The ranch. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1902-1914, 1907-07-15

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country and elsewhere. And yet, to
show you the unreasonableness of
human nature, these same farmers
who are now getting 1000 per cent
more for their hides than they did
five years ago, kick constantly to me
and to my travelling men and the re-
tail merchants who sell our goods,
because they have to pay 40 per cent
more for heavy shoes and leather
boots than they did at that time.
Everything is getting so high they
complain. 1t costs us fully 40 per
more to live than it did few years
ago. What are we coming TOP"
"They don't seem to realize" con-
tinued the manufacturer, that while
the cost Of living, the cost of food
products, of manufactured products,
of many other things, has increased
from 80 to so per cent, the cost of
raw material has increased on an even
larger ratio. They know that they are
getting more for their wheat than
they used to get, yet they kick at the
increased cost of flour. They know
that they are getting 1000 per cent
more for their hides than they did,
yet they kick at an increase of 40
per cent in the cost of shoes. They
know that their beef, their poultry,
their eggs, their fruit, everything, is
bringing them from 30 to 100 per cent
more than it did during hard times,
yet they kick because the things they
consume cost them more when con-
ditions are prosperous than it did
when conditions were adverse. The
price of their land has gone up from
200 to 500 and even 1000 per cent in
that time, and yet, if, after they sold
out, they should come to buy another
farm, and have to pay big price for
it, they would complain because
everything is getting so high that
there is no longer any place on the
face of the green earth for the poor
farmer to SETTLE"
What this man said is largely true.
The farmer has none the worst of it.
In fact, he as much as any other man,
has had the best of it. While the cost
of living and of the ordinary commodi-
ties has increased considerably, the
farmer, who has stuck to his land
and his crops, has become rich, or
at least we'll to do. He has a bank
account, something which he didn't
have when he could buy his shoes, his
flour and other things so cheap. And
he should consider that the very fact
that he is getting so much more for
his products is proof conclusive that
the cost of all raw products has in
creased in similar proportion, and for
this reason the manufacturer, the mil
Ter and the packer are compelled to
ask more for the finished product than
they were wont to do when hides
and wheat and beef were cheaper
than they are now. And to get right
down to the truth of the matter, the
manufacturers profits are less under
the new regime than they were under
the old. The cost of raw materials
has increased more to him than he
has increased the cost Of his products
But his business is conducted on
larger scale so that he can now al
ford to take smaller profits and more
of them.
We believe that the shoe manu-
facturer took almost the right attitude
in the talk related above. At least, he
mixed some indubitable truths with
his persifage. But, of course, the
farmer may have his own version OF
the matter, and The Ranch believes
in hearing every side of the question.
We wish our readers would think this
matter over and write us some letters
expressing their opinion on this sub
ject. It is a subject just now which
is one of very vital concern to this
country and to it's people; subject
about which everyone is talking and
thinking, upon which every thoughtful
man has some ideas. Write these
ideas for The Ranch This paper has
plenty of space TO give to its readers.
Write us a letter now and then. Let
us know what you think about this