The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1917-09-21
Claim Made BY Robert Bridger,
President of Port District
In Seattle
Address To the Producers and
Consumers Congress In
Saint Paul
Wide Margin Between Amount
Paid For Products and Their
Sale Price
UNITED Press Dispatch.l

81. Paul, MInn., september ~
Local business and professional men
are deeply interested in the question
whether the farmers and the work.
inemen of the big cities will be able
to get together in the industrial
movement for the more direct handl-
ing Of the products that the labor OF
each class produces. 1t is believed
that the cooperation of the organic
ed laboring men of St. Paul, Mime
apolis and Duluth will be necessary
to make such a movement effectual.
st. Paul, September 19.-The aver
age farmer earns less than 81 day,
lower wages than most unskilled
laborers receive, according to figures
cited by Robert Bridger, president of
the port district of Seattle at the
Producers and Consumers conference
here today. Bridges spoke on "Dis-
tribution, Warehousing and Market
ing"
''In the last quarter of a century,
the United States has ceased to be,
primarily, an agricultural and has be-
come as well an industrial country y
he said mo solution can be made OF
the problem of marketing and distri-
button until we follow the example of
eastern states and cities by socializ-
ing the primary functions that have to
do with marketing and distribution
such as railways, street railways and
terminal facilities of the great sea-
A.; v,r Df Gftnnn funin
al agricultural products which repre-
sent about two-thirds Of the expendi-
ture for food by the average working
mans family made in 1912, showed an
average increase in price of 81 per
cent over the average for the ten
years 1890-1900.
The Purchasing Power.
"The increase of the actual pur-
chasing power of the given wage is
more important than increase in the
money wage. The protest of purchaser
and consumer on the shrinkage of the
dollar are inseparable. A recent agri-
cultural survey made by Cornell uni
versity found the average annual in
come from the labor of 615 farmers
operating their own farms, each with
an average capital of $5,527 was but
1923. The average income of 154 ten
ants was but 1919. Other sources in
dictate that the average farmer does
not make over $500 per year, or less
than unskilled wages of labor, less
than 81 day. A recent inquiry made
by the Chicago Municipal Markets
commission showed that thirteen
staple articles cost the consumer 72.7
per cent more than the producer re-
ceived. 1t was found that the price of
potatoes to consumer was 1856 per
cent greater than price received by
producer. OF onions, S1.S per cent !;
carrots, 557.6 per cent and beets
1852 per cent The New York COM
mittee found where Arkansas apples
were sold by farmer for $1.25 bar
rell. which were retailed in New
York City for $25 Darrell.
Plan For Marketing.
81 believe the ideal plan for mark
citing and distribution Of food prod
ucts would be:
zone. Publicly owned terminal
warehouses, elevators and cold storag e
plants-these connected with a public
terminal railway.
1.-TWO. These brought into direct
contact with the producers in ada
cent territory by publicly owned and
operated auto freight trucks taking
the products directly from the farm to
the terminal warehouses.
"Three. A publicly operated whole
sale terminal market under the
same authority as that operating the
terminal warehouse and the auto
freight system. The public institution
would thus sell produce either at auc-
ton or private sale for the producer.
-Four. The establishment OF
great cooperative consumers associa-
lions whose agents would buy directly
from the public terminal market OF
warehouse. If we will add to this
government ownership and operation
of our steam railway system anC
government ownership and operation
of the waterfront of our great natura
sea-ports which are the gateways o
ocean borne commerce, we will fine
that we have tied the string to thu
soaring kite of the ever rising price.
of basic national supplies"
Regulate All Things.
Farmers will not object to regulatin,
prices nrovided all things are regulat
ed in like manner and according Il
the cost of production according t,
CONGRESSMAN Baer of North Dakot;
speaking at the conference on the higl
cost of living here today Congress
man Baer said in part:
"The farmer will not object to
price of 1920 for wheat providing al
other articles of human consumption
clothing. implements and other prod
ucts are fixed on the same basis. T.
allow mononolistic concerns to fattel
on the worlds misery and at the sam
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