50 THE THIRD POWER 



bankers or put themselves in condition that they 

 don't need to borrow. The combined railroads, 

 which, subject to the slight restraints (?) imposed 

 by the Interstate Commerce Commission, fix the rates 

 on farm produce, will no doubt object to a combina- 

 tion among the farmers to secure equitable rates, 

 a fair price for their crops and regulate their move- 

 ment to market. Even the trade-unions, which 

 vociferously, and often violently, assert the right of 

 their members to say what wages they shall be paid, 

 and who subject the country to great inconvenience 

 and even suffering in the struggle to carry their 

 point, might be disposed to deny the farmers the 

 right to combine for their own protection and in- 

 dependence, on the ground that it might advance the 

 price of living. Always this desire to secure an un- 

 fair advantage, or an advantage at the expense of 

 some one else, develops opposition to an organiza- 

 tion among the farmers. 



But, as has been said, there is no good and honest 

 ground for any such objection. For the farmers 

 propose to demand nothing that is unfair, unjust or 

 dishonorable, nothing that it would not benefit all 

 classes for them to have. To illustrate : If farmers 

 organize and put profitable prices on their crops, 

 they will have more money to spend for labor and 

 every necessary and many of the luxuries of life. 

 It is only the profit that may safely be spent. There- 

 fore, more profit — margin — to the farmers will bene- 

 fit the country merchant, bankers, professional men, 



