Dakota farmers' leader. (Canton, S.D.) 1890-19??, 1909-06-11
summer. Storage capacity Is the
first essential after learning the cost
of nrnducipu cropS Thpp and only

. = ~O
of producing crops. Then and only
then car intelligent insurance and
credit systems be evolved and fair
and uniform prices he secured and
the v uncertainty of the pres
ent be eliminated.
But farmers should not stop here;
they must see to it that this grain is
intelligently handled and must there
fore carefully study the present mar
ket system. What we need now is
more and not less information con-
corning conditions of crops and sup
plies of grain and the same concern
ing peoples wants and demand. Re-
~striction of information would be I'M
fortunate. Farmers should report
regularly the actual conditions and
either establish in connection with
their business organization a crop re-
porting and demand reporting system
or work in connection with the gov
eminent system and demand that it
be perfected.
Ihave talked with dozens Of farmers.
Very few understand the present
marketing machinery. How many
could explain the methods of grain
exchanges; could tell the position of
bulls and bears: the meaning OF OPP
lions and margins and puts and calls;
and the character Of privileges gener-
ally? Until they understand these
things they cannot legislate intelll-
gently nor indeed advise their legis-
lators what their wishes are.
To be sure the average politician
tells the farmer that he is the foun-
dation of the government and the
keystone of national prosperity and
deals out other "bunches of hot air."
But it is time that the farmers were
waking up to see that they don't
know it all, and we're demanding
from their press, from their depart
in the national and state gov
ernments and from their teachers in
universities and schools that they
give information on these and other
questions. AS a farmer and a son OF
a farmer 1 feel that at the present
time it is as important for farmers to
know how to market intelligently as
to make two blades of grass grow
where one grew before or TO graft po-
tato roots to tomato plants in order
to make double use of the M piece
of ground.
Here then we have several lines of
action for farmers. First study cost
of production, for only then can we
know the lowest price we can afford
to accept. Stop sacrifice sales. Wheat
and flour will keep. Provide as rapid.
ly as possible for storage on the farm,
at local stations and at terminals to
care for domestic and foreign de-
mand. Study best insurance methods,
(a) for growing crops on farms, (b) for
stored surplus crops, (c) for farm
stock and (d) for home buildings and
elevators. Then if the consumers,
the millers and exporters are not
ready for the grain and we need the
money, we can borrow on the grain as
security. If the present financing
agencies are not ready to finance the
movement of crops under this system,
then cooperative banks. But
many bankers have told me that they
are ready. With all of this study the
present marketing system, demand
information and it will be forthcom-
ing. If the farmers had had four or
five million bushels of grain stored
ready to sell, Mr.. Patten would not
have dared attempt the manipulation
during the last six months. Farmers
could spoil any attempted corner, as
did Mr.. Armour in the case of Mr..
Letter in 1897.
In the meantime let the millers
who cannot get grain to grind except
at abnormal prices get busy and in
sist upon better treatment; let the
men who are thrown out of work by
closing mills be heard from; let the
wholesalers and retailers of flour take
action; let the bakers who are forced
to suspend operations or raise the
price Of bread, or reduce the size OF
loayes wake up; let consumers refuse
to submit to such treatment; let the
moralists raise their voices; let those
weak minded ones who cannot resist
the temptation to risk a few dollars
which they cannot spare--those min,
listers, clerks in banks and elsewhere.
those laboring men who are a few dol
lars ahead, those retired merchants
and others who now have a compe'
tence but want more, and all those
others who have no better sense than
to think they can win against loaded
dice-call upon the saner members Of
society to take the temptation away
or, finally, let those who regulate ex
changes see that this manipulation is
stopped, that surplus crops are car
ried to the seasons and countries anC
years when and where supply is de.
manded, and see that prices are re
duced to greater uniformity.
Improvement is demanded.
Caucus for. Nomination OF Can
didates for Members of Board
-