The Kansas Co-Operator from Topeka, Kansas • 2

in TT- i I I 1 11 100,000 BUSHELS OP GRAINi- HOW IT PAYS. The Kansas Co-Operator Published Monthly. COLFAX B. HARMAN, Editob. hand to pay all our indebtedness.

The utmost harmony and good will has always prevailed in our membership. We are doing a good business. Our elevator has never been closed, nor will it be while its usefulness is so apparent to all our farmers. Our elevator is operated under a lease at present which can be terminated at any time, but the present arrangement is very satisfactory. Associate Editors.

W. D. Gilpin, W. B. Gasche, Entered at the Postoffloe at Topeka, Kansas, as Second Class mail matter.

Office of Publication: Office Block, Topeka, Kansas. Circulation this Month'. 4,000 Copies Handled By Buhler Farmers Eleva--tor at a Profit of $800. "In less than a year since the Far- mers Elevator was build we have hand' led over 100,000 bushels of grain, and? besides paying out current expenses have realized a profit of over $800. The above statement was made today to a Bee reporter by a director of the Farmers Elevator Company at Buhler, whose attention had been called to a rumor that his elevator had closed down with financial loss to the stockholding farmers.

"We do not know who started this report, he said, "but whoever it was, he is evidently more of a humorist than a gentleman, and is by no means overburdened with a sense of truthfulness and moral obligations. "The obvious purpose is to discourage the further building of farmers elevators. However, the Buhler Farmers Elevator busted was a pretty good joke, and as such we have enjoyed it. For the benefit though of those, who dont know us and who might credit the said report, we wish to say that our business is progressing just the same as ever. This talk about our being closed up is utterly groundless and must, probably, be classed under the heading of "Grain Trust Fiction.

"As our stockholders paid for the elevator almost completely at the time it was built, we have never been weighed down and hampered by indebtedness. Since our company organized and opened the elevator, less than a year ago, we have handled more than 100,000 bushels of wheat, have paid current expenses and have besides realized about $800 net profit. The object which led our stockholders to erect a farmers elevator was to render themselves independent of local grain dealers and to obtain at all times a fair price for their grain. This object has been successfully realized. How To Sell Your Corn.

The way to build up a strong farmers company and at the same time be sure that you are receiving a benefit yourself is to offer us your corn at one half cent per bushel above what your grain dealer offers you and see if we will accept it. To be fair with us get the best prices your grain dealer will offer you without telling him what you Intend to do and then offer us your corn loaded in cars on your rack and at one half cent more, by wire or letter stating grade and quality offered, also state whether it is white, yellow or mixed corn. Farmers are in the habit of writing us for price of com long before they are ready to sell asking us what we will pay for corn. Now that is simply a waste of time and expense for them and us. We prefer to have you see what your local dealer will give you for your corn when you are ready to sell and then offer it toujfbne half cent above his offer andminety-nine times out of a hundred we will trade with you if you are truthful and honest and square in the price quoted.

Now understand we want you to get the price offered by others and then offer the corn to us so we can accept or reject it. In this way you will get a prompt reply from us. It will help you and help us. You need have no fears about getting cars if you order them in the regular way but should you have difficulty notify us and we will assist you. Every farmer in Kansas whq sells as much as a car load of corn should offer it to us before he sell3.

If farmers will follow the above suggestions they will greatly aid us in assisting them at every grain station in Kansas. State Twine Plant a Uood Investment. In addition to keeping down the price of trust-made binding twine to the Kansas farmers, the prison bindiDg twine plant cleared up $22,713 in profits this year. It paid all of its running expenses, paid back the state treasurer the revolving fund, and still has money left. And the industry is not run for profit, either.

It is run in order to keep the price ef twine to the farmers down to a reasonable figure, The plant sold 1,225,240 pounds this year. That is all it could manufac-ture. It could have sold twice that amount if it had had the stock on hand. In reply to the charge that the prison twine plant is supplying a product in competition with free labor, Warden Jewett took this hot shot at those making the charge: The objection is usually made by the self-appointed labor agitator who has no part in the labor of the country save as a disturber and absorber of its earnings. There is no twine plant operated by private enterprise in this state at this time, and likely will not be for many years at least.

A combination, created and protected by another state, with resources greater than an ordinary state one, in fact, that uses states as its agents and statesmen. as its private counselors can hardly be termed a personal or a private enterprise. Topeka Journal. So far, good. Now if the state will utilize the inmates of the state Reformatory at Hutchinson for operating a state beet sugar factory and salt factory and then put in a branch prison atNeodesha or Chanute in the oil fields and operate i state oil refinery that will bring the the Oxnards and the Spreckles to time, it will have conferred a lasting benefit upon every laborer in Kansas, and demonstrated that the trusts can be managed if we only want to.

The writer, who drew up the first bill for a penitentiary twine plant ten years ago and secured its adoption by the Minnesota legislature' and the es-tablishment of the factory at Stillwater, well remembers that twine was then worth 17 cents a pound and the Cordage trust promised to send it to 20 cents. Within a year the prison twine plant was in operation and twine came down to 7 cents and the Cordage trust was in the hands of a receiver. Ten million dollars a year would be a modest estimate of the saving to our farmers for the last ten years as the result of that action. Thrice ten millions could be saved if the states took hold of the oil and beet sugar industries. Stand up for Kansas and the working man.

Alonzo Topeka. Grain Trust Lie Nailed. 1 The grain trust mouthpiece is following the past example of that organization in resorting to unfair and foul methods to Injure the farmers and the farmers co-operative shipping associations, They seem to think they can prejudice the farmers against our movement by foul and false statements. In this way they will meet with disappointed for no intelligent iarmer will believe any statement made in that organ regarding our movement or its officers. The devil is more reliable and truthful than his hired Hessians who hold their position because of their ab ility to perform work too low to be resorted to by men engaged in legal transactions or legal business.

In the last issue of their organ they ran a cut of the farmers' elevator Raven stating that it was closed, busted. Read what Mr. Peckham, the president of that elevator, says. Mr. Peckham is one of the best farmers in Reno county and is in every way a gentleman and reliable.

His letter folio ws Haven, Oct. 3, 1902. James Butler, Topeka, Kan. Dear Sir: I have noticed for some time the Southwestern Grain Journals efforts to advertise the business of the Farmers Co-operative Grain Live Stock association. Its statements have been so grossly exaggerated that I have felt that they should not be noticed but during the enforced idleness occasioned by the prolonged rainy spell I will say that if the statement made in regard to other elevators mentioned are as untrue as those in regard to Ihe Haven farmers' elevator, then thmr whole write-up is simply a very large lie.

As you well know, as soon as we bought a site on which to build an elevator, we were assailed by an injunction suit (brought by the trust.) This suit caused many farmers to withhold their support from our venture, just as it was expected to do by the trust. Our elevator was built however, regardless of injunction suits, and the suits were afterwards fought out in the district and supreme courts. We won on every count in both courts, our opponents having no grounds whatever for such a suit. These suits cost us more than $150 cash, besides our time and much trouble and on account of these suits, our stock was not all sold, and we were compelled to borrow $1,000 for one year to complete payment for our ele -vator. This loan was secured by a mortgage on our elevator.

At the expiration of the year, it was thought best to extend this loan. While negotiations were pending, the mortgage was sold to Kansas City parties, who at once sent it to Hutchinson attorneys, with instructions to collect or foreclose. The holder of the mortgage at first refused to release the mortgage, but did afterward send an imperfect release, which was returned for correction, and so matters stand at present We shall pay this debt with the funds on hand for that purpose, and if necessary go to court again to clear our property on the records. This in brief is a part of the obstacles thrown in our way by our opponents, who claim to be friends of the farmers. any farmers have held aloof from our movement not wishing to become involved in a law snit, but we have received financial aid and good will from farmers who are not stockholders, and who live nearer other markets.

They say we have indirectly helped them. The Farmers Elevator company at Haven is in better condition today than it ever was. We have funds on AGE OF ORGANIZATION. State Alliance. The 15th annual meeting of the State Alliance will meet at Lincoln Post Hall Topeka, JaD.

8th 1903, at 10 m. A fine program has been arranged, and a cordial invitation is extended to all old members to spend the day with us and help by presence to make it one of our most profitable meetings. A basket dinner will be served. W. B.

Gasche, Pres. Hartford, Kan. Emma Tkoudner, Secy. Carbondale, Kan. The railroads have granted reduced rates to the annual meeting of stockholders of The Farmers Co-operative Grain and Live Stock Association to be held in Topeka, Kansas, December 2nd 1902, and those who want to attend of one and one third rate on the certificate plan.

This will apply to all tickets where the fare is more than 50 cents. This rate is good in Kansas, Nebraska and Oklahoma. Be sure and get certificate when you pay your money and should you travel over different roads get a certificate at each statian where you purchase ticket. This rate is good providing a hundred or more are in attendance' Our meetings have always been attended by from three to four hundred people and we expect as large a meeting in December as we have ever had. You understand that 1 any of our friends who want to attend this meeting can get advantage of the special rates.

Friendly papers please copy. Death of Prominent Co-operator. Emporia, Kas. The will of J. Osborn, was filed in the Lyon county probate court.

Mr. Osborn was acknowledged to be one of the richest farmers in the county. His estate is estimated to be valued at $100,000, and almost all of the property is in Lyon county. Mr. Osborn leaves seven grown children, by his first wife, and two minors, children of the wife who survives him.

To the grown children he wills nearly a half section of land each, and to his wfe the home farm of 820 acres and all the implements and personal property on it. He left a great deal of personal property and a large bank Charley Johnson, county treasurer, was appointed executor of the will and a $15,000 bond for the personal property is required of the executor. The personal property was evenly distributed between the heirs. Of the real estate 480 acres are in Elm-andaro township, and 1,250 acres in Jackson township. Mr, Osborn was a prominent co-operator and had his property insured in the Co-operative company of Topeka.

In Germany the state controls the railways. A Baron couldnt 'buy enough hot birds and cold bottles on his stipend, so he helped himself to the funds in his charge. When his office got on his track he skipped to Monte Carlo and gambled $50 into $150,000. That Is what we call un deserved luck. Individuality Known Only Combinations of Gigantic Power.

This is an age of evolution; the individual is lost sight of, and associations are at the helm. Nearly all of the different railroad systems of the country are in associations called community of interests, and no longer fight one another. Skilled labor all over the country is associated into a hundred or more different trade unions every manufactured commodity is controlled by associations the latest, the plow trust, with fifty millions of capital. The grain dealers of Kansas have an association with headquarters at Topeka, whioh is in touch with the worlds markets, crops and statistical bureaus. It finds markets for its members and important news to grain dealers is immediately forwarded to them to their advantage.

Now what of the farmers? The farmer is still tin same individual ho was a century ago. He is between the upper and the lower millstone. A trust pays its own price for what the farmer sells an i charges what it pleases for what he must buy. There is economy and good business sense in concentration of industries; but it bears no relation to justice unless the people are allowed a share of its benefits. Now that the election is over, yon can look back over the past few months of political pow-wow, and certainly realize that nothing has been gained.

Even if you won, that will benefit your interest and if on the other hand yon lost, you lost nothing but the office. Agra, Kansas, October, 15, 1902. The F. Co-operative Grain Assn, Topeka, Kansas. gentlemen: We certainly have received advantages by having a cooperative elevator at this point take the wheat situation at this point for instance.

Wheat on the B. M. north of us, is four to five cents lower than it is here. Simply because they have the old line elevators. Our people do not wish to return to the old method of doing business.

The cooperative movement is gaining friends among the thinking people and those that live near the other line of roads where they have no opposition. I cannot say as to whether this organization wants to go into the state association or not but think it will not be long before they do. There is quite a following among the members that desire to do so, but it seems as though you have to educate them to it. We certainly do not desire to drop it and leave it in the hands of the grain trust. We desire the establishment of a line of elevators owned and controlled by the farmers.

The men who earn the dollars are capable of transacting their own business and I do not believe in patronizing outsiders, paying an extortionate price for what we can better do ourselves. Fraternally yours, C. A. Hassler, President, Agra Grain Elevator Co One of the worst difficulties in building up a farmers movement is that many farmers are not honest with themselves, will take advantage of their own company, their own association. They will write us for prices on grain and when we offer them four or five cents more than they were offered by the truBt grain dealer they will then go to the grain dealer and sell for a fraction of a cent more than we offered and often at the same price.

We benefit the farmers to the extent of four or five oents per bushel and he doesnt even pay for the postage stamp we used. Poor near-sighted human hog we cant help but pity his stupidity, selfishness and ignorance..