The ranch. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1902-1914, 1909-06-01
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SPECTATORS INJURIOUS.

SPECTATORS INJURIOUS.
Wheat has touched a market quotation that has
not been seen in a quarter of a century. This
would be very gratifying to producers If they were
receiving the advanced rates. 1t is of direct con-
Germ to consumers it compels an advance in
the prices of other foodstufs that also gen.
orally under outside control at this season of the
year. This necessitates a curament OF eXpen-
ditures in other lines by these consumers, with
out enabling the wheat producers to offset it by
increased purchases of products supplied by the
consumers
More than this: Special Agent Davis of the
Department of Commerce and Labor reports from
Europe that wheat manipulation at Chicago has
rendered business in American flour impossible
for months. Il consistently believe" he says,
that if the wheat spectators had let the mar
ket alone should have exported at least 2,000-
600 barrels more of flour to Great Britain and
Europe the current crop than the figures will
now be able to show"
This condition works injury to both consumer
and producer. For this reason Charles S. Bar
rett, president of the Farmers Cooperative and
Educational Union called a mass meeting of its
members at Springfield, Mo-, May II. He said:
I'VE have found a solution for one of the most
important problems in the South, the handling of
the cotton crop to the best interests of the grow
There has been no consolidation of the farm
into trust but an amalgamation of ware
houses. At the present time we have thorough
organization that regulate the price of cot
ton We are deriving much benefit in the cot
ton markets today as the market manipulators.
1t is our ultimate aim to control every cotton
nearly the height of usefulness to the South
and have turned to the assistance OF the Middle
West and the Northern farmer with our Organi
cation and financial support. am not familiar
with the conditions and needs of the grain and
stock growers, but the solution we have found in
the South will be the basis of our work here
At the second days session plan to construct
a chain of warehouses in grain producing terri
tories for the purpose of holding wheat for higher
prices indOrSed Congress was also petit
toned to enact law that will prevent gambling
in grain. Theodore G. Nelson, national organizer
for the American Society OF Equity, addressed the
meeting, saying:
THE object sought by the members Of the grain
growers department this year is much the same
as the purpose for which this convention has been
called by the Farmers Union. BY collective mar
ketng members of the society will sell their grain
to the millers and export product Will be sold d.
rect to English and Scottish wholesale coopera-
tive societies of Great Britain In this way we
will pass the crops by the speculator and their
own middemen. By getting for themselves profits
which go to the Spectator and the middleman, the
grain growers will, no matter whether the price
be low high, get a greater income from the
sale of their crops, without corresponding in
creased cost of bread to the consumers"
This is a audable effort. If it can be brought
to success a prolific of evil to producer and
consumer will have been eliminated. But can it
be done? The Spectator is as old as human
history. Those in position to manipulate the
market have always been able to make enormous
profits by controlling the visible supply but if
strong organization of producers is made and their
products held for opportune selling they will be
able to realize much more from their crops. The
wool growers of the West and the cotton planters
of the South have led the way, and through CO.
operation have been able to store and handle
their crops, realizing the full benefits of the adj
vance on the market The National Wool Grow
ers Association at it's last session began opera
tons along the same lines and it's members are
now reaping the benefits of their foresight
corner in grain cannot be made when the bulk
of the product is controlled by the producer and
the central warehouse becomes a storage reser
vor that conserves the supply to meet the actual
demands OF consumption.