The Brookings register. [volume] (Brookings, Brookings County, S.D.) 1903-1971, 1913-07-10
The Grange and the
Farmers Problems
BY n. L. Loueks

the farmers Of the northwest, the Sec
ton most affected? Not any that we
have heard of or know Of.
The railroad managers, who are re-
sponsible for the increase do not refer
10 it, but their most distinguished rep
resentative and spokesman, j. J. Hill,
says: I'VE must show the farmer how
10 use his land to raise more bushels 10
the acre" 1--WE must begin our work
with the farmer" etc. I'VE must
teach the farmer" this and that. All
to decrease the cost of living at the
expense OF the farmer, and increase
the amount of freight and profits OF
the railroads.
E. w. Decker, leading banker OF
Minneapolis, and claiming to repre-
sent the Twin City Bankers in his
recommendations, a student of finance,
OF farming-on paper, and the lower
cost of living, would WELD a club TO
cOerce the farmers to change their
LittLlOuS, Inc plIIcS dShCu " "S"S
is simply monstrous,' meat is so
high that we can hardly afford to eat
it," 1.-The time is coming, in fact it is
here already when the discerning
banker will have to refuse loans unless
a farmer has stock on his farm 1T
will be easier to establish credit if he
raises stock, and thereby helps to
force down the price of meat" There
is logic for you A farmer can estab-
lish his credit by forcing down the
price of his products.
But the following is a gen for a
mean cheaper living cost, and in times
when the price of grain is low, he will
be able Il fall back upon another asset
and have prosperity where he would
have had poverty" A low price for
grain poverty, and a lower price
for stock means prosperity(0
A. r. Rogers of the Rogers Lumber
Company who organized the North Da-
kota Better Farming Association Cor
claimed to have done 500 said that he
could speak for that association, lin
giving unqualified approval to Mr..
Decker's plan"
Speaking for the Minneapolis Cham
Der of Commerce and Line Elevators,
p. l.. Howe said: 1--WE are going to
stand behind Mr.. Decker from start to
finish; 1 think his proposal is one of
the utmost Importance to the north
west" might quote many more; but
there you have the well defined policy,
in public interviews of leading repre-
sentatives of the railroads, bankers,
chamber Of commerce, line elevators,
lumbermen, and one state Better
Farming Association, that the farm
ers must be taught" must be shown
to increase their production to lower
the cost of living, and must be forced
by a credit boycott, if necessary to
raise more stock to force down the
price Of meat"
1t clearly demonstrates the fact that
the representatives of commerce and
industry quoted, are primarily think
ing of their own personal expense &C
counts, and not of the farmers welfare
at all.
Whose money are they using as a
club" to enforce this credit boycott?
There is now about 500, 600, 900. 90 on
deposit in the South Dakota banks,
largely deposited by the farmers, and
it is this money, the farmers own
money, that Mr.. Decker and the inter-
ests quoted would WELD as a club on
the farmers of the northwest. Few,
if any, of the South Dakota bankers
will join in such a policy. But what
better argument could we nave in
favor of organizing agricultural credit
associations than is here given?
The farmers, like any other class or
industry, should so dispose of their
surplus funds as to help their industry
instead of expressing and coercing it.
The foregoing should establish be-
yond all question the interests origin
ating and financing this movement to
lower the cost of living at the expense
of the farmer. Their object is plan:
First: concentrate the farmers atten-
ton on, and limit his efforts to produc-
ton; Second: shield the trusts: the
real cause Of the increased cost of
living, by placing the blame on the
farmer.
It will be noted that they make an
open appeal for political action to pre-
vent unsatisfactory legislation, but the
farmers are waking up to the true con
dition Of affairs.
That was a remarkable gathering at
Chicago April s, 9 and 10, last. where
cooperation In distributing and mar
keting vas the key note, and a demand
made that the Department of Ag-
~riculture, and the Agricultural Col
leges, and Farmers Institutes, in future