The Topeka state journal., 1899-12-16
Farmers OF the Seventh Dis
trict After TWfne Trust.
Want the Philippine Ports
Opened at Once.
TWINE is TOO HIGH.
Endless Chain of Letters to
Congress Is Planned.
Situation Stated In a Letter
From Pratt to C. l. Long.

Wichita, Dec. 16-The farmers Of the
Seventh district in particular, and of
Kansas in general, are up in arms
against the twine trust. They have
planned an endless chain of protests
by letter and will besiege congress for
action in the matter at once. The let
ters will be in substance the one given
below, which is formulated by D. w.
Blaine of Pratt, Kansas. Mr.. Blaine
says that one year ago twine was six
cents a pound, and now it is eleven and
higher. That next June if congress does
not open the Philippine ports the farm
ers of Kansas will have to pay 80 cents
an acre for twine in harvesting their
wheat ,as against Is cents a year ago.
The effort grows out of a rumOr that
the tWine trust is labOring with con-
gress to keep the Philippine ports
closed and prevent the shipment of
hemp to this country. The letter fol-
lows and is addressed to Congressman
Pratt. Kan. Dec. =, 1899.
Hon. Chester l. Long, Washington
Dear sir-Enclosed please find clip
ping giving interview with William FIJI
ter, president of Filter Cordage orks
Of Philadelphia, which explains ITSELF
RumOrs have been current for some
time that certain cOrdage manufac-
turerS are working with the view of
preventing, If possible, any more Ma
Mia fiber from reaching this country
until after the coming harvest. w nile
I can not vouch for the truth Of the
rumors, yet they are probably true.
I also enclose a letter to Secretary
Wilson Of the agricultural depart
ment, and ask that you call to your
assistance the other members of con-
gress from this state and arrange to
present my letter to Secretary Wilson
with such information as you have, and
urge the opening Of the Philippine
ports with the least possible delay.
Thousands of letters from retail i'm
plement dealers and farmers will begin
pouring in to all members of congress
and the different government depart
ments at Washington within the. next
few days.
The farmers are very much exercised
over the late advance in prices of all
classes of manufactured articles, and
they are strenuOusly protesting that
the advances are not legitimate but
are attributed to trusts and combines.
Possibly there is no single article
which creates such direct criticism as
the advance of fully 100 per cent in the
present price of binding twine over its
value in the early months Of 1898. In
fact it is so high now that the dealers
have become thoroughly alarmed as to
the probability of further advances
which will undoubtedly be made before
harvest if we are not able to induce
the government to open the Philippine
ports within the netx thirty days.
If the information as to the subjuga-
tiOn of the Philippines is correct, there
is put little danger TO De unprecedented
in giving free outlet to the large
amount of hemp which is now ready
for shipment in the islands.
It is generally understood that very
little hemp is now in the hands of the
original producers, and that the original
purchase money has already passed in
to circulation, and that in permitting
the shipping out of the hemp would in
no way financially help the natives.
The present holders of it being foreign
importers and spectators.
My reason for calling on the score
tary of agriculture to bring the matter
to the attention of the administration
is that the agricultural classes are
more affected in the end than any
other.
Several thousand implement dealers
of Kansas, Oklahoma, Missouri, Iowa,
Nebraska and the Dal1otas will meet
in annual convention during the first
three weeks of January, and if the Phil
ippine ports are not opened for the ship
ping out of Manila fiber before these
conventions meet there will be many
urgent protests sent to Washington
charging the administration with fav-
oring and abetting the twine manufac-
turers in their efforts 20 fleece the far
mers, or at least to the governments
indifference in the matter.
You may give these letters such
publicity as you deem best to obtain
the result sought for.
Kindly acknowledge receipt and
oblige.