FARMERS TO THE FRONT 105 



sinners of farm products have nothing to fear. In- 

 deed, it has already been shown that the whole coun- 

 try is interested in having the farmer get profitable 

 prices. There need be no conflict of interest here. 



What difference would it make to the consumer 

 whether the price of wheat is eighty cents or a dollar 

 a bushel ? The average consumption of wheat is 

 about five bushels per capita, or twenty cents increase 

 per bushel is one dollar increase a year. This will be 

 eight and one-third cents a month, or less than one- 

 third cent a day. For a family of four persons a 

 little more than one cent a day. The question is, 

 however, whether bread would be dearer. I think 

 present bakers' bread prices were made when wheat 

 was higher, and they have not been put down. Also 

 it is proposed to reduce the price of so many com- 

 modities when this society is in operation — notably 

 meat — that the average will clearly be in favor of the 

 consumer. 



But suppose the establishment of the farmers' so- 

 ciety and the Third Power would result in a slight 

 advance in food. Wages have been increased out of 

 all proportion to any advance that can result here. 

 Also by giving the farmers a lift now along with the 

 general industrial elevation we will be increasing his 

 consuming powers for all manufactured goods, and 

 for everything he can consume on the farm and in 

 ln's family, thus benefiting the laborers in prospect 

 of continued high wages. Also if we put the farmers 

 in a position where each of them will keep one or 



