Tensas gazette. [volume] (St. Joseph, La.) 1886-current, 1911-09-01
WHEN FARMERS LOSE MONEY
overproouetIon Of Agricultural Prod
ucts Cause Boom Of Business sys-
tenn and Consequent Loss.

Certain men and, magazines are con-
tinually advocating increased produc-
ton of agricultural products. II the
feeders of cattle, sheep or swine are
making money. or IL wheat, corn or
sugar beets is making money. those
facts are put before US in large type
and we are urged to get busy and
compete with our successful neigh
bors. writes ]. U. Shade of Kansas, in
the Breeders Gazette. This would
divide up the business and produce
such large quantities that all OF us
must lose money, except the men
who urged the matter. These would
make money on account of increased
traffic.
When We have over-production in
farm products and tie farmer is los
ing all the fruits OF his labors, then
everything is booming in a business
way. While the farm prs are losing
several billion dollars worth of labor.
the business system is making it.
When we have over-production In
manufactured products. instead Of re-
ducing prices to enlarge consumption,
IS the prices on farm products are
reduced, the manufacturer closes
down production and throws the la
borer out of employment. Then in a
short time, although there is plenty
of demand for farm products. there is
no money to buy. There are hungry
people on the streets looking for
work and naked starving children at
home. The farmers remain at home
patching UP their old clothing. trying
to make things last until the dark
clouds lift. The bankers, themort-
gage companies and the loaning In.
stitutions (all Of the toilers' creation)
are working for dear life to collect
their loans or increase their securi-
ties to make them safe.
Someone cries out, What's the mat
teri" Someone says, PANEL" Some
one cries, What caused it?" Some
one says, ''over-production." 1t
seems to me that q crosseyed Egyp-
tian mummy could plainly see that
there is something wrong from the
farmers standpoint.
We see one large hardware store
doing an extra large business on
reasonable profit. We rent room
and enter into competition and divide
the business. and we are both doing
a large business on reasonable
profit. Then enter two more men and
rent rooms and again divide up the
business, and when II is divided we
find thai we must increase our profits
to make a living So VIC all get to-
rether, cooperate and tx prices and
make money. Then four more men
enter town. rent rooms and go into
the hardware business. for they see
the prosperity of those that are in IT,
Now we have overdcne It. We must
make prices so high that the consum-
er cannot reach them. We find that
something must be done. We form a
trust We put all eight hardware
stores under one management We
issue bonds and stock four times or
more of the value of our old machin-
cry or shelf-worn out-of-style goods.
and we attempt to pay dividends or
interest on the bonds and stock When
we find that we cannot possibly sell
enough goods, at high enough prices to
pay the interest and dividends. we say.
Let us nationalize our big business.
Let the government supervise our
business by naming prices that we
shall pay for the raw material and la
Dor, also set the price at which we
shall sell. allowing reasonable
profit on our capitalization. This viii
make our securities as good as govern
ment bonds"
VIII that not be soft snapg But
who win guarantee the farmers q rea-
sonable profit?