The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1912-11-01
Under Democratic Tariff Buying
Power of Farm Products Frac-
ton of Value Under Republican,
Rule.
CROPS NOW BUY MORE TOOLS
Hardware Man Shows Farmer by
Simple Lesson He Can Well Afford
Many Times tho 1894 Price OF
Necessities and Put Money in Bank.
BY Ebert Hubbard.

oy CipeTt rIuppdro.
Perhaps you remember the time. It
was not so long ago. The papers
printed much about the farmers of tho
West using their corn for fuel. They
burned it-burned their corn-for two
very good reasons. To begin with, it
was cheaper than coal; and to end
with, the price Of corn was SO low
that 1t didn't pay to haul II to mar
ket.
after, corn sold in Kansas for ten
cents bushel In other words, q
man had bushel Of corn for tho
price of shave. If farmer wanted
to buy pound of binder-twine, he
had to Sell two bushels of corn to get
It,
Today binder-twine sells for about
seven and one-half cents a pound.
And what is the price of corn? Why.
corn Is sixty-five cents a bushel.
Well, back In "a a farmer bought
a farm wagon of Hutchinson (Kan-
sas) dealer for sixty dollars. 1t was
a good wagon, and the farmer took
care Of it. 1t pays to treat good
thing well. This makes 1t better and
gives it longer life.
The other day the farmer came
back to this same Hutchinson dealer.
and said he wanted to buy another
wagon just like the one he got in "a.
1T was a good one" he said.
That's why l want another one just
like 1t. How much are you going to
charge me for it?"
The dealer rubbed his chin, and
passed his fingers through his hair.
"Well, now, let me see. 1t seems to
me you paid $50 for that wagon.
didn't your"
That's right, said the farmers
800"
"All right, that same kind Of
wagon-a little better, perhaps. fos
some improvements have been added
that wagon will cost you $7b."
What" exclaimed the farmer. He
was surprised, and began to object.
and then wanted to know the why's
and the wherefores OF the rise In
prices.
WELL" said the dealer. "ths ma.
terial, like lumber and iron and steel
has gone up in price, wages have adj
vanced-and' 1t costs me more to buy
a wagon now. Maybe the Tariff has
something to do with it, too"
At the mention of the word Tariff"
the farmer went straight up in tho
air. He began to expound against
the theory of the whole thing.
The dealer let him run along for q
while and then asked az lin. Say.
when you bought that wagon from me-
in "a, think you paid for 1t in corn,
didn't your"
"Yes-sure I did," said the farmers
"but what's that got to do with it?"
And, let me see. Corn was 10
cents bushel, and you had to give
me 600 bushels of corn for that wage
on, didn't you," asked the dealer
again.
Eyes, l guess did," answered tho
farmer, after recalling In his own
mind that corn was selling at only
10 cents a bushel in those days.
'1'll tell you what you do" said tho
dealer; bring me in 600 bushels OF
corn tomorrow, and Ill give you this
well, say, hold on" began the
farmer. The dealer interrupted him
in turn. But that isn't ALL" he
said. I'm addition to the wagon, III
let you and your wife go over to tho
and pick out a carriage.
Then you go and help yourself to the
best six-foot binder In the shop
And"
Here. wait a minute" started
the farmer.
I'm not through yet" said the
dealer. when your wife comes in.
I'll let her 60 to the hardware de-
partment and pick out one OF the best
ranges we've got And, just for good
measure. you tell your wife that she
can have enough kitchen utensils to
refurnish her kitchen. Now. I'll give
you that-all of that-for coo bushels.
of corn. In "a the same amount OF
corn got you Just the wagon. That's
a fair proposition, isn't it?'
The farmer was stunned. He
hemmed and hawed. removed his hat.
and scratched his head.
"I1l lust work this out In figures
and show you what you are getting.
continued the dealer. We'll put tho
wagon down at S75; the self-binder-
at SIPS. and thatn get you . beauty;
the carriage at $125; the Kitchen
range at $50, and that certainly ought,
TO be a good one! and the kitchen
utensils at $15 and that ought TO buy
a few. Add these together and you
have 1890. Figure 600 bushels or
corn at SIS cents bushel and you
have $500"
The farmer dug up his s75 for the
wagon without saying another word,
and motioned to the dealer to join
him at the cigar stand for smoke"
There is a moral to this little story.
II is that-but there, there, what's
the use?