The Washington herald., 1910-05-04

St. Louis. May adhesive proht-tak-
ing by middlemen was the reason as
signed for high prices Of food stuffs by
B. +. Yoakum, chairman OF the Frisco
system. in an address this afternoon be-
fore the farmers conference.
He declared the heavy reduction in
freight rates of the last few years had
been absorbed by the dealers and not
shared I'm by the farmers or consumers.
Better marketing methods We're advocated
as a means by which farmers would get
better prices for the food they raise, and
at the same time lower figures would
be given to those who buy the stuff FOR
use in the kitchen.
This railroad man described the dema-
gogic politician as a disturbing and ex-
pensive middle agent and urged that he
be cut out in the dealings which the
railroads and the farmers should have
with each other
solved by Organization.
'The most important force FOR the vel
fare of the nation will come when the
landowners are organized. said Mr.
Yoakum. 1.-THE organization Is important
not only for the benefits to the farmers.
but on account Of money saved the con-
sumers. II is not prices received by farm
ers which make living expenses high, out
the profits Of the dealers.
The Florida farmer receives S2.2j for a
busheI OF green beans, the railroad gets
30 cents for the 500 mile haul to New
York, and the consumer pays 500 for it.
There is IS per cent for the grower
per cent for the carrier, and 81 per cent
for the dealer. This is not a fair divi-
sion.
Thirty cents a dozen was the average
price OF eggs I'm New York last year.
while the farmers Of Arkansas and Mis-
souri, received u cents The freight was
cents a dozen The men who receive
the eggs at a freight station In New
York and deliver TO the consumer take
70 cents dozen profit.
'The rice farmer OF Texas. Louisiana
and Arkansas gets two and one-half cents
a pound The freight is one-half cent a
pound II the rice farmer were paid
three and one-half cents lone cent more
than he is now getting. and the dealer
took one cent profit (Which is p per cent?,
the New York consumer would get twenty
pounds Of rice for a dollar. instead of ten
pounds, as now.
Cotton Growers Lose.
Every member of every community
IS interested In aiding the farmers 20 or
ganize a system of doing business direct
from the field to the table. Effective or
ganization cannot be had by creating
prejudice through politicians who have
no relief to offer The cotton growers are
not organized and are losing money The
railroad takes $3.50 for hauling a bale of
cotton from gin 20 spinner, but the spec
ulator must have $3.50 per bale.
THE time viii come when States Win
construct warehouses 10 aid farmers in
marketing their cotton. I understand that
Louisiana is to be the first state 10 take
this important step. Under this proposed
/ Louisiana warehouse system, every
farmer can ship his cotton 10 New or
leans and hold il until he is ready 10 sell
/ His warehouse receipt is better In the
hands Of a New England or Manchester
spinner than the contract OF a Spectator
to deliver the cotton.
zone of the things advocated by the
/ Farmers Union IS a greater proportion
/ Of Federal appropriations for agriculture.
/ in a recent speech in the lower House OF
/ Congress. Chairman Tawney, Of the Com
mittee on Appropriations, said that Il
! per cent Of the revenues Of the govern
ment went for military expenses, which
amounted to 100000 for that period.
| This IS thirty-three times as much as was
appropriated FOR agricultural purposes.
! This session the Senate has passed a bill
providing for 100000 TO pay for few
acres Of land in Washington TO give a
! better view OF the Capitol. This IS the
/ kind Of reclamation which Washington
! understands. and 10 improve these few
acres the legislators are ready 10 give
/ one-quarter as much as given for agri-
culture.