The Hickman courier. [volume] (Hickman, Ky.) 1859-current, 1908-04-17
THE F. S. of E. COLUMN
by JAS. H. SAUNDERS

by JAS. II. SAUNDERS
A great many people think that
all farmers organizations are like
the grange. the wheel or the farmers
alliance. They naturally expect
them to run into politics and make
demands" on the government. II
the organizers point out some Of the
farmers troubles people think they
are hunting something to "whine"
about.
So the bright young opiimist tells
us that II he had his way he would
give all the republicans a pension,
all the democrats an Office and all
the populisis something 10 whine
about. Monarchies, aristocracies
and all other tyranical forms Of
government steal the Liberties Of the
common people 50 gradually that
they do not preceive Il until they are
In bonds. Hence Il takes orators
like James Otis. Thomas Jefferson.
Patric Henry, Anthony Wayne and
Samuel Adams 10 rouse the people
when their liberties are in danger.
Politicians have discovered this fact,
so like the shepherd boy they are
constantly crying "wolf. wolf,
every time they want an Office.
They try TO convince the people
that the country is going 10 distruc-
ton as rapidly as possible, and Meth
ing can save it until they are elected
TO a position In which they can con-
troll the avalanche which they say is
sweeping down upon US. The peo-
pie have been alarmed by the cry
Of "wolf' so many times when the
speaker proved 10 be the worst wolf
they ever saw, that they have
grown Indifferent and do not investi-
gate the claims Of our organizations |
very thoroughly.
Sharpers have found this out and /
some Of them have dressed them
selves in sleeps (sarmers) clothing
and joined the organization. They
have misled many Of the farmers.
AS far back as June 1904. Mr..
EveTitt said "a farm paper lies be-
fore us which heralds the formation
Of what claims to be a giant corpora
ton Of farmers with a capital stock
Of hall million, with the privilege
Of Increasing 1t to i've million
This corporation is headed by
prominent people, and il proposes
10 knock out the farm machinery
Trust in the first round. Should Il
do 50, Who would probably be the
gainerf The new combination would
have TO crowd out the old one be-
fore It could get the field, 10 do
which il must become stronger than
its antagonist, and therefore, Just
as much Of monopoly. Il would
be crowded with salaried officers,
managers and foremen, and perhaps
be managed just as extravagantly and
with just as much regard for the in-
ner life and interests Of agriculture.
Human selGshness is much the
same the world over, and only awaits
the opportunity 10 manifest itself.
But this is only a suppositional view
OF the probable, We may say, the
natural result Of the corporation
should il be successful. Another
view Of the enterprise is a FAR more
important one. A capitalized cor
poration is nothing without money.
Capital stock is not money; il is
something issued by the corporation
presumably 10 represent an invest
ment given out in exchange for
money.
This particular corporation invites
farmers 10 take It's stock at SIS a
share. The situation is this; Tn.
farmers have the money; the cor
poration has the stock. II the plans
Of the promoters be carried out, and
they succeed IN getting the stock
taken By the farmers, the situation
Will be this' The corporation will
have the money and the farmers will
have the stock. This exchange Of
money and stock must take place be-
fore a wheel OF the corporation can
move then the future Of the money
and stock must depend on the sue
cess or failure OF the enterprise.
Certain il Is the money will never