White Bluffs spokesman. [volume] (White Bluffs, Wash.) 1907-1938, 1924-10-03
Warming Farmers BewafeS
{ Against ssPig in PokeE'

warning w 8 q ! n 81 n farmers
against buying "a pig in a poke" and
against signing any contract without
submitting it to someone who under
stands contracts, Prof. r. T. Smith Of
the animal husbandry department Of
the State College of Washington is
further Investigating a scheme now
being offered to western farmers.
In the Spokesman-Review recently
an interview with Adds Kelly of De-
Smet, S. D., announced that he was
establishing headquarters in Spokane
for his company, the Central United
States Swine Company.
The Chicago Daily Drovers' Journal
Of August 49, on pages 1 and 6, carries
an article headed:
"Hog Game Being Worked In Iowa
Farmers Warned Not to Buy
Stock on Empty Promises"
In the article it is stated that "The
endless chain game of selling hogs Is
going again offering contracts
to Iowa farmers similar to those which
Kansas and Nebraska farmers were
sold last winter, at which time the
plan was exposed by the Daily Drov-
ers' Journal. Investigation reveals
that the same folks, Kelly Brothers of
DeSmet, S. D., are backing the Iowa
move and the contracts are similar.
"The plan, which was roundly, con-
demned by the president of the Ne
braska Farm Bureau Federation last
spring, consists of inducing farmers to
sign a contract to buy Chester White
boars and sows i. 4. /. $50 and $40
each, and the United Swine Growers
agree to buy back all gifts from at
least two of the filters at $25 each,
provided they meet with the com
pany's standards. Because Of the
failure of the contract to state just
what those standards are, many Kan
sas farmers were left with a lot of
expensive livestock on their hands
and no method Of selling them to get
their money back. :. :. . Besides an
OI4S1udl pay luouL VI a. 1OooI pfV IL
membership fees, the farmers have
to advance the price of the hogs be-
fore they see the stock they purchase.
Should the livestock prove to be an
kind the farmer has no
protection or assurance that he can
get his money back. Neither has he
any knowledge that the promoters are
not buying up gifts from other con-
tract holders at $25 each and selling
them to him at fancy prices. Further
reveals that no such or
ganization as the United G. w. Swine
Growers has any public office in Des
Moines, and the Polk County agent is
quoted as never having heard of
them"
Says Professor Smith: "The de-
partment of animal husbandry at the
State College does not wish in any
way to discourage legitimate pork
production business. Indeed, it feels
that there is good opportunity for it
on many of the Washington farms,
but it warns any farmer from taking
up a contract without consulting
someone who understands contracts.
whether it be in the production of
pork or any other business venture.
A survey of Whitman County shows
20 hogs Of inferior quality owned or
sold by Kelly's company at twice
their real value
1.-THE department of animal husban
dry can furnish list of breeders of
registered hogs in this state to those
who will write in for it, There always
has been good number of bred gifts
and sows for sale during the late fall
and early winter by our own breeders,
and we have every reason to believe
that our local men will be able to sup
ply those who wish to buy at this
early date"