The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1910-05-04
RAILROAD NEWS.
Middlemen Profits the Cause of
High Prices.
Farmers Alliances Necessary
Tor Nations Welfare.
B.F.Y0AKUM'S ADDRESS
National Convention Farmers
Cooperative Union.
Other Items of General Interest
in Railroad World.
B.F.YOAKUM'S ADDRESS

st. Louis, May 4.-Excessive profit TAX
ing by :niddIemen was the reason as
signed for high prices of food stuffs
by B. f. Yoakun. chairman of the
frisco system, in an address which
ne made this afternoon before the ma
tlolal convention of the Farmers Edu-
catioHal and Cooperative Union, now
IN conference in this city. He declar-
ed that the heavy reductions in freight
rates of the past few years had been
absorbed by the dealers and not shared
IN by the farmers or consumers. Bet
ter marketing methods were advanced
as means by which farmers would
get better prices for the food they
raise and at the same time lower fig
ures would be given to those who buy
the stuff for use in the kitchen. This
railroad man described the demagogie
pontlclan as q disturbing and ex-
penSive middle agent and urged that
railroads, and the farmers should have
with each otner.
The most important force for the
welfare of the nation will come when
the land owners of America are organ
led, said Mr.. Yoakum. This organi-
cation is important not only for the
benefits which will come to the farmers
but on account of money which will be
saved ny the consumers. 1t is not
prices received by farmers which make
the dealers handling the foods between
the farmer and consumer
The Florida farmer receives $2.25 for
bushel of green beans, the railroad
gets 90 cents for the 800 mile haul to
New York and the consumer pay Sc. 40
for this same bushel of beans. There
is 30 per cent for the grower, s per
cent for the carrier and 81 per cent
for the dealer This is not d fair di-
vision.
Thirty cents a dozen was the aver
age price of eggs in New York last year,
while the farmers of Arkansas and Mis-
souri, received Is. cents. The freight
was two cents dozen. The men who
receive the eggs at freight station in
New York and deliver them to the con-
sumner take Is cents a dozen profit.
II he rice farmer of Texas, Louisiana
and Arkansas gets 21z cents a pound
for tho grain and the consumer in New
York paws 10 cents pound for this
rice. The freight is 11s cent a pound.
If the rice farmer were paid 315 cents
tone cent more than he is now getting)
and the dealer took one cent profit,
(Which is % per cent? the New York
consumer would get 20 pounds of rice
for a dollar instead of ~ pounds as
now.
Do Business Direct.
Every member of every community
is interested in aiding the farmers to
direct from the field to the table. Ef-s
fective organization cannot be had by
creating prejudice through politicians
who have no relief to offer. The cotton
growers are not organized and they
are losing money thereby. The rail-
road takes $3.50 for hauling a bale of
cotton from sin to spinner, hut the
speculator must have $3.50 per bale
The time Will come when states will
construct warehouses to aid farmers in
marketing their cotton. I understand
that Louisiana is to be the first state
to take this important step. Under this
proposed Louisiana warehouse system
every farmer. individually or through
his organization can ship his cotton to
New Orleans and hold 1t until he is
ready to sell. tbs warehouse receipt
is better in the hands of a New Eng
land or Manchester spinner than the
contract of a speculator to deliver the
cotton.
More laws for Farmers.
"One of the things advocated by the
Farmers Union is q greater proportion
of federal appropriations for agricul-
ture. In a recent speech in the lower
house of congress, Chairman Tawney
of the committee on appropriation. said
that II per cent of the revenues of the
government went for military expenses,