The Meridian times. (Meridian, Idaho) 1909-1938, 1920-03-12
GRAN MAN MAKES STATEMENT
Meridian, March q

& 4
months We have been reading lot
about the milling business,their prot
ia. abuse OF farmers, dishonesty etc.
written by our Commissioners Of Agrl-
culture and published In the Mar
kets bulletin Idaho Farmer and the
Statesman
rhey say figures wont lie. But one
thing is certain the same figures used
by the j. X. Mullen Mills, and again
~ Miles Cannon don't tell the same
story. | have certain amount OF
respect for Mr. Cannon LIST because
he Is our state agricultural secretary
and again because OF his ability TO
Al they say figure o man rich.
It's wonderful how some people can
do that and yet they never get rici
themselves. Now | am IN the gram
and milling business put am not go
ing to submit figures TO show that We
do not make any money IN the pnsi
ness. But viii just say, that whlle
Ii IS not d get rich quick scheme
vet We have made money IhaI y
what we are In the business ior. mat
is the reason we invested all the
money We had. and give our time ana
energy togten double time) and rig
nred wheat lntil our hair II grey
Just that we might make nttle
money ! think we have right 70
@hat little we have made. We also
pay taxes TO help support our STATE
and nation, and pay the salary ol
state officers, trusting them 70 take
care of the business OF the state,
a. 4,,I.
grain to have to dig up for state Of
ficers who spend their time as chean
agitators. trying TO divide the people
of the state,to set the farmer against
the man that man who puts up the
necessary funds and labor to handle
his wheat; that takes MIS- chance on
the market, converts the wheat into
flour, getting Ii into shape for use
or, against the people who cure his
meat, or the merchant who keeps the
goods In the nearest town, so that he
can get them when needed
Now the farmer is not required by
Iaw To make use OF any OF these agen-
cies. but they are here for the benefit
of the people.
They still have the right 10 ship
their grain, or cure their meat, or
send for their groceries or anything
else in that line.
We are perfectly willing that q
farmer should ship his wheat. and
would even help him to find the best
market, il he asked for help But
the most OF them don't want to, II is
out of their limo and they don't want
10 take the time and chance the mar
ketN Why don't the average farmer
cure his own meat? Why is II we cant
get dairy butter any more2 Do we
want 10 90 back to the time when the
farmer ground his own corn in a
smail mill?
What has been the cause of all this
change and Advancement Simply this
The man that is equipped for bust
nesB. the packer who has a plant TO
cnrp meat, the creamery that Is built
TO make butter, the mill that Is built
and equipped to make -four, can do
Il cheaper for him, than he can do II
himself. aud still make a profit. And
the farmer can spend his time TO bet
ter advantage in his own line of pro-
ducing than in finishing his product
for table, Use.
In oneiof Mr. Gannon's articles he
tries TO show up the dishonest miller
Well am not going to say that all
the millers and grain dealers are
honest, For they are not, and we are
sorry that such Is the fact But on the
ether hand am not going TO say that
all the farmers are honest,
Farmers as class are hard-work-
ing honest, manly men, aud they de-
serve all they get. and sometimes
more. And the most of them are
doing fine, and making more money
than any other class, and / am glad
of II. We as business men need them,
and IL they don't make money there Is
small chance for us, or for the man
that holds d state Office. making his
living by the sweat OF his brow some
one else's brow or the callous on
other peoples hands.
Why doesn't Mr. Cannon get into
the milling business? His figures
show wonderful profit He could
make ten times as much as he can in
his present position. which is very
uncertain AT hest IL no keeps on
writing for the papers he Is apt to
divide the people and only gain the
favor Of a portion OF them Why don't
he ~ ust neeaHseh he don't believe what
he SAYS NBut Ietg1s forget it.Bury the
hatcheti
The farmers and vase workers. and
also the millcrs, grain dealers, and
merchants seem TO be prosperous and
all are entitled 10 what they get Even
the politician, elected or appointed Il
an Office, Is worthy of his wage, as
long as he conducts himself In q
proper manner
When We realize these things, a.
facts, and learn 10 do, unto others a,
We would hafH nihefs DO unto us
live and lot ike. with the Christian
spirit, then We VIII have solved tht
question eG 9ahnF ef right living
right thinkihg.5 iustice, liberty ant
good win toward men
M. M DAVIDSON.