Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1902-12-23

have never done so, nor have they ever
united to prevent Others from engaging
in agricultural pursuits; nor have they
ever prevented apprentices from being
instructed in them-and certainly they
have never conspired against the peace
and laws of any commonwealth by re-
fusing to plow and produce harvests.
They have never resorted to violence and
bloodshed and the destruction of pros
perity. Though suffering under exactions
and restrictions, uDwarranted, they are
now and ever have been a law abiding
class. tits claimed that we are now living
in a time of prosperity-a prosperity
far greater than that Of eight years ago.
So we are, for all government employees
contractors, spectators and adven-
turers. But are the farmers enjoy
ing any of this increased prosperity Z
Except in some particular localities
they remain in their old status with
no prospect ofany help for them: BE
cause of the great exodus of farm labor
ers to the towns and cities, and because
of the much higher wages paid on
government works everywhere going
on in our country, they are now compelled
to pay double or treble the compen-
sation for hands they paid eight or ten
years ago, albeit there are still hundreds
of able bodied loungers in all the streets
who ais Solomon said "would not work
by reason of the summers heats" but
who will eat bread of charity before the
spring time comes again many of them,
it may be, who but very few years since
were clamoring about hard times and no
employment. With all the scarcity and
high prices Of labor farmers receive no
more for the products they have to sell
than they did before the advent of the
prosperous times.
If the price of farm products kept pace
with the increase of the wages and ex-
penses required to grow them, then
there would be no complaint. But there
is no such equitable adjustment of the
scales. In the towns and cities, con-
sumers going to market from day to day
imagine that the egrowers of their supplies
are getting rlch very Iasl'
Now, il they are paying more for their
meats, their bread, their vegetables.
their butter and milk than they did
wears ago, they should know that
the farmers are not getting the IN
crease of which they justly COM
plain. That is absorbed by the gigantic
! trusts and cornerers, and the millions Of md
dlencn who thrive at the farmers expense.
Twenty years ago all the butter ana cheeSe
consumed in the States or exported, was Ipaue
! on the farms-by the households Of the farms,
who cot the profit Of them; and then, the con-
sumner found in them-pure and enjoyable ar
/ ticIes of fnod. But now how stands the ease
with these articles? The butter and cheese
making business has been absorbed by the
factories of the millionaire. And as If this
was not sufficient robbery Of the farmers pre-
rogative. millions of tons of bogus butter, un-
der patent names, such as oleomargarlne, but-
terine. &C., with tallow as bass, supple
mented bv cheap questionable ingredients,
| have been thrust upon the market 10 the al
most entire exclusion Of the genuine products.
| NOWADAYS, pure cream cheese and sweet
Golden butter as everybody knows is hard To
eb,ain even at high prices. They have be-
come very expensive luxuries for the poor
mans table.
The condition of things in this relation Of
common necessary food edulterants While II
robs the farmer and incidentally the consum
er, is at the same time, far.Ieaehing. in its Diet
rimental effects upon the health Of our peo
ME. But the farmer has no alternatives bu
10 suffer, look on and deplore the evil. lie Il
nowerless to remedy it, when legislation tina
might help him is directed by capitalists
specuIators. lawyers and politicians for othei
ends. The interests Of agricultnrists and sh'
interests of the masses OF honest toiier
in and out Of the rural districts ar