The independent. [volume] (Lincoln, Neb.) 1902-1907, 1905-03-30
A FARMERS UNION.
Demand Fair Treatment Of Railroads.
Do Their Own Business


Editor Independent: / believe that
in our modest little town of Somers,
in Calhoun county, in northwest Iowa,
was inaugurated a movement which
will spread over all the mighty grain
raising regions of this country before
short half decade rolls around. 1t
will do this because the country is
ripe for it. 1t will do this because
there is opposition which will make
every farmer a fighter and an orga-
nicer in a spirit OF manly independ-
ence and as a rebuke to the forces
which now attempt to thwart, by fair
means and by FOUL every action pro-
ducers would take to reap just bene-
| fits.
We farmers at Somers have formed
a union. Each Of the school districts
sent delegates to the township meet
ing. Ours is more than township
union, because farmers in their eager
ness to organize and get their rights,
came from various towns in Calhoun
and Webster counties. We will have
own shipping. We will meet the sell
fish demands of the middlemen and
the Indifference of railroads, with
united action so strong, they will be
forced to respect us.
And here, brother farmers, is the Sc
cret of the great enthusiasm in Iowa
for perfect and powerful organiza-
ton OF grain raisers, viz: the dis
covery that on every hand there is a
hot-bed of opposition to Independent
action by farmers. There is an IRON
clad Grain Dealers association with
it's agents at our home station to fix
a price and weight and method
of handling for the grain we raise, the
hour it is hauled from the farm to
the railroad. If you escape the grain
buyers, or rebel at the tax of the mid
dleman for shipping your grain, and
poor fool farmer-think you can ship
it yourself to the open market of the
world you next run up against the
railroad opposition. First, you can
not get car for a farmer shipment,
though you get on your knees in the
mud to ask for it. Second, if you
show fight and demand cars from the
traffic officials of the road, you will
find them switched alongside ditch
or a bank, at the end of weeks time,
where they can not be loaded. Third,
if you fight on and load the cars and
bill them to Chicago, Minneapolis or
Kansas City, the influence of the OPP
position will force delays in transit,
and the benefit of good market for
the grain may be lost. Fourth, if you
attempt to have some Of your wrongs
rignted by law, member Of the state
Legislature, with his pocket full of
passes, may arise in the state house
as he did in Nebraska only few days
ago-and declare that ''if the law max
| ing body passes such statute recog-
nizing a state farmers association, it
should have erected in its memory a
monument built of asses skulls"
Farmers, this is no dream. 1t is no
! impossibility. 1t is not a time for
half-hearted work. Nor do we want
professional organizers who are look
ing for fat salaries. 1t is the hour for
farmers to work for themselves, work
among themselves and reap the bene-
fits themselves. We all know some
! thing about politics. 1t is no harder to
form farmers union than to attend a
town meeting for political purposes.
Let us show to the world that farmers
are intelligent enough to organize sys-
dramatically, school districts, towns
ships, counties, states and nation; but