The Swine Swindle Sweeping the State
A state professor warns farmers against sophisticated livestock contracts that promise riches but leave them holding the bag.
The story, cleaned up
A cleaned-up reading of the newspaper page: spelling and layout repaired, one story lifted off a crowded page. It follows the original closely but it is not a transcription. The original page is below; read it if a detail matters.
Warning Washington farmers against buying “a pig in a poke,” and against signing any contract without submitting it to someone who understands contracts, Prof. R. T. Smith of the animal husbandry department of the State College of Washington is investigating a scheme now being offered to western farmers. The plan involves inducing farmers to sign a contract to buy Chester White boars and sows at high prices, with the company agreeing to buy back the litters—provided they meet vague 'standards.' Because the contract fails to define these standards, many farmers are left with expensive livestock and no way to recoup their investment. A survey of Whitman County showed 22 hogs of inferior quality sold at twice their real value by the Kelly Brothers' company. The department of animal husbandry warns farmers to consult experts before signing and offers to provide a list of legitimate, registered hog breeders within the state.
“Warning Washington farmers against buying 'a pig in a poke,' and against signing any contract without submitting it to someone who understands contracts.”
This 1924 warning about agricultural investment schemes mirrors modern concerns regarding predatory lending and opaque 'gig economy' contracts that trap small-scale producers. It serves as a reminder that the 'get-rich-quick' agricultural scam is a long-standing threat to Washington’s rural economy.
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