The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1909-04-24
AN ASTORIAN'S REPORT
ON WHAT HE FOUND
TO BE THE LIVE SENTIMENT
OF INLAND EMPIRE
FARMERS.

w +, Buifum manager for the
Banking, Savings \ Loan Association
OF this city has returned from a trip
to Pendleton and other wheat grow
ing sections and reports that the
farmers are more than enthusiastic
concerning the suit their Union has
brought against the railroads for a
common point rate on wheat to As.
toria with Puget Sound,
Il heard more about Astoria while
away on this trip than on any other |
ever took" said Mr., Buffum, "The
farmers mean business and are en-.
Enthusiastically convinced that their Off.
GERS and executive board are about
to lead them 10 a victory OF greater
dimensions than any other OF the
kind they have ever won in the North.
west or for that matter, in the entire
country, Everywhere | heard praises
for the firm and resolute action taken
by President Grow, Chairman Reid,
and Members Cox ad Day of the exc
cutive board, Those officials certainly
have the unanimous support Of the
big farmers back Of them.
Many of the farmers would doubt.
less like to come down to Astoria
and look over the situation, especially
by the time the warehouses and ele-
vators are up. And they wish to have
everything in readiness for the hand.
ling OF this years crop direct from
Astoria and il the decision Is render.
ed by the commission at an early date,
there will be some big doings in AS
toria in July and August when the
2S0OO,000 bushels OF wheat that these
$4,000 big wheat farmers will con
troll begins, to come this way with
rush.
THE farmers are interested because
they fully understand they will make
a cent a bushel additional profit by
handling their wheat through Astoria.
Il also learned on good authority
that there was a big meeting of grain
handlers on the Portland Board OF
Trade one afternoon last week at
which II was definitely determined as
policy to abandon all endeavors to
control the wheat business from Port
land after this year realizing that the
farmers were determined TO carry the
business TO Astoria. as their suit be-
fore the Interstate ommerce Commits.
sion shows.
And on the heels Of this you will
notice by the Portland papers that
the board OF trade there is consoli.
dating with the Merchants Exchange
Certain railroad freight agents. !
who are interested wholly from their
salary and commission standpoints |
are busily at work among the farmers
trying to deceive them as to the AS
toria rate situation but they are max
ing very poor headway, for the farm
srs are about the wisest bunch Of busi.
ness men anywhere. And they are
we'll informed, assure you.
THE Portland commercial organic.
stions and boosters are also sending
etters out among the farmers trying
o pull the wool over their eyes but
eem to be getting the hal ha! on
very hand for their trouble. In these
etters it is even sometimes stated
low fervently (0 Portland loves As.
oria. This is all very wise and (
old the farmers that Astoria duly
eciprocated Portland's affection in
10Th quantity and quality
Some Of the big wheat buyers, so
was reliably informed, have sent
MT quite a number of paid men to ,
irculate among the farmers, talk with ,
hem, confuse them, and otherwise
tir up trouble.
But from the best | can see, the :
lrmers have minds of their own,
now what they want, are going after
and are going to knock off the per-
too. 5
1T is up to Astoria TO give the s
lrmers all the moral support pos
BILE They will do the rest"