The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1909-05-06
ax PETER POWER.

present. or even uiShci' biNt u"S 49,
II to Patten and the grain gamblers
for having educated the wheat grow
ers TO an understanding OF the value
of their product. The Farmers union.
TO which | have already referred as
an organization with several million
members, and growing rapidly. Is as
intent on suspending the so-called nat
ural law OF supply and demand as was
Patten and his cohorts.
III Patten- -monnpolize- our pro-
duct and clean up millions of dollars,
why canno; we. the raisers anu or
iginal owners OF wheat" is the ques-
ton the farmers are asking. And
what Is the answer? Organize and
withhold wheat from the market. And
that Is precisely what the farm work
ers are now preparing to do.
Throughout the west and southwest
hundreds OF elevators have been or
are being erected under the direction
OF the Farmers union Tor the purpose
of storing their grain. Efforts are
also being made TO limit the acreage
of wheat TO make control more effec-
tive. But the farmers will need cash
TO paw interest. taxes. etc, you say.
Some, but not all. They claim tnat
they can borrow all the money requir-
ed. and by forcing up prices 20 per
cent pay all expenses and increase
their annual incomes fully 20 per cent.
Besides, they have discovered new
wrinkle. or rather will borrow ii from
their cotton-g growing brethren in the
south.
In the south the Farmers union is
becoming almost invulnerable. The
question of restricting production OF
cotton is paramount. President j. A.
Taylor OF tne National Ginners' asso-
citation. says in an address TO the cot
ton growers that this years crop will
bring them $50,000,000 less than last
year when the total product brought
$500. 000.000) although 100000 bales
more will be marketed this year than
in 1908. President Taylor urges that
at least 10 per cent less cotton should
be raised the coming year. His adj
vice Is being followed with enthusi-
asm Meetings by the hundreds are
being held in small towns
and cross-road school houses.
Speakers are showing that when the
unions instructions We're followed cot
ton was boosted from s cents to
cents and even IA cents a pound, and
that this year q loss will be sustain.
ed because the members did not obey
the unions decision.
The new idea that is being put into
practice by the cotton growers and will
be copied by the wheat raisers eman-
ates from Mississippi. The members
of the Farmers union of that state de.
cided TO set aside one acre OF their
crops for the maintenance OF the gen.
eral distress fund. to be used only for
the purpose OF aiding those members
requiring assistance and enable them
to hold their cotton and beat the
gamblers and spectators To the man.
ufacturers. The plan is also being
adopted In Georgia, Texas and other
states.
Soon you will hear the spectators
and gamblers in wheat and cotton de.
nouncing the labor monopoly" that
exists on the farms OF the west and
south They will demand the enforce.
ment OF the Sherman antitrust law
and the dissolution of the Farmers
union on the ground that II Is in re
straint of trade" and violating the
sacred law OF supply and demand
The unions in the trades are in
close affiliation and sympathy with
the Farmers union, because they feel
that when the producers OF the fields
are prospecting it will tend to attract
unemployed workers from the cities to
the simple life and to that extent les
sen competition In the trades and
logically stiffen prices received for the
sale OF their labor power. But while
this reimbursement. almost revolution
airy In character, is being planned and
enforced by the farmers, the trade
unions regard it as nothing short OF
treason to the American people TO
speak OF reducing wages in any branch
of industry. They point out that the
cost OF living has advanced more rap
idly than wages, that there Is no like
lihood of any immediate reduction be-
ing made In the price OF food. clothing
and other necessities, and consequent.
" the unions will fight 10 the finish be-
fore permitting their wage scales TO
be lowered.
For the above reasons the hatmak-
ers are engaged in life and death
struggle with their employers asso-
citation, that the marine trades are
entering a contest that will be bitter
ly fought before they surrender the
conditions gained by years Of effort.
that the anthracite miners demanded