The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1902-01-10

other states to sell their crop soon after
harvest causing a glut in the market
the farmer got little profit out of his
wheat and the speculator who held the
crop realized good prices.
This year through the agitation sof
the Farmers Cooperative Grain and
Live Stock associat ton, this condition
has been reversed. Farmers in Kansas
have held their wheat until they are
now realizing good prices 1t is
shame that we are compelled to COM
pete with the unorganized wheat grow
erS of Minnesota and the Dalxotas. But
Kansas farmers have learned the les
son.
They can soon send organizers into
the northern wheat district and effect
an organization of wheat growers in
that territory. All other industries are
organized and combined for mutual
protection and for the benefit of their
own industry or business Why should
not wheat growers do likewise? 1 do
not believe that the price of wheat will
depreciate much. 1t may drop a little
for short time. But how is it going
to drop if the farmers don't sell. and
what difference does it make to them?
If there is general sentiment among
the farmers of this state that they will
not sell their wheat below 80 cents and
absolutely refuse to do so, it will make
little difference to them as to how the
board of trade gamblers of Kansas City
and Chicago fix prices.
The grain dealers trust and the
millerS' trust of the northwest cannot
control the market if wheat growers
organize and act intelligently together.
We are reaching a new condition of af-
fairs. Farmers today are feeling the
pulse of commercial centers by means
of telephone, rural delivery and daily
mails. They are not the old backwoods-
men of years ago.
1T will not be N any years until they
Tx or control prices on staple articles
they produce the same as other bust
ness men do. Farmers want to be cool
how r0f Ill 49,
selves to get wild. A fair and reason
able price they should demand; they
should not ask or expect more. When
wheat gets to a reasonable price then
they should feed the market in such
quantities as to supply the demand and
not reduce the price.
This the farmers will accomplish and
but in the entire wheat belt of the coun-
will soon be organized in such a way as
10 NIX prices on their own products and
Then they will not sell when the price
does not suit them, and when the price
gets right they will sell enough to sup
price ' S 'He
They are not attempting to form an or
ganizaton to run the prices to extremes.
All they want is a fair price and no more,
secure a reasonable price for their grain
and maintain it. No intelligent man will
should have severe cold weather wheat
VIII go higher instead Of lower in this
1T is the purpose of our organization
to work hand and hand with the millers
of Kansas. There is a community of in
tereSt between their organization and
ours. We want to see every bushel of
wheat raised in Kansas manufa ctured
into flour in this state and sold in fin
lshed or nanufactured product We hope
to make the mills of this state our market
for grain and will assist them in any
equitable way that will benefit the wheat
growers and millers of this state The
line elevator combine and the millers
trust of the northwest must learn their
place or be taught a lesson When once
the wheat growers become thoroughly
aroused they will make short work of
this pirate organization which has plum
dered the farmers for years.