The representative., 1900-04-19
A COMBINE
! WORLD u WIDE
PROPOSED BY PROF. RUTLAND AND
E J. G. HANLEY.
INCLUDES FARMERS, WITH A VIEW
TO CONTROLLING WHEAT PRO.
DUCTION PRICES.
The Plan to be Sprung at Paris
Having Conceived the Idea Inde-
Dendently, the Promoters Corre-
spOnd Across the Ocean.
Minneapolis Journal.

All the farmers in the world In sort
Of international trust or agreement to
restrict the production of wheat and
raise prices is the plan which it is
hoped to carry into effect at the inter-
national agricultural conference to be
held In Paris July 9-16. 1t is proposed
to ask the farmers of the world to re-
duce their wheat output by 20 per cent
and not sell bushel for less than dol
lar.
J. c. Hanley, of st. Paul, executive
agent of the Farmers Alliance and In
dustrial union, the National Cotton
Growers association, the Farmers Fed
Grafton OF the Mississippi Valley and the
National Grain Growers association, is
the chief promoter of the international
agricultural trust in America.
Professor G. Rutland, of the Uni
versity Of Fribourg, Switzerland, is the
chief promoter of the plan in Europe.
The colossal idea was conceived by
these two men independently. Mr..
terests of farmers for years. He has
been interested in many hold-your-
wheat schemes, is prominently asso-
ciated with the farmers elevator and
various cooperative undertakings. He
has for years studied the problem Of
wheat prices and at the present time is
very active in promoting legislation by
congress in the interests of the farmers.
Mr. Hanley has long been of the opinion
that II the farmers would only get to-
gegether and come to an understanding
as to limiting production and would
agree to sell only when their price could
be obtained they could easily master
the situation.
AS professor of economics Professor
Rutland had come to the same conclu-
sion. His study of the agrarian prob
lens Of the different civilized countries
led him to believe that the only cure
for the widespread troubles of farmers,
which are much more severe in the old
than in the new world, is to restrict
production.
Both Mr.. Hanley and the professor
were hard at work getting the idea into
practice when they encountered each
other through correspondence. Since
then they have been working in har-
mony with common idea, viz: to per-
suade the international agricultural
congress to indorse the idea and recon-
mend it to the various associations pres
ent at the conference for application
next year.
The plan seems chimerical, but Mr..
Hanley declares that he regards it as
feasible and It's consummation prob
able. He calls attention to the fact that.
the farmers are well organized through
out the world, and says that it will be
q comparatively easy matter to secure
the approval of the various organiza-
tions for the plan of restricting the out
put.
While 20 per cent reduction In acre
age is desired, Mr.. Hanley points out
that If only five per cent can be secured
the worlds wheat crop will be reduced
about 125,OOO,OOO bushels, which is, he
says, enough to bring the price at Liver
pool up to 81. To help out the effect of
a restricted production the farmers are
to hold their wheat for 80 days, and to
market it only when dollar bushel is
forthcoming.
When he was reminded that the reali-
zatiOn Of such a plan would constitute
a trust among the farmers, who have
most complained of trusts, Mr.. Hanley
replied that it was only a matter of
self-defense. Almost everything the
farmer buys" he said, lis regulated in
price by some trust which has overcome
competition. On the other hand, all
that the farmer sells has it's price de-
termined by the competition of all the
rest Of the farmers Of the world in the
Liverpool market. The farmers have
been gouged by the capitalistic system
and have gouged each other; now they
propose to unite for the purpose of stop
ping ruinous competition among them
selves and to make the world pay fair
price for their product"
Mr.. Hanley's idea is that as long as
the present system Of doing business
continues all the individuals engaged
In similar economic pursuits must get
together to defend themselves against
other groups.
AS a general principle Mr. Hanley is
also opposed to the granting of SUBJ
sides, but is in favor Of the shipping
bill, as amended, because it will
tend to create and expand markets for
American agricultural products. He
hopes to see great Oriental wheat
market built up to bid against Liver
pool.
In the United States the National
Grain Growers association is now at
work on plans to reduce the wheat acre
age 20 per cent and enable farmers to
place price of 81 per bushel on their
wheat. Following the Paris conference
it Is hoped to have established an inter-
grain growers association
which will be permanent, compactly or
ganized and always alert to protect the
and further his interests.
To realize how ambitious and asscrtiye
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