The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1907-04-13
TO COMBINE
WITH TRADE UNIONS
Society Of Equity Is Sweeping the
Country-Compact Made
With Union Labor.
Affiliating With American Fedora.
ton Of Labor to Dispose
Of Its Products.
By GARRETT M. WALROD,
First Assistant National Secretary {

First Assistant National Secretary Of
the American Society Of Equity.
The American Society Of Equity,
Front" and for its plan Controlled
Marketing" and its object Equitable
Prices for All Products" with It's ma
tional headquarters at Indianapolis,
Ind, is attracting the attention Of the
farming class of North America as no
other organization has done before.
The idea Of usefulness Of an organi-
zation with a definite plan for the dis
posal Of the products of the farm at
remunerative prices that shall not be
excessive, and that shall reach the
consumer at a cost less than at pres
ent was originated about six years
ago. It was discussed editorially' in
the columns Of Up-to-Date Farming,
a farmers paper published at Indian
apolis, Ind, for several months before
it. took definite shape in the forma-
ton Of local unions under a constitu-
ton.
Incorporated in 1902.
In December, 1902, the society was
incorporated under the laws of In
diana, having among other objects re-
lating to education, transportation,
new markets, pure foods, etc., the fol-
lowing which particularly attracts
public attention:
ITO have built and maintained,
granaries, elevators. warehouses and
cold storage houses On the farms, in
principal market Cities and in all To-
oo1i+}oc ,ho,. 20
produce may be held and controlled
for an advantageous price instead of
passing into the huds of middlemen or
trusts"
The American Society Of Equity is
not a personal scheme of an individual
or combination Of individuals to boost
a PERIODICAL to create lucrative office
or feather nest.
Work Is Educational.
It Is not organized for profit to the
organizers, will have no dividends to
distribute as its work is purely edu-
cational and directive, and whatever
profits there are to be will come to
the farmer just as soon as he can be
educated to the point where he can
rightfully come into his own by the
use VI a l1LLlc 6OOQ Sel1Sc.
Among the early workers was Newt
Gresham, who went to Texas and Or
gan1zed the Farmers Educational and
Cooperative Union, an extended &C.
count of which was published in the
Examiner of March 10 and which has
several thousand members in the
Southwest. AS that organization is
helpful to the organization which gave
It's 1nceptfve force, as we'll as the
Canadian branch of the American So
c1ety Of Equity, no rivalry or jealousy
exists.
An erroneous idea should be cor
rected as to the actual membership,
which is readily apparent to the
thoughtful, intelligent man. While
this is a great nation with 9O,0O0,000
people, there are only about 100000
farmers, less than 100000 raise
wheat, less than 100000 raise corn
less than 100000 raise tobacco, less
than 100000 raise potatoes, less than
100000 raise peanuts, less than 100000
are tsock raisers, less than 100000 are
dairymen. less than 100000 are truck
ers.
To Change Method.
A 10 per cent increase or decrease
of any one crop from the normal ave.
rage under the present methods Of
marketing means a glut and low prices
or a shortage that sends prices up,
ship Of the 100000 farmers and it's
branches would mean absolute control
of the markets already possible.
An 100000 membership in the Texas
organization, or even the one-half of
that number in all Of the farmer or
ganizations combined, does not exist.
It is hoped, however, that the men,
bership will be sufficiently large be-
fore the close Of 1907 that prices of all
crops will be Influenced to an appreci-
able degree and many products, in ad-
dition to those already under control,
added permanently to the controlled
list, among which are fruits, milk,
potatoes, etc.
Made Big Profits.
The American Society Of Equity,
through it's tobacco department, has
under absolute control the marketing
Of Burley tobacco, which is exclusive
ly raised in several counties in Ken
lucky, Indiana and Ohio, and over
$1,o00,000 above the usual returns were
received and passed into the producers
hands for the 1905 crop. The 1906
crop is not yet ready for the market
In a few counties in Tennessee, say
four, and about fourteen counties In
Virginia, and eleven in North Caro-
lima, the entire peanut crop Of the
country Is raised. During the selling
and shipping season the crush about
the depots and warehouses In the pea
nut section is a scene which totally
eclipses any wheat shipping station ir
the Northwest. Hundreds of farm
ers' loads continually wait for hours
at every station for the buyer to in
spect and price and unload and weigh
some Of the vehicles not getting away
to- return home before 10 o'clock al
night.
| Average Two Cents.
The average price paid the farmer
for the past ten years has been g
fraction above 2 cents a pound Dur
ing the fall Of 1906 the American
Society of Equity by a convention OF