
To start with: Every barrel of flour
that we would consume that was not
purchased from the English syndicate
would tend to revive the idle mills
now going to ruin throughout the
Northwest. For every man who was
displaced III the big mills of the COM
binc from the lack of market for
their hour at least eight men could OBJ
tain employment in some small idle
mill which would be survived, as it
would take an engineer, fireman. head
miller and several unSkilled labOrers.
besides the other millers needed in
the new plant. This can be explained
by the fact that, owing to the great
improvement in machinery, one ma
chine and one miller to look after it
in one of the big mills will perform as
much work as several OF the small
mills combined. And lastly, it should
be understood that on every barrel of
-four that the citizens of this free
country purchase from the English
syndicate we pay slI0 to be taken
out OF oar own pockets and sent to
England TO help fatten the combine
which are doing their business in this
country and keeping their accounts
in Eng in pounds, shilling and
pence and we assist by our apathy
or indifference the ease with which
they rob us.
"A practical move has been inauour-
ated whereby the effects Of this condi-
ton can DC realized in substantial
manner. The Farmers Alliance and
Industrial Union OF the state are cs-
tablishing exchange depots in every
large city and town in the state to be
a dis tributing medium for the pro-
ducts Of the farm direct to the con-
sumner without the profits of the mid
dlemen. There has been established
In this city an exchange depot. where
flour and general farm products are
on sale. II is located at 249-253 East
Eighth street and is under the man
agement Of }. G. Han!ey, state secrc-
tary OF the Farmers Alliance and In
dus tr:a! Union. 1t will be seen that
the foundation is laid for putting into
practical operation many Of the ad-
yantages that cooperation will bring
to It's patrons. Ii the laborlng classes
will cad for Farmers Alliance and
industrial! Union brand of -four they
Will soon have their grocer handling
this brand Of flour and the consume r
Will have the happy consciousness of
knowing that, instead Of paying trib-
ute to EngiislItrusts and combines.
lie is improving the prospects Of Civ
ing lis idle brother workman or me.
cbanic Il chance to earn living, while
the farmer, on the other hand, will
reciprocate ny purchasing union ma dc
goods, which will be OF mutual benefit
TO each other. The -four is here now
and ready to be distributed from the
Exchange depot at wholesale or re-
tail.--St. Paul Labor Advocate.