The Yakima herald. [volume] (North Yakima, W.T. [Wash.]) 1889-1914, 1909-08-25
PLAN
GREAT UNION
NtWSPAPERMAA Is THE LEADER
Indianan Puts Nebraska Idea Before
the Society of Equity-Sccks to
Include Labor.

EVANSVILLE. Ind. Aug. %
Charles Speer. editor of newspaper
at Fort Branch. Ind, few miles
north of here and secretary of the In
diana state union of the American So
ciety of Equity. has formulated a
plan similar to the Nebraska plan
outlined in the Tribune week ago,
for the organization of a worldwide
union of farmers to market their
products without the Intervention of
jobbers. Thus he hopes to cut the
middleman's profits. which lower
for the consumer.
The Speer movement, though much
like the idea being carried out in Ne
braska, Iowa, and the Dakotas, is
wider in its scope.
The national board of directors of
the American Society of Equity has
approved of his plan, which he says
Twill abolish all organized specula-
ton and graft and distribute the
wealth of the world among those who
produce it," 1t also would do away
with commission sales, he asserts.
Speer has sent out the prospectus
of the plan to the leaders of the
farmers societies and labor unions to
get their suggestions to improve the
plan, but none of those who Endorsed
the plans offered any changes.
National Board Will Act.
The national board will take further
action on the plans this week in the
national convention of the society of
equity, which will be held at Bowling
hn III ell
the secretary for funds with which
to establish an ONCE in Indianapolis,
incorporate and establish local and
district exchanges before January 1,
1910, when convention of the rep
resentatives of the exchanges would
be held to elect officers and adopt a
constitution.
Before the union is separately or
ganized it will be under the supervis-
ion of the American Society of Equity.
and thereafter the union will be gov
erned by the exchange representatives
in convention assembled.
Local exchanges will be incorpor-
ated at shipping points where the So
ciety of equity is represented with
equity farmers and union men as
stockholders. Only 6 per cent profits
will be given them at the close of the
year. and all remaining profits will be
distributed among patrons in proper
ton to the amount of business fur
niShed.
The exchanges will pay the produc-
ers cash for what they furnish and
change until cash has been received
fa
bers of the exchange from all financial
losses such as are suffered under com
mission and speculative methods now
in vogue.
Will Sell Merchandise.
The exchange would sell general
merchandise in case mer-
chants refused to handle union made
goods. 1t also might build creamerieS,
packing houses, and canneries to dis
pose of products of equity farmers.
Local corporations might be char
tered to go into cooperative manu-
featuring and mining. All exchange
would get union wages. In
crease in capacity would be brought
about only through increase in capt.
tai stock as all profits must be dis
tributed between the producers and
consumers that support the exchange
Above the local exchange would be
similar district exchanges established
in cities. Union laborers would be
expected to take most of the stock in
the exchanges in the cities. After in
terest on capital is paid, all extra
profit would be distributed among the
shippers and original purchasers. The
officers of the district exchanges are to
keep in close touch with the shippers
them when there Is a de-
n and for certain products and con-
sulting with them to keep prices uni
form as long as possible.
Market to BE Protected.
When no special market can be
found for any product it might be left
on the farm until there is a demand
for it. Farm products will be sold to
the consumers through the local gro
GERS or special equity market. The
manager will find a market in other
districts for products that cannot be
sold in his own.
Above local and district exchanges,
and supported by them, will be the
central headquarters, which will pro-
vide a uniform system of accounts for
the various exchanges and act as
house for the marketing of
all products of the farm, factory, and
mine. for all who are organized under
the general charter 1t also will fur
nish information as to where products
can be bought and sold.
Speer thinks his plan is most fea-
ton of farmers to be held at Bowling
Green will not hesitate to lend in
dorsement to it.