Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1914-05-08

soon had most of the eggs because
farmers need cash the same as other
business men. The merchants COM
bined and raised the price to 20 cents
in trade, declaring they would put
this concern out of business. The
new dealer then raised to 10 cents
cash, no more than we ought to re-
ceive for fresh egg.
Buying Away From Home.
Il notice our merchant from Sno-
homish lays considerable stress on
the farmer sending away for his
goods. I bought my clover seed this
year at less than IS cents delivered.
1t was tested at the statehouse, 1922
pure. Merchants charged 10 and 20
cents for same quality seed. Can you
blame me for saving about SO per
cent on my purchases if am a bust
ness farmer?
81 know OF an incident 7 would like
| to relate in favor of my argument.
| A certain farmer in one of our small
cities brought in a few boxes of ap-
pies to the merchant with whom he
was trading. All he could get offered
was SO cents per box. This he re-
fused and shipped them away. In
a few days he happened in at the
same store and asked the merchant
the price of a certain box of apples
he had just opened.
"'$1.75,' was the reply. You
know these are Yakima apples and
they always demand better price
than our home apples
Yakima declared the farmer.
That seems strange Mr.. Merchant,
don't you see my name on that box?
Those are the same apples tried to
sell you last week.
"Those apples had been shipped to
Seattle, polished, wrapped in papers
and properly graded and returned
where they bad been raised and
branded as Yakima fruit.
| Asks Merchants Question.
II would like very much to see an
answer from the merchants stand
point on the following question:
Why is it when the farmers of a
locality try to organize and provide
way to dispose of their products
from the farm, that Immediately the
merchants organize to destroy it and
even go so far as to boycott it, or any
/ company that undertakes to do bust
ness with it?
"If the farmer is so dishonest in
| selling his products and works such
hardship on the merchant through
! his dishonest packing, his small po-
! tatoes, his dirty and stale eggs, his
old butter, his uncleaned grain, and
many other products too numerous
I to mention, it does seem reason
able to me that it be would be better
to let him establish place of bust
ness where all these things can be
eliminated and charged back to the
farmer responsible for the unfair act,
thus compelling our farmers to be
honest and our merchants to receive
square deal.
/ "Our merchants claim they have TO
extend credit to so many farmers ana
cannot sell as cheap as they could
for cash. This is true. However.
they are willing to admit that the FAR
mer is less risk than any other class
of people. My advice to the farmer
would be, if you must ask for credit,
borrow the money, which YOU can
do if you are a good risk, and pay
cash for your merchandise. You viii
save money.
Farmers Should Organize.
"In conclusion. | do not wish to
be considered a knocker. I am only
trying to describe 4 few facts that
actually exist from the farmers side
of this great question. To the far
mers I would say. We must thor
oughly organize--the merchants dit
this years ago.