The Lake County times. [volume] (Hammond, Ind.) 1906-1933, 1906-11-17
FARMERS AND THE FEDERATION.


From the Farmers union. or the
American Society of Equity. as this is
known. to the American Federation of
Labor. seems a far cry at first blush,
but a partial affiliation of the two bod
les having been effected. according to
reports from Minneapolis. what had
ae appearance OF a breach fades away
after a brief reflection upon the aims
of each organization.
The idea of an1liation is that mem
bers of the farmers organization will
confine their patronage to union-made
products and those who claim al
legiance to the Federation of Labor
are pledged to reciproeate in kind, con-
finlng their purchases along the lines
represented by the farmers organiza-
tion TO goods produced by them. Such
an arrangement would result in a
new regulation of prices of food prod
uots.
The American Society OF Equity is
represented TO embrace one-seventh of
the entire population of this county.
There are. doubtless, statistics which
show the proportion of population rep
resented by the American Federation
OF Labor. but these are not at hand.
Whatever IL be. 1t is certainly great.
The combination of two such tremen-
dous forces, If wisely directed. would
serve as a formidable weapon against
the trusts. which all unbiased thinkers
must admit are a menace to the peace
and prosperity of the nation.
Whether any good can come OF this
pooling of their issues by these power
full organizations depends upon the
loyalty TO each other of those embraced
within the combination. 1t further
more depends upon a wise administra-
ton of the power held by the combine.
Blind hatred, which is quite as often
the foundation OF labor difficulties on
the part OF organized labor, as is greed
the animus of trust tactics, will avail
not much in the struggle. All actions
should be governed by calm delibera-
ton guided by wisdom. and. above all,
justice. Otherwise hardship is wrought
on the consumer, who is between the
devil and the deep sea, as represented
BY unionism and capital The prejudice
thus engendered in the hearts Of these
innocent victims is bound to react on
the element responsible for such preiu-
dice.
There are few perhaps who will not
rejoice in any arrangement which will
make FOR the betterment of the farm
ers lot, especially II such betterment
be brought about at no expense to the
sympathiZers. Everyone knows that
all manner of foods, from chuck beef
90 dried apricots, cost a great deal
more than formerly. II is almost as
we'll known a fact that the farmer is
rot the one to profit by the excessive
prices in commodities that form the
necessities of life. The city man /.
prone to attribute the farmers small
share in the profits to a lack of shrewd
ness on his part. It must be conceded
that the average farmer is more giver
to honesty than is the man who stand.
between him and the retail market ant
handles his goods for him. God pit,
the world II this were not the case
But it is by no reason altogether
lack OF alertness that makes the farme
victim of lot OF unscrupulou
fieecers. In many cases the farme
knows perfectly Wen that he is beins
fleeced but he Is at the mercy OF tn
heecers. and none knows this bette
than he. Unless he farms II" on
very extensive scale he suffers insur
mountabIe handieaps in the matter o
getting his goods to market under tn
nroper auspices. He is obliged TO trus
his produce implicitly in strangers
hands. and. after being unmercifull.
feeced by a few INSCRIPTIONS com
mission merchants. soon comes to ia