The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1907-05-09
oRGANIzING TILE FARMERS.

OEf1ANlZ1N(T THE EAt1MEf6S.
There is some criticism in a num-
Der of Kansas papers directed at the
farmers unions" that are now being
organized in this and other states. An
era of organization has come again
among the agricultural element and it
is taking a strong hold among the
seventies and the Alliance at the be-
ginning Of the nineties.
Before this movement is con-
demned it should be understood. The
Grange was undoubtedly good thing
in it's inception. So was the Farmers
Alliance until it fell into the hands
of the would-be politicians and tried
to hoist it's leaders into political jobs.
There are two different organiza-
tons at work in Kansas. Both are
known in general as the farmers
union. but they are entirely distinct.
One is the American Society of
Equity, an Indiana concern, which
has a membership of several hundred
thousand. The other is the Farmers
Educational and Industrial union.
which started in the south several
years ago and which is said to have
over three million members. 1t is
now being organized in northern
states.
The State Journal is not sufficiently
familiar with the inside purposes of
these organizations to entirely differ
entiate between them. There are
certain known points of difference,
however. Tho Indiana organization
admits anybody who wishes to join it,
while the other restricts its member
ship to farmers. The southern organ
ization, too, is secret in its nature,
like a lodge. The Amer
lean Society of Equity has for its
avowed and chief object the advance
ment of the price OF farm products.
and its members are asked to sign
pledges to hold their products for
these prices-until wheat, for in
stance, is a dollar a bushel on the |
market. The other concern |
aims to help the farmer in his mar |
kets and general business and along |
keep free from politics. but the |
Farmers union in the south has a |
pronounced political influence, al
though it Is nonpartisan.
The organization of farmers in gen.
sral Is undoubtedly a good thing. This
s an age of organization. There may
De specific features of these unions"
hat are Objectionable. The pledge of
he American Society of Equity looks
Is though it violates the spirit of the
antitrust law even if it does not vio-
ate the letter of the law. Whether
he other. organization has a similar
feature this paper does not know.
rhe farmer certainly has a right to
tx the price of his own product with
n the limits of the law of supply and
demand and in justice to himself and
'thers, but the chief ., complaint
.gainst trusts it that they have at
empted to repeal the law of supply
nd demand. Business judgment and
GOD sense should govern rather than
rust methods.
Yet such organizations as these
armers' unions are undoubtedly ca
able of great good to their members
n disseminating intelligence. in pro-
noting discussions of subjects of i'm
,ortance to the farmers, in promoting
onor and good faith among their
MEMBERS, and in many other ways
here is no doubt that the Farmers
Tnion has already accomplished
auch in the south. To 1t is largely
ue the prosperity of the cotton
rowers during the past two or three
ears, for its members were induced {
} put in less acreage of cotton and
1ore into diversified crops, and thus
ne market has not been broken. !
While non-partisan, it has discussed
official reforms, and it's influence
as done much in aiding such reforms
S its members desired. These unions
lay have Objectionable features, but
onducted along right lines such or $
anizations are of benefit. {
CROP REPORTS.
What coustftutes q. condition Of 100 =