Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1915-06-30


Maid for On what is known as Deem
her payment. The Farmers Union not
being in a position to do a credit BUSH
ness this portion of the fertilizer deal
Was turned over to the various COM
panios with the understanding that
they were empowered to- collect not
more than $500 per ton over the cash
price and that the Farmers Union
was to be relieved of all responsibility
as to whom they sold, and the risk OF
the collections to be on the companies.
Under these conditions the Farmers
Union could not dictate to the compan-
les as to whom they sold.
The facilities for obtaining the finan-
cial standing of those engaged in the
farming business were bad indeed, and
the companies found it almost impossible
to always secure correct information
AS a result a number of our people
were refused, and this caused consid-
cradle feeling in various sections, some
claiming they lost standing and member
ship thereby.
Naturally, and wrongly, these people
blamed the Farmers Union while as a
matter of fact the union had nothing to
do with these sales, and had the execu-
tive board consulted their judgment in
the matter not one ton would have been
sold except for cash. The securing Of
time goods was an attempt on the part
Of the executive board to be of the great
est use to the membership and if it re-
suited in a loss of standing then your
manager would suggest that the repre-
IA the under SeriONa
consideration and determine the course
to be pursued in the future.
The system of buying on time is an I'M
fortunate one and our whole energies
should be directed to devise a system
whereby the farmer may be able to Sc
cure cash from some banking system at
2 reasonable rate of interest, and then
bay all his supplies on cash basis.
AS has been pointed out in previous re-
ports the system of buying on time has
been carried on at a tremendous cost to
the farmers of Maine. Previous to the
organization of the Farmers Union of
Maine the farmers were paying $3.50 for
1910. Owing to the many risks in
volved in selling on December payment
as well as the extra expense it is posi-
BILE that they were not paying more than
was necessary; in fact. the man who paid
his bin when due had to pay an extra
profit in order TO make good bills never
paid.
! During the time the farmers were pay
! ing $3.50 for 1910 this grade of fertili-
zer could have been purchased for $780, 50
cash, provided they had Deen organized
: The difference between $50. so and $2S 80
is $500, which would be $500 for the use
cf $3.50 for six months. In year the
amount would be $500 and as 5000 is
about one-thrd of $4,000. we must multi
ply $500 by three, making the rate of
interest $50. Various estimates have
/ been made as to the total amount of
fertilizer used. running from $4,000 tons
20 2cH.AJn tnns. If we estimate the
amount at $4,000 tons and again esti-
nate that cG'e Of the fertilizer used is
bought on December payment, then it
costs the farmers in interest money ST.
tQi,0q0o2, and had they borrowed the
money q: e. the cost would only have
leen ss2',lo2.go. II saving of s1,o2o. 100000.
All Will agree that the farmers should
he financed by our banks and our men
OF money. instead Of being financed by
the manufacturers of fertilizer. The
methods employed by our banks and
business men are, to say the least, short
sighted. They desire to make better,
bigger and buster cities. and in this they
have failed simply because their vision
! does not extend beyond the city limits,
and to the farm which is the basis of all
wealth. Names cities will never grow
until ttp "a iS mn.
70" the farmer must get the dollar before
the merchant can get it,
Previous to 1912 there was very little
activity among the farmers along CO.
operative lines, and in fact cooperation
was rot understood. Some thought that
( s"r1e man came along and got them to
organize and then he did the rest, and it
was their business to criticize. They
did not appear to think that the respon-
sibllity for success or failure rested up
on them. In February, 1912, the first
+ union was organized at Brunswick, and
between February and June seven more
were organized. On June 18th represen-
tatives from these Unions organized the
Farmers Union of Maine.
During the shipping season of 1913,
go cars of potatoes were shipped to the
markets. At the start OF the shipping
season in the fall of 1913 there were but
Is unions that were shippers of potatoes,
but these unions transacted a gross bust
ness amounting to 100000.
On the date of the 1914 annual meeting
| there were 81 unions, and since then new
unions have been organized as follows:
Belfast Farmers Union. Belfast, Me-
NJ. Q. Wilson, president, Belfast, Me-, r.
F. D.: Fl. l.. Seekins, clerk. Belfast, Me.
Organized August "A, 1914
Scion Farmers Union-Arthur T. Row
land president. Scion. Me. Organized
Sept. 30. 1914.
North Arson Farmers Union-A. w.
Reed, president, North Arson, Me-; Will
Der Walker. secretary. Organized Octo-
Der {. 1914.
| Norridgewock Farmers Union-H. l..
Eeald, president, Norridgewock, Me-; G.
T. Boone. secretary. Norridgewock, Me-
Organized October 9. 1914.
| Prospect Farmers Union-Jasper A.
Gray. president. Winterport, Me-;
Charles A. Gray, secretary, Searsport
Me- r. f. D. Organized October %