The Nonpartisan Leader Newspaper, February 22, 1917, Page 6

LSEWHERE the Leader prints the unanimous resolutions of a convention of over 600 farmers in Wisconsin declaring for the organization of the Nonpartisan Lieague in that state. In addi- tion to this indorsement from the great state of Wisconsin, one of the most progressive states of the Union, a big state convention of Idaho farmers last week adopted similar regolutions, inviting the Nonpartisan League to extend its activities to that state. The League is already organizing in South Dakota, Minnesota and Montana, with state branches and local executive committees in those states, national head- quarters at St. Paul supervising the work. It is reorganiging for another two years in North Dakota. The Idaho indorsement of the movement and invitation for the League to come to that state was the unanimous action of the Idaho State Federation of Agriculture, the strongest farmers’ organization in the state. At the meeting 21 farmers voluntarily paid $2.50 each for a Yyear’s subscription to the Nonpartisan Leader, national paper of the farmers’ political movement. The money for the subscriptions was sent in by W. G. Scholtz, state market director of Idaho, with head- quarters at Boise, who is also president of the National Association of Marketing Officials. The fact that two states in which the League has not yet started organization work have paved the way for organization by unqualified indorsement of the movement and insistent invitations to the national headquarters shows how truly national this great political movement has become. It proves the hollowness of the claim of scared politicians and mossbacked conservatives that the sentiment back of the farmers’ cry for justice is ‘‘manufactured.’”’ Two Other States Demand the League The producers, realizing the political and economic disadvan- tages the common people are living under, have determined on a broader, betterlife for those who toil, be they farmers or the toilers in industrial occupations. No such sentiment could be ‘‘manufactured.’’ Tt is the accumulation of years of political wrongs and economic abuses. This ery for justice is no longer a voice in the wilderness. It is a deep- throated demand, backed by the determination to orgenize and stick together in the common cause, and supported by an organization al- ready 40,000 strong in North Dakota and 20,000 strong in the three other states now being organized. The resolutions of the Idaho convention are as follows: ‘““Whereas, in the state of Idaho there is need of an organized movement of farmers to gain political freedom, to secure better market- ing facilities and clean, nonpartisan government, ‘“Be it resolved: ‘“(a) That we, the Idaho State Federatiox_x of Agriculture, do hereby ask the Farmers’ Nonpartisan League of North Dakota to ex- tend their interstate organization to our state. “(b) That the Farmers’ Nonpartisan League of North Dakota be requested to begin such operations not later than May 1, 1917. “‘(e) That every delegate to this convention does herewith con- sider himself obliged to carry home to his community the words of Mr. Ray McKaig, as given us yesterday afternoon and today, and to pave the way for the ultimate organization of a Nonpartisan League.’’ (Adopted unanimously.) Wisconsin Farmers Desire Organization Six Hundred at Convention Indorse Nonpartisan Movement Wausau, Wis., Feb. 13, 1917. Editor Nonpartisan Leader: I am inclosing herewith copy of reso- lutions passed at the meeting of the stockholders of the Farmers Co-opera- .tive Packing company held in this city today, for your information and pub- lication if you so desire. I might say in this connection that no dissenting vote was heard at the meeting in opposition to the resolution. Approximately six hundred stock- holders were in attendance. Yours very truly, AMERICAN CO-OPERATIVE ASS'N. By H. G. FRANK, Editor of the Organized Farmer. THE RESOLUTIONS Whereas, the occupation of farming, both by reason of the number of per- sons engaged therein and the value of farm property, is the most important interest in the state of Wisconsin; and Whereas, the great majority of farm- ers do not receive their just share of the products of their toil and farming as an industry pays the average farm- er less than days wages; and Whereas, the increase in the value of farm lands is not more than suffi- cient to pay the unpaid wages due to the farmer, the farmer’s wife and chil- dren; and ‘Whereas, the ultimate consumer fre- quently pays a price for farm prod- ucts several hundred per cent larger than the price received by the farmer; and ‘Whereas, many persons who are not producers, but are mere industrial parasites, are making large fortunes in handling or speculating in farm products; and Whereas, the work of producing one- half of all the dairy products in the United States is done by women and children without any compensation; and ‘Whereas, more than 37 per cent of the farms in this country are already worked by tenants, and farm tenancy is rapidly increasing even in the best agricultural states; and ‘Whereas, we believe that the farmer is entitled to receive a reasonable in- terest on his total investment, taxes, depreciation, all actual and necessary expenses incurred in operating the farm and in addition to that reason- able wages for himself, his wife and such of his children as help him to pro- duce the farm income; and Whereas, we believe that the neces- sary legislation will never be enacted s0 long as the majority of our state legislature and other departments of our state government and our delega- tion in congress represent other in- terests than that of farming; and Whereas, we find that the other big fnterests who are making large for- tunes, often at the expense of the farm- ers, are and always have been, non- partisan or bi-partisan, and we be- and Ask for Organization of the State ‘lieve that it is folly for the farmers to continue to be partisan and to divide their voting strength among different political parties; and ‘Whereas, we believe the time has ° come when the farmers of Wisconsin should cease to vote for political par- ties and commence to vote for them- selves, their wives and children; and ‘Whereas, the success of the Farmers’ The Macbeth of North Dakota Old Gang Senator (Macbeth), seeing blood on his hands: “Out, damned spot! Oyt, | say.” (From Shakespeare’s Macbeth.) How Stock Raiser Loses South Dakota Man Shows Costs of Fattening Cat- tle and Price Received by Farmer Henry, S. D., Feb. 8, 1917. Editor Nonpartisan Leader: Having read your article “Tracing Steers to the Consumer” with great in- terest, allow me just a few words to say as to the footing of the figures mentioned in the article. By the marketing expenses are stated half a dozen itemized figures that are well and good in the transaction, which lasted about 72 hours as to transit and final sale of them. The stock raiser got $89.69. Now, these cattle were bought at one year old and kept in Montana three summers and two winters and nothing whatever charged up to them. I have raised stock all my lifetime and never was able to produce any bet- ter cattle at three years old than these Montana four-year olds sold for. I produce here the figures of cost of good three year old Durham cattle at our Nonpartisan League in North Dakota shows what the farmers can and should dc for their own mutual protection and welfare; Now, therefore, be it resolved, That we, the stockholders.of the Farmers’ Co-operative Packing company of ‘Wausau, in annual meeting assembled, do hereby recommend that a farmers’ convention be called at the City of Marshfield, Wisconsin, on the 22nd day of March, 1917, for the purpose of or- ganizing the farmers of Wisconsin into a Nonpartisan league in order that the farmers of our state may obtain con- trol of our state government and our delegation in congress at the next elec= tion. conditions, which are perhaps not the same in Montana, but nevertheless sell exactly through the same channels. I have a silo capacity of 450 tons and feed yearly 375 to 40Q tons of hay to my stock, of which a good portion is al- falfa. All grain fed to stock is charged to them and here are the figures: Cost of feed first year, $15; of labor, $6; cost of feed second year, $25; of labor, $8; cost of feed third year with grain to finish, $45, of labor $12. Total cost of feed, $85, of Labor, $26. Cost of three-year old finished to market is $111. Now the stock raiser got $89.69. Net loss per head to farmer is therefore $21.31. The stock raiser paid $163.99. Hig cost of production was $111.00. Net gain through consumer (which the farmer does not get) was $52.99. Now, brother farmers, this is what is called monopolizing the market, all they want is the goods, and the producer °3 bled and the consumer is bled for their individual gain. There is no other industry in all the world except agriculture that permits such a class of men, who neither pro- duce nor aid in production, to monopo- lize the marketing and dictate the prof- its of the producer. Our lawmakers have the wrong stanza of the law and the result is instead of helping agricul- ture, “our greatest industry,” to get on better footing, we are on the rim of destruction. C. L. BAUMAN. WANTS SOME TIPS Blue Lick, Mo., February 2, 1917, Editor Nonpartisan Leader: I see by the Milwaukee Leader that the farmers of your state have organiz- ed to do business in opposition to the trusts who are so accommodating as to want to run our government in their own interest. ‘Will you please send to my address a few sample copies, as we are moving in a similar way towards organization and hope to benefit from your experi= ence. J. H. ALLISON.