The Rich Hill tribune. (Rich Hill, Mo.) 1903-1911, 1905-02-09

Harvester CO., arc successfully car-
rled out the farmers OF this country
VIII IN all probability be compelled
to buy all their implements from n
Trust ia the course OF two or three
years.
when this combine ~ the McCor-
mick, DcerIng, Plano. Champion and
milwaukee, companies WIS formed
In New Jersey In the fall Of 1902, IL
created a sensation throughout the
country, especially amoug the farm.
ers, the implement dealers aud the
independent implement manufacture
ers. IL was feared that this gigan-
tic $40 900, 700 New Jersey corpora
zion would not only control the har-
vesting machine output Of the coun-
try, hut that it would follow the
usual Trust methods by gradually
buying other factories, adding other
lines and seeking TO control the en-
tire industry as its own logical field.
The promoters OF the Trust at
tempted TO allay 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. 1t 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 adj
vanced and that the combine had
thus been forced upon them by cir
c~umstances.
These statements were accepted
with n smile OF incredulity 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 II 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: ID. NJ. Osborne &
Co., Auburn. New York; Aultman &
Miller Co., Akron, Ohio, and the
minnie" harvester plant at st.
Paul. MINI. This gives 1t control OF
u large share OF the harvesting ma
chinery output. 1t has also added
to its original line OF manufacture,
so that instead of combining itself 20
harvesting machinery alone. IL now
makes harrows, cultivatOrs, grain
and fertilizer drills and seeders, bal
ing presses, hay rakes, hay tedders,
corn huskers and shredders, corn
~harvesters. manure spreaders, gaso'
line engines, cream ~separators, till
age implements, farm wagons, etc.
1t may be said there are plenty
OF independent manufacturers &c
comepte I'm these lines, and that ii
true, provided the competition offer
ed by the Trust be fair competition
But here is where the Trust shows
its true cOlors and demonstrates the
power OF n gigantic monopoly q
market its products, not on theiI
merits, but by n method which elm
ply brushes competition.
The harvester companies have
always marketed their machinery
by means OF canyassers who worh
among the farmers In connection
with "a local dealer who represent
the company ~ their agent. Th'
agent is "A commission ugent, ant
for years Il has been the custom e
have the agent sign n contract q
represent but ono harvesting ma
chine company. This has Away,
been considered fair. AZ "A genera.
rule, mo- agent would cnne To hnndl,
two different lines OF harvesting ina.
chinery, so he readily signs IA con
tract containing such an exclusive
Iciausc.
Almost 100 per cent OF the regular
Implement dealers OF the countr,
handle harvesting machinery. Al
tic Trust now makes about o. pei
? cent 81 the harvesting machinery Il
follows that " per cent. of the deal
ers are Trust agents. 4 dealer who
: has handled a certain dine Of har
vesting machinery for a number o
Iyears can hardly afford toglveit up
ills PpaiF business Is increasing
each year, It brings trade 90 him fl
other lines, IL II a trade mark, ans
|, an Implement dealer regards a la,