New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1910-05-04
BAR THE M|DDLENbN"
"Let Us Work Together" B. F.
Yoakum Tells Farmers

St. Louis. May Successive rroet +,tr1,,,
by rrliddte.nen was the reason assisns5 fr,.
high prices Of foodstuffs by B. r yna,,,,,,
chairman Of the Frisco system. in an al,
dress this afternoon before the nations,
convention Of the Farmers F6uca+to-,.,
and Cooperative Union. Ee declared .bs+
the heavy reductions in freight rates of ,be
last few years had been absorbed b4- the
dealers and had not been shared in by the
farmers or consumers.
Better marketing methods were advanced
as a means by which farmers would eef
better ysriees for the food they raise and
al the same time lower figures would he
given 10 those who buy for uss ia the
kitchen. lie described the demagogic poli-
ticiaD IS disturbing and expensive mid
die asent, and urged that he be cut ont il,
the dealings which the railroads ana RE
farmers should have with each other. Mr..
Yoakum said in part:
The most important force for the welfare
Of the nation viii come when IRE Hand owl
ers Of america are organized. This organ
izaUon IS important not only Tor the bene-
hts which VIII come 20 the farmers. bur crl
4 account OF the money which Will rs saved
by the consumers 1t is not the prices re-
eeived by farmers which make living ex-
pensee laigh. but the profits of the dealers
hendiing the foods between the farmer and
consumer
The Florida farmer RECEIVES e * for a
buSfel OF green beans, the railroad gets 50
cents Ior the eight hundred mile haul TO
New York and the consumer pays S. % for
this same bushei Of beans. There is S ner
cent for the grower, per cent Tor the car
rier and 81 per cent for the dealer This is
not q fair division.
Thirty cents a dozen was the AVERAGE
price OF eggs in New York last year. while
the farmers Of Arkansas and Missouri re-
ceiyeo IS cents. The freight was two cents
500 = -
a freight station IN New York and deliver
them 10 the consumer take l3 cents dozen
Every member Of every community is in
terested IN aiding the farmers 10 organize
9 system OF 6cly.g business direct from the
fed 20 the table. Effective organization
through politicians who have no relief to
offer. The cotton growers are not organ
1Zed and they are losing money thereby.
OF cotton from gin to spinner, but the
S5eculator must have So so a bale. The
time will come when states viii construct
warehouses TO aid farmers in marketing
their Gotten. ] understand that louisiana
IS 10 be the first state to take this 5naper-
Isnt step; Jnder this proposed Louisiana i;5s;9
uaIlZ or through his organization, can ship
his cotton 10 New Orleans and hold ii until
he Is ready 10 sen His warehouse receipt
Manchester SPINNER than the eoatTeet or q
specutator 80 deliver the cotton.
farmer and the railroad know that some
politicians viii criticisa my motives, but J
appreciate the fact that in having a busi-
ness talk with you I am talking TO the
largest producers of railroad freight, and i
is to our mutual interest to talk over things
ard know each other better
something TO cooperate with and some
thing TO Cooperate for. The products and
SUPPLIES Of the farms constitute 20 per ce9i
OF the freight Of tlae Western railroads. Il
is 10 our interest to work with YOU in bet
ter5ng your marketing facilities, for tbs
more prosperous you are the more business
YOU have fer US. In working cut economies
the consumer Is also benefited
First let Us eliminate the men VINO talA
radical ideas TO foster haired and malice
between The producer and transporter
Taking your products from your farms tC
the market and in aiding you to get tbs
best prices are the ways IN which we car
prohtsbly work together. We 60 not need
any middle agent. We can talk straight Al
ore another and save money by doing So
IN short, let US WORK together.