The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1913-08-05
Farmers Union Marketing Plans !
Accepted by Express Company

refer RadfOrd, president of the Texas |
FARMERS Union, announced from the |
neadquarters Of the organization in
this city today that he had just sue
ceeded in arranging with the Wells
Fargo & Company Express to act as
intermediary between the shipper
and buyer in the sale of farm pro-
duce. The plan which has been
worked out by the executive commit
tee of the Farmers Union and ac-
cepted by the Wells Fargo Company,
cOntemplates that the express com
pany, through it's agents. Will accept
from housewives and dealers in cities
a continuous order of country pro-
duce. shipment to be made daily or
at periods specified by the buyer
These orders will be turned over to
the Texas farmer to fill.
The Express Company will encOur-
age the movement of the business
and special packages will be con
Structed with compartments for eggs.
butter, vegetables. fruit, etc. to ac-
cOmmOdate the trade so that the
farmer can keep his customer sup
Piled with variety Of seasonable
produce.
The Wells Fargo people will also
keep the producer advised of mar
ket conditions in the larger cities and
by free distribution Of dependab in
formation. hope to take out much Of
the friction and misunderstanding
now existing between the shipper
| and the dealer and to prevent glut-
| ting one market and starving anOth-
! er
It has long been the custom for
| speakers and writer's to graphically
! measure the distance from the farm
| to the table, but this is perhaps the
| first instance where comprehe nsve
and capable route to shorten it has
been surveyed and opened up. AS
| the movement develops, President
Radford thinks it will be adopted by
| other carriers and the territory ex-
| tended Throughout. the United States.
| n New Roadway of Trade.
| When asked for his views on the
| effect Of the plan upon distribution.
President Radford said: I'VE are
trade and it is going to take co-opera-
ton and patience on the part of both
| the producer and consumer in
| smoothing out the rough places, but
[ have abiding faith in the ultimate
success of the movement. The new
| situation lends itself admirably to
| settlement organization Of consumers
that can place a community order
with local Farmers Union to fill
The Farmers Union has asked the
Federal Department of Agriculture
to put one or more experts on the
project with view Of Strengthening
the weak points as they develop and
to work out plans for extending the
new system Of marketing into the
staple products and apply it to al
! lines of transportation.
The only line Of industry that ha:
ever been successfully and construc
lively regulated is the common car
rier. If we can make them tht
agency between the producer ane
consumer, then we will have regu
lated highway Of commerce wher,
the article can safely travel withou
: danger of being burgiarized on tn
4 roadways of trade.
: Middleman Needs Regulating.
'"The Farmers Union has lonl
cherished the hope of bringing tn
producer and consumer nearer to
gether. The middleman is nothing
: more than farm hand, but he i
: them. and to multiply his transac
tiOns as he pleases. He is, at best
an independent and ofttimes incom
petent servant of agriculture an
: frequently deserves to be either dis
!, ciplined or discharged. The middle
, men are without competition Q
government supervision. They nee
, regulating as badly as the commo
= carrier and the plan affords faclitie
! for a competitive system of market
a ing which will act as a check agains
+ the greed of the middleman. a lever
: age against combinations and wi
r have a tendency to avoid gluts on tn
| market
4 The new plan is notw ithout it
q | condensation to the middlemar
s While reducing him to his naturs
Il position as an industrial domestic.
:, will restore to him many proftabl
It advantages which he has forfeite
G for power. 1t will take out waste
y uncertainty and inefficency and wi
Is add volume, stability and conscieno
% to the business.
e "The consumer will likewise fe'
: the generosity OF the new system {
IL distribution in the extension of III
season of perishable products far bt
yOnd their present limits. AS a rul