The anti-monopolist. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1874-1878, 1874-10-22
SHAMEFUL IUPUDENCE.

l
This Anti Monopoly agitation COM
menced several years ago. In 1869 we
made speech at Pennington wherein
we discussed the Tariff and the extor-
tons of the railroad companies. In
1870, in December, an Aati-Monopoly
convention was held at Rochester, and
speeches made by Hon. R. A. Jones,
Hon. L. B. Hodges, Hon. Samuel May
all, II. II. Young, Esq, and our hum
BILE self, and $4,000 copies of the pro-
ceedings were published. In January,
1871, two Autobiography conventions
were held in St. Paul, at which several
of the same gentlemen, together with
Gen. German, spoke. At these
conventions the same subjects were
discussed and the same thoughts ad-
vanced that we are advancing to-day in
this journal. And from that day to
this some of those who took part in
those meetings have kept up the agita-
ton.
During all that time Alexander
Ramsey and William Window have
represented Minnesota in the Senate
and Dunnell has represented the lower
district in the House, while Strait has,
during part of the time, represented
the Second District in the same body.
What response did they make to the
clamor of the people2
In FIVE YEARS WHAT HAVE THEY Ac-
CoMPLIsHED?
Is your wheat higher today through
their e.rertions? Let your empty
pockets answer.
About one year ago Window got a
committee appointed to investigate.
They cost tie nation thousands of dol
lars for travel and board and wines and
cigars What have they found out
Simply that which every one knew be-
fore, that the people we're plundered by
the transportat.; on companies.
sit needs no ghost come from the
grave to tell US that.
Suppose farmer hh ,es TWO or 'nret
men to look after his far,.' Willie n'
goes away on a visit to Europ>.' ~
pays them high wages; he tells tn. "
what he wants done, and he gives them
specific instructions how to do it. He
returns in a year to find his catsle
starving, his fences down, his barns and
granary empty, and his farm going to
ruin. He calls his unfaithful workmen
to him, and Indignantly demands what
they mean by such conduct. And
they say to him -
"Ah, my dear sir, we have just held
a meeting and passed some strong reso-
lutions on that very point. Bill, here,
was appointed comm ittee of investi-
CATION, and he is now ready to report
that yeur cattle are starving, your
fences down, your barns and granary
empty and everything going to the
ID: and he has here a large array of
figures to demonstrate conclusively
that you have been shamefully plum
dered and your affairs horribly mis-.
managed. We have been getting a |
good ready, and are now prepared to
begin to attend to things. But first
you will please settle with Bill; it
has cost him large sum of money to
callect these valuable statistics,
and prepare This great report. So be
good enough to fork over first
What does the honest farmer reply
'Out of my house, you thieves and
scoundrels. Pay you for demonstrat-
ing to me that l am plundered, while
you have plundered me, or failed to
defend me from those who did! I left
my farm in good condition; return to
find myself ruined man. And you
are ready to tell me what ought to haze
been done. WHY DIDN'T You DO? The
farm was in your hands. You knew
my wishes. Why didn't you carry
them out! And after bringing things
to this pass you want to keep control
yet! And you are getting good rea-
iy and are just about to begin. Out of
my housed"
But suppose the honest farmer also
inds that while he has been thus inn
each Of his unfaithful SER
rants, who were poor men when he en-
,loyed them. have grown rich, and own
houses, farms. bank Stocks railroad
,tocxs, &c., would he not feel that they
better deserved the pillory than con-
Of his confidencei
And is not this precisely the condi-
ion of afairsi Are not Ramsey,
Window, Dunnell, and Strait the un