The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1912-10-04
GIVE COMPARISON
OF STOCK PRICES.
Records of Ex-Gov. Warner Quotes
Actual Figures Paid Neighbors for
Various Glasses of Stock in Years
1893 to 1897.

TO consider the conditions which sur
round the farmers, and what might
be done to improve them.
AS Ex-Gov Fred M. Warner is an
extensive farmer as well as manu-
facturer of cheese, which may be
classed as an agricultural product, he
was invited to attend the gathering
There was large crowd present. The
former governor, among others, had
been invited to give his views on the
subject, and readily complied.
Taking an old memorandum book
from his pocket for reference, he said
that some light might be thrown on
the subject they were to consider by
making some comparisons. He then
referred to the fact that in his farm
ing operations he bought stock from
his brother farmers, and had always
kept record of the prices paid.
Before getting down to talk about
the subject the gathering was to con-
slider, the governor said that he wish
ed TO make few references to his
memorandum book, as he noticed
several farmers present from whom he
had bought the stock that was de-
oNl uhh PiiNCo lSNoldCu III lldl
book. The friend reporting could
not recall the names of the parties to
whom the governor addressed his re-
marks, but gave the substance of them
SO we will substitute names, in order
to give it the personal element.
Il see John Smith in the crowd
here. / will ask Mr. Smith if he re-
members selling me a horse in the
spring of 1894" Smith remembered d
selling the horse.
Pretty good horse, wasn't he" in
quired the former governor.
Yes, he was a very good one" an
swered Smith.
How much could you get for that
horse if you had him today" asked
Mr.. Warner.
Il could sell him easy for $250OO
right now" replied Smith.
DO you remember what | paid you
for him" continued the speaker.
No, can't remember exactly, only
1 know il wasn't much, but it was as
much as any one would have paid. ]
was satisfied, | got all could then -
said Smith.
We'll, John" the former governor
answered, this book tells about the
purchase OF that horse, and right here
1t says paid you $1,000 cash for him.
You say you could get $25000 for hirs
now. That's considerable better than
in 1894 for a man who has horses to
sell, isn't it?"
j see Jim Perry in the crowd. Jim,
do you remember my buying 40 nice
sheep from you in 1895 and do you
remember what paid you for them?"
"Yes," answered Perry, Il remem-
Der it. You paid me $l.50 head for
them"
Nice bunch of sheep, weren't they?
How much could you get for them to-
day, Mr.. Perry"
II think $3.50 piece would look
cheap for them right now," answered
Perry.
Eyes, Jim," continued the ex-gover-
nor, this book records the purchase
of those 40 sheep at $1.50 piece. And
you could get better than $3.50 piece
now. Quite difference in the sheep
market since 1895, isn't there? This is
good deal better time to sell sheep
and also WOOL"
II see Frank Jenkins over there"
said the former governor, pointing to
him. Frank, you remember my buy
ing bunch of SO hogs of you in
1882"
Frank remembered. y
"Can you remember what l paid
you for them?" said Mr.. Warner.
No; / can't, exactly" said jenkins.
only / remember they were SO cheap
it seemed like giving them away"
II paid you the going price, didn't
II" asked the speaker.
Eyes, you did," answered Jenkins.
Il wouldn't have sold them if | hadn't
been satisfied that ] got as much as i
could from any one"
Now, Frank" continued Mr.. War
ner, this book records the purchase
of 60 hogs from Frank jenkins, and
that paid you 2h cents live weight.
Frank, what could you get for those
hoes todav if you had 'em?"
s"I could get 8 cents pound easy"
responded Jenkins.
Quite difference in the hog mar
ket in 1912 from what it was in 1895"
Then he refreshed the crowd with
figures on butter and eggs which he
bought in his store in Pennington in
the years from 1893 to 1897, at from
one-third to one-half the prices now
obtained for them, and called their at
tention to the difference in prices of
grains, fruit and other produce now
as contrasted with prices from 1893
20 1897.
"And the same party which had the
president and elected both branches of
congress in 1892 and passed the Will
son bill which demoralized, business
and markets is before the country
now, asking return to power with
the identical tariff for revenue only"
proposition which was in effect from
1893 to 1897" said Mr.. Warner. do
we need another lesson, or shall we
"let we'll enough alonel" he concluded
At the conclusion of the meeting
the farmers got together, and decided
to form a Let Well Enough Alone
Club" And they enrolled four hun
dred members, among them several
democrats.
Several ctocL huvere of this cifv