Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1878-10-28
To the Editor of the Globe:

- oAAS ASoASOA VI CuC 0lOUO:
MINNEAPOLIS, Oct. 21.-As the grade
OF wheat is the most absorbing ques-
ton, l will indulge slightly in its
merits. The grade of wheat established
years ago at sixty pounds to the bushel was
the average of winter. wheat, which frequent
ly goes as high as sixty-four pounds to the
bushel, and but seldom less than sixty.
Then to make spring wheat come up to the
same grade, when it seldom ever reaches the
grade established for winter wheat, is doing
great injustice to the farmers of Mime
sofa, who have to compete with the markets
Of other States. With this difference in
grade the farmers have stood without muir
muir; but when the millcrs combine to force
greater imposition upon the farmers to re-
duce the grade of their wheat, it is about
time that they should be wroth. The inven-
ton of the brass kettle is one of the most
damnable swindles ever perpetrated under
the cloak of honesty; and had the millers of
this city regarded it as an honest transac-
ton they would not have given bonds to en-
force it. This fact alone shows it to be a
steal, as common sense will convince anyone
that wheat will not pack in small measure
to weigh as much as it would in a hal f.
bushel. The difference between the two
would be at least grade, SO that the brass
kettle is a valuable improvement to the mill
ing trade.
It has been thrown in the faces of the
people here that the millers of Minneapolis
must be sustained without questioning their
honesty. They engage in the manufacture
of flour simply for the reason that it paws
better than farming. The day laborer paws
as much for -four hero as it sells for in New
York, which shows that the millers have a
great respect for home custom, whom they
sell their poor grades at homo as high as
their best grades in New York. You may
take 1t on an average purchasing your flour
IN st. Louis after paying freight. and it will
come as cheap as here at home, where wheat
is produced extensively, and manufactured
by the most improved mills in the worlu,
The farmers of Minnesota are our only hope.
Rob them of their labor, and the country
Will soon come to grief. When such brave
men as L. B. Hodges and Ignatius Donnelly
come out boldly and expose such high
handed jobbery they should at least be sus-
tanned by all honest citizens. When the
poor laborer finds that he is paying fifty
cents sack moro for flour than it is actually
worth III other markets, and the farmer is
receiving one third less for his wheat than
he should, can they be bought to support
the wheat ring by casting their votes for
W. d. Washburn, e. man who has grown
rich by making others poor, and giving
$3.50 bonds to continue to steal from the
the farmers of his district as a member of
the brass kettle swindler.
Why is Bill King opposed to bringing the
wheat steal into the election? Simply for
the reason that Washburn is in the ring. If
he was not, what difference would it mako as
long as it did not touch him? Bill King had
some experience in Congress, and made
Minneapolis rich by being postmaster of the
House on a small salary. And had Congress
remained Republican, Bill would, by this
time, own all of Minnesota and part Of Can
ada; but Providence went back on him, and
he is now at his old trade trying to lead the
Republicans of Hennepin county by the
nose the same way he lead his bulls.
Gen. Washburn like King commenced
poor on small salary, in the Office of sur
yeyor general. They say that he stole the
Office away from David Heaton, and then
stole all of the best of the pine lands with
half breed scrip. And from his experience,
If half be true, he would do we'll in Congress
If 1T was oaly Republican. If elected, he
intends to have the grade Of wheat estab-
llshed by law, as that is the biggest steal left
ID the State. Having had come experience
in milling and handling wheat, I would say
to the farmers Of Minnesota to stand up for
your rights, and elect those to Office who you
can rely on to secure such legislation as will
best protect your own interests regardless of
who is dying to 60 to Congress to keep up a
family inheritance which is becoming a
stencil in the nostrils of the American PEG
pie. JUSTICE.