The Harrison times., 1911-08-19
WHEN FARMERS LOSE MONEY
Overproducton of Agricultural Prod
ucts Cause Boom of Business Sys-
tenn and Consequent Loss.

Certain men and magazines are con-
tinually advocating increased produc-
tion of agricultural products. If the
feeders of cattle, sheep or swine are
making money, or if 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 the farmer is los
ing all the fruits of his labors, then
everything Is booming in business
way. While the farm ,rs 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,
rs 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
stitutlons (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, whats the mat
ter?' Someone says, PANEL" Some
one cries, what caused it?' Some
one says, "Over-production" 1t
seems to me that a 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 a
reasonable profit We rent q 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 1t Is divided we
find that we must increase our profits
to make living So wo all get to-
rether, cooperate and fix 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 1t.
Now we have overdone 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 ana STOCK TOUR times or
more of the value Of our old machin.
cry or shelf.worn out.ofstyle 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,
,J. Of us nationalize our big business
Let the government supervise our
business by naming prices that we
shall pay for the raw materal and la
bor also set the price at which we
shall sell, allowing q reasonable
profit on our capitalization This will
make our securities as good as govern.
nent bonds"
WIN that not be q soft snap? But
who viii guarantee the farmers rea-
sonable prolltr