Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1900-09-17

OF 1917 JHdH they were during Inc
same months OF last year, and this oc-
ours in the midst of good crops, and
when two wars are in progress.
Trusts and Arbitrary Fluctuations
The contractor can figure with some
accuracy so long as natural laws con-
troll. but he cannot protect himself
against the arbitrary fluctuations.
which are not only possible but prob
able when a monopoly controls the
market.
The farmer is one OF the most i'm
sIertant factors in our national life.
Some one has said to him. The hand
that guides the plowshare feeds the
world" He is not a stakeholder in
any of the trusts. but he feels the ex-
tortiOn practiced 10y them all. 1 am
not farming on Il large scale. but the
misleading reports which have been
circulated concerning my oat crop jus
tify me in making reference TO my
own experience. The New York Trib-
une recently printed a dispatch from
Nebraska to the effect that / had just
sold fUrty-eight hundred bushels OF
oats at 80 cents per bushel supposed
10 be the yield OF 40 acres. and that
the amount received for the oats was
more than double the price paid for
the land. The Tribune article then
proceeded to dilate upon the prosper
ity OF the farmer. using my experience
as an Illustration. and asserted that
the farmers of Nebraska were becom-
ing so opulent that they We're joining
the Republican party. The facts are.
first: That | had five acres of oats in
stead of one hundred and twenty
acres: second. That the oats have not
yet been threShed. so that the yield is
not known; third. That oats are sell
ing for less than 90 cents in Chicago,
instead of 80 cents in Nebraska. and
fourth. That the land upon which the
oats were raised cost me over 500 an
acre instead of Sc If. when threshed,
my oats yield forty bushels to the acre
and / sell them in Nebraska for 20
cents per buShel. the total income from
the five acres Will be $40. or less than
eight per cent. on the investment. Aft
er taking out the cost of blowing, sow
ing. harvesting and threshinG, the net
income from that five acre tract Will
not exceed four per cent. on the
money invested. | do not mean 10
judge others 10y my own experience,
but | mention the facts i'll the case 10
show how the Republican papers eXaG-
gerate the farmers prosperity. and
credit the Republican administration
with good crops, making no allowance
for the crop failures which occur from
time TO time.
Decline of Farm Products.
But while on the Oat question let me
call attentions to the statistics given i'll
the Investment Guide already referred
to. According to Henry Clews II Co.
the average prices received by farm
erS for oats. during the seven years
beginning with 1893 and ending with
1899 We're as as follows: 1893, 29.4;
1894. 32I: 1898. 1876: 1896. 1871; 1897.
81 y; 1888. 30; 1899, $40. Accord
Ing to these figures oats averaged -
cents a buShel during the four years
of Nh C!evcland's administration, and
only 81 cents per bushel during the
three years of Mr.. Aickinley's admin
istratiOn-the present year is not yet
but oats are at the present
time below the average.
According to the same authority the
average prices received by the farm
erS for corn. were as follows: 1893,
36.5: 1894. 45.7; 1895, 26.4; 1896. 2l.J:
1897, 26.3: 1898. 2S.T: 1899. 3O.3, max
ing an average of about 800 during
the four years Of Mr.. Cleveland'S adj
ton. and PSI during the three
years of Mr. McKinley's administra
tion-the fourth year is not yet COM
plete. but corn is at this time above
the average.
Wheat. according TO the same au-
thority brought to the farmers the fol-
lowing prices: 1898 53.S: 1894. 49.1:
1899. 800; 1896, T2.6; 1897, sos; 1898.
jS.2; 1899, 5S.4. showing II higher av-
nrage during the last three years than |
during the four preceding-the fourth |
year is not complete, but wheat is |
row above the average.
According to the same authority cot |
ton planters received the following |
prices: 1893. 600; 1891, 4.6; 1895. 1.59; |
/ $780, &c: 1897, so: 1898. 40: 1899. |
10, showing a higher average during |
the four years of Mr.. Cleveland's adj
than during the three
years of Mr.. McKinley's administra-
-iOn-the fourth year is not yet COM
Dlete. but cotton is now above the av-
erage price.
Taking these four staples of agricul-
-ure ii will he seen that three out of
'our have not on the average brought |
is much return to the farmer, under
he present administration, as under
he previous administration, and the
'ourth product. wheat. is more infiu-
need than any other farm product
~ foreign conditions.
Advance in Merchandise.
When, however. the farmer attempts
o use his income in the purchase OF
he necessaries OF life he finds that the \
rusts have raised prices. He must
Jay more for lumber, nails, wire. har-
less. hardware, stoves and agricultur-
Il implements. More, also for oil,
ugar, clothing, furniture, etc, and in
addition to these drains upon his in
ONE he must meet an increase in fed
raj taxation.
Let the parent calculate how long
{ will take farmer to become indie
'endent under present conditions: let
i'm contrast the lot Of the farmer with
he lot of the man who profits by gov \
favoritism and grows rich
" the exploitation of his countrymen |
Trough the instrumentality of monop- |
ly. and then let him answer the !
question, rs the young man, Absalom,
afe:' Has the farmers son. or the |
armer himself any reason for giving
Import TO the Republican party:
Next to the farmer in point Of num- |