The Socialist and labor star. [volume] (Huntington, W. Va.) 1911-1915, 1914-09-18
HOW THE INDEPENDENT FARM
Err IS SKINNED.


own a few acres OF land think they
are capitalist and imagine that the So
cialist are going 10 take their few
acres away from thew and divide them
I'D among the propertyleSS of the coun
". The old politicians and the kept
press talk and write so much about
The independent farmer that the
farmers are now going about with
their chest ali stuck out believing 1t
is true, when the facts OF the case are
he is really more helpless and depend
ent thar the wage Garner IN most "i
the industries. There is no class Of
workers that are oppressed and eXpio-
it'd more than the farmers or have
as little protection on the economic or
political field. As farming and min
ing are the principle industries IN
West Virginia We will compare the
condition Of the farmers and the min
ers in the organized field and see II
this great independent farmer is As
independent as the kept press and cap
italiSt politicians would made him be-
lieve. The farm Of the average farm
er represents an investment OF from
81 900 10 s. 200 on this investment the
farmer pay taxes. Not onI y must he
nav taxes on his land and improve
mentS but he must pay taxes on his
farm implements. cattle. and crops on
hand, thus he must pay for the prl-
yilcpc to the use of the land ami the
right 10 own the tools and necessary
means TO cultivate this land. Alter
t0iIing through tho year and prot ne
ing his crops ne must SEX i market
for his product. When his harvest l..
over he takes his cattle. grain. hay
anu other product To the market. now
mind You these product are drilNcr'"
IL the market at the farmers %A
pcnSc. in other words, the farmer pays
the freight. In this case the iarncr
is the seller but does he set IN" price :
Not much. He does not say, | have
cattle. grain. hay and other products
here for sale that are worth 80 much
delivered, but he ask what VIII YOU
give me for these products AMI the
BUYER names a price based upon an
other price set by the stock lobDeFS
and gamblers Of New York or Chlca-
90 and the farmer is forced 70 sell AZ
the BUYERS price. But now. thaI tn"
famor has disposed Of his products ne
becomes buyer as he needs cIoth-
ing Tor his family. groceries. farm M
Elements and etc. W hen the farmer
sold his products he sold at the buy
ers price. but now he becomes a buH-
cr. does he buy at his price: Hardly.
When he took his products TO maket
he asked what will you give m" tor
these farm products Now, he asks
the merchant what will YOU sell nc
these things need for" He is forr-
cd to sell al the buyers price and buy
at the sellers price, but that Is not
all. When he buys his groceries. clio
thing. farm implements and etc. al
,houph he paid the freight and deIlV-
cred his products to the mar ct, he
must now pay the freight on ms pur-
chascs back 10 the iarm. 20 IL no.
only sells NJ the other fellows price
and buys At the other fellows price
but must pay the freight both ways.
As the old negro says, They skin HIM
qwin and comm. After paying IN"
freirht both ways and buying and self
inp II the other fellows price the farm
er generally finds that he has just
enough left to pay his taxes, proEldcd
il has been Il good crop YEAR anu th'
Rambling un the market has been "X-
crptionaEy brisk. otherwise, he must
! mortgage his farm 10 meet the dc
! tirirucy. In no case does this indie
pendent farmer" make wages. Ills
! farm products represent his labor and
! he has nothing to say about what price
! is paid for il or the conditions Und"r
I l,,.,.t -,