Pullman herald. [volume] (Pullman, W.T. [Wash.]) 1888-1989, 1920-01-16
THE WHEAT GROWERS DECLA-
RATION OF INDEPENDENCE

generally have been dissatisfied with
the system under which they have
marketed their product. They have
felt, and justly so, that too often the
buyers have extorted an unjust toll
from the producers and that the
spectators have made far greater
profits from buying and selling the
grain than the farmers who did the
work and took the risk of producing
it. AS long ago as 1853 they began
to wonder and to ask why they had
no more voice in fixing the price of
their crops than they had in
fixing the price of the machinery
necessary for the production of those
crops.
During the war and while the price
of wheat was guaranteed by the gov
eminent, they were too busy in the
patriotic task of increasing produc-
tion to meet the needs of this gov
eminent and its allies, to think much
about their own grievances. But
now when the war has been won
and the time for which the govern
ment fixed a guaranteed wheat price
will soon expire, they are cropping
about for some system of marketing
their wheat which will assure more
equitable and satisfactory returns to
the growers than the method in
vogue before the United States en-
tered the world struggle
Last Saturday group of earnest,
progressive and experienced wheat
growers and warehouse men met at
Spokane and spent four days and
nights in almost continuous session
in considering and perfecting a com
prehensive plan for the cooperative
marketing of the wheat of Washing
ton. idaho and Oregon, The plan
which they evolved is safe, sane and
square. 1t is founded not on I'M
methods which have proved sound
and successful under the acid test
of actual operation. 1t simply in
wolves the application to the market
ing of wheat of sound economic
principles which have proved high
ly beneficial and satisfactory in the
marketing of fruits. beans. eggs and
other agricultural products in Cali
fornia.
II provides for the organization
and maintenance by the farmers OF
a non-profit cooperative association
to secure and return to them the
fair price for their wheat, as deter
mined by the worlds supply and de-
mand for wheat The object is not
TO create a monopoly to eXtort un-
reasonably high prices, but to staba-
both producers and consumers and
to minimize the speculation which
has proved injurious to both.
The success of the plan depends
upon the percentage of the total
wheat crop assigned to the associa-
ton to be marketed and the number
of wheat growers who will give their
loyal support TO the movement
Every feature and detail of the propo-
sition was examined, discussed and
dissected over and over again and
every objection was carefully
weighed and considered The con-
tract which will be presented to the
farmers for their signatures is a
long and iron clad instrument but
ii embodies years of careful legal
study and the experience gained
from scores of test cases in the
courts.
AS the formulators of the Decla-
their faith in and loyalty TO the prin-
ciples therein set forth so the wheat
growers who evolved this new dec
laration OF independence from the
rule of the grain distributors and
spectators proved their good faith
by subscribing their signatures to
the contract calling for the delivery
of all the wheat grown by them in
the next five years TO the association
to be marketed by it for them.
Every wheat grower who is not
satisfied with the old system OF
marketing his wheat, who has more
confidence in his fellow farmers thar
he has in the grain spectators, who
prefers to support one agency to Sc
cure just price for his wheat rather
than to support numerous agencie,
to secure his wheat at the loves
n0SSfbia nrioa ehauld rive HI. 49,