The anti-monopolist. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1874-1878, 1874-08-20
Sound Doctrine.

Adams, Master Of the National Grange,
July 4th, 1874, at Auburn, Iowa.
Iowa is emphatically an agricultural
State, and her wealth is mainly from
the tilling Of the soil. 1t would seem
fit that her institutions should bear the
impress of her chief industry and that
this calling should be heard through
her representatives in the national coun-
cils-yet what is the fact! To-day we
have eleven Senators and Representa-
tives and ten Of them are lawyers, sent
there to represent great agricultural
State, and look after her agricultural
interests. 1t is perfectly natural that
lawyers should look after lawyers, bank
ers after the interests of bankers, and
politicians after the interests of politi-
clans, and if the producing classes of the
country ever expect their interests at
tended to, they must do it themselves.
There is world of truth in the senti-
ment inscribed on the banner Of the
Eden Grange, Justice to ourselves is
our nation s welfare.
One time an old lark came home to
her nest of young, and found them in
great terror. They had heard the own
er of the field, in which their nest was
situated, tell his boys to 60 and invite
all the neighbors and they would cut
the grain the next day. The old lark,
who was wiser than they, told them to
fear not, for if the farmer depended on
his neighbors to do his work it would
not be done, and their nest would not
be disturbed. Next day, on returning
from her hunt after worms, she again
found the young larks in greater con-
sternation than before. The owner of
the wheat had told the boys to go and
invite all his uncles and cousins and 9TH
er kin, to come and cut the wheat. The
old lark said, fear not. if he depends on
his relations for aid, his wheat will not
be cut. The day following she once
more found her young frightened but
not so severely as before. They had
heard the owner of the wheat tell the
boys to ''gct out the sickles and sharp
en- them up, and we will cut the grain
ourselves. Now, said the lark, it is
time for US to move, for the gods help
those who help themselves. To-mor-
row the grain will be cut.
Patrons, if we rely on the promises
Of lawyers and politicians to make laws
just to suit US, we will, like the owner
of the wheat field, be doomed to disap-
pointment. But when we make the
laws ourselves, they will be such as our
wants require, and will be just to the
productive industries of the country.
Let US all, then, while performing to the
best Of our ability, the work Of pro-
ducers; while we add yearly to the
wealth of the nation, while we build up
beautiful homes for our families.
while We cultivate the mind and all the
finer attributes of manhood, while we
yearly make our lands richer and fair
er, while we grow more thoughtful and
better farmers, let US not forget our
sacred duty as American citizens, on
whom rests the responsibility of pre-
serving intact the liberty of great ma
ton. Let US so act in our capacity OF
sovereigns, that when we meet together
on our ngtion's birthday we can con.
scientiously say that as men and citi-
Gems we have done our duty, and our
country is more prosperous. better gov.
erned, more free, pure, and happy. with
each succeeding year.
Extortions in the Elevator Business.
1t would seem that the great railroad
and moneyed corporations have used
every means within their reach and
power as engines of extortion and op-
preston. Here is what the Industrial
Age says about the elevator business at
Milwaukee:
The only elevator not within the con-
troll Of the ST. Paul Co. is that known
as the old Sweet Warehouse. or ele1a-
tor. This elevator was bought of L.
j. Highly, by prominent business man
of Milwaukee, for s75, 900. Oxe-third Of
it was sold to prominent St. PaulCo.
official. at cost. At the end Of the first
year, the St Paul Co. gentleman had,
for his share of the profits. his $25, zoe
back and $4,000 over! The elevator
cleared 1900 more than its cost the
first year the present owners had it.
OF this $4,000, there was 5,eOo
too much wrung from the farmers in
transporting their wheat to the sea
board markets. Is it any wonder the
owners of these elevators hate to give
up SO good a thing! But is it not a
wonder that legislators, who have no in
terest in the extortionate exactions that
roll up such colossal profits, will de-
sert or betray their constituents. and
perpetuate them!
We make the foregoing special .llu-
sion to the old Sweet Elevator from no
spirit of iil-wiH towards either Of its
proprietors. On the contrary it would
afford the writer most sincere pleasure
to render one Of them any legitimate
kindness il his power. But having
been assured, from what we consider .
responsible source grain dealer
that the facts are Is stated, we deem it
our duty to make special mention Of
them for the information Of the Legisla-
ture and the public.
Another cloud burst occurred At
Austin, Nevada yesterday, flooding the
town badly, but no lives were lost.