The Rich Hill tribune. (Rich Hill, Mo.) 1903-1911, 1905-02-16
q

~ tNI NlMNH ~ wv NAAAtN
Harvester 90, aru successfully car
ried out the farmers 81 this country
win in an probability he compelled
90 buy nli their implements from n
Trust IN the course OF two OF thrcc
years.
When this combine Of the McCor.
mlck. Decring, Plano Champion aud
Milwaukee companies was formed
IN New Jersey In the fall Of 1909, II
created a sensation throughout the
country, especially amoug the farm
erp, the implement dealers and the
independent Implement manufacture
ers. IL was feared that this gigan-
tic $40 100000 New Jersey corpora
tlon would not only control the har-
vcstipg machine output OF the coun-
try, but that It would follow the
usunl Trust methods by gradually
buying other factories, adding other
lines and seeking 70 control the en-
tire industry as Its own logical field.
The promoters OF the Trust at
tempted TO ailay this feeling OF fear
by spreading broadcast through the
land, by means OF the services OF the
Associated Press, statements TO the
effect that the combine was formed
for the sole purpose OF avoiding an
advance in the price Of harvesting
machinery to the farmers. IL was
claimed that the margin Of profit Of
the separate companies had been re-
duced to such an extent by the In
crease in the price Of raw material,
expensive competition, etc. that the
prices Of harvesting machinery
would have necessarily been nd
vanced aud that the combine had
thus been forced upon them by cir
cumstances.
These statements were accepted
with n smile of lncredulity which
time has fully justified. The fears OF
the people were well grounded. The
Harvester Trust Is now boldly
reaching out after the entire indus
try. The Trust wants the farmers
to buy all their farm implements
from the Trust, and when the time
comes, as It win n they are success
full. there VIII be no competition left
and the Trust can dictate to the
farmer on every implement he buys.
as win be shown IN this article.
First, the Trust has already sc.
cretly bought three additional har-
vester plants, viz: d. NJ. Osborne &
Co., Auburn. New York; Aultman &
Miller Co., Akron, Ohio, and the
"Minnie' harvester plant at st,
Paul. MINI. This gives It control Of
n large share OF the harvesting ma
/. ehincry output. II has also added
to Its original line Of manufacture,
so that instead OF combining itself e
harvesting machinery alone, Il now
. makes harrows, cultivatoEs, grain
and fertilizer drills and seeders. bal
ing presses, hay rukes, hay tedders
corn huskers and shredders. corr
~haryesters, manure spreaders. gaso
line engines. cream separators, tin
age implements, farm wagons, etc.
IL may be said there are plent!
OF independent manufacturers 4
comepte In these lines, and that !
true, provided the competition offer
led by the Trust be fair competition
But here Ia where the Trust show
its true colors and demonstrates tn
power Of a gigantic monopoly q
market it's products. not ON thei
merits, but by a method which Elm
Iply brushes competition.
The harvester companies havI
always marketed their maehiner,
by mean OF canyassers who worl
among the farmers In connection
with a local dealer who represent
the company rs their agent. Tn
agent Is IA commission agent, an'
for years Il has been the custom q
have the agent sign n contract 4
repnesent but one harvesting ma
chine company. This has Away
been considered fair. AZ a genera
rule, NO agent would carr 20 handl
two different lines Of harvesting ms
ehinery. so he readily signs n con
tract containing such an exclusive
clause.
Almost 100 per cent OF the regula.
+. Implement dealers OF the county,
handle harvesting machinery. Al
the Trust now makes about % pc
cent. Of the harvesting machinery q
follows that ~ per cent. oi the deal
eFs are Trust agents. A dealer VIII
has handled "A certain line oi haF
vesting maehineEy for "a number o
years can hardly afford TO giveit up
lila nepnlr business Il increasing
each year. IL brings trade to him Il
other lines, IL II a trade marx, AN,