Middletown transcript., 1907-01-05
FARMERS BLAZING 4 PATH
For Better Prices Through the Big Labor
Eederali0ns

Eederalions
Tie National Society of Equity of
which lie graugers of Indiana are q part
vas Id session At indianapolis last week,
at the same time the convention oI the
American Federation Of Labor al 1linne-'
apolis was III session. The farmers deter
mined aoseek afiiiliafiou with labor organi
cations was made known ID twelye widely
scattered cities III the United States
Nine delegates from the american Society
Of Equity attended tbs labor convention.
Tie principal speaker among tliese dele-
gates was N 8. Cfawley state orgauizer
f,r Wisconsin,. MIR. CsaMiey, whose ap-.
pearance shows flat lie il considerable Of
a laeoring man hisnself, i remarkably
Elective natural orator, and has tue fac
.i,lty of speaking right to ahs point.
lie said ID part: sYoil oi the Ameri=
can Federation Of Labor have done Won
deriul things for yourselves. Weare try
ing to control THE production Of farm
=stuffs as you ere controlling the labor sit
,iaaion.
We may control the wheat market, as
ne are doing day the mills Of Minne-
apolis are on tile peins Of shutting down
i.ecanse we are holding back our wheat.
But the man between will tix that for you
j;ist the same as he always does. unless
iii producer and the consumer get close
atsgetller.'
we we're told BY the commission
merchants in their convention in the
,iraud Hotel ID Chicago that unless We
i.sIned tile Northwest Shippers Associa-
.,ian fee and paid | $500 limitations We
,aaild be taxed SIS for eyerycar Of pota-
toes we shipped. We are now At q point
y bere We are determined to fight and we
want assistance.
Speaking for Wisconsin, bis own State,
Mr.. Crawley pledged tliat within
year i00, 900 Of ita farmers would sign an
sgreement 10 purrb,as none but goods
Ebeafine tle union label.
Farmefs III Middle States are moving
Ia ibis mater Of getting in touch with
consumers also. and the Society Of Equity
Is boud TO spread lie influence here.
The farmers in Missouri, he contin-
ned. receive rs cents bushel for apples.
nof( enough to pay for picking them.
The same apples are sold to you for %
cent peck Who gets the difference? You
may raise your skes to sl5 a day, but
ii viii avail you d hing as long as there
is parasite betwdn you and the pro-
ducers Of the CONT oddities you consume.
No one has the right to set the price Of q
commodity bas she man who produces it
and the mau who consumes ii. Any
other man is speenlator Every time
they cut down our prices they curtail our
power u lie consumption Of the articles
sou produce. They have put 5000, 900
farniers in tie United ID position where
We cannot ask you 10 come and work
Tor MS. We cannot pay you the wages
| Y You may organize and Try 10 control the
| labor market Yon may restrict iminigra-
lion and ,ariotn the Chinese, but you
cannot keep the pauper labor Of the farm
from taking your place when you strike.
We are not to blame fur this condition.
Our sons and daughters are becoming
educated anl ti,eyB Bsill not stay on the
farm. they waat 20 go to the cities,
where they can esN better wages. We
raise potatoes aud sell sshens fur 25 cents !
basket. You pay as much for peck,
and the commission merchant and the
hoard of trade Speculation gets the differ
ence.
The big cities oi t,hiladelpI,ia. Baltimore
and New yolk are close as lsand fof. Della
/ ware farmers, ana il the big labor organ.
izatioas Of these cities could iJa reached
direcs. Delaware Iafsllers would find theif
markets more profitable.