Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1878-09-30

The supporters of Mr.. Washburn pro-
fess to be exceedingly shocked because the
oppression and robbery of the Minneapolis
Millers' Association is made political mat
ter. They say it has nothing to do with
politics, and that it is outrageous to mix the
grade of wheat with Washburn's candidacy
for Congress. We can scarcely imagine that
any one is SO dull of comprehension as to
be deceived by any such plea.
The Minneapolis Millers' Association is
powerful and wealthy combination, against
which the farmers cannot cope either singly
or by neighborhoods. They need to mass
their forces and make united onslaught on
their oppressors. The only possible method
to accomplish this is at the ballot
box. That is where every man
can make himself felt. The
producer should select for his lawmakers,
both State and national, men whose inter-
ests are with them and not against them.
Relief can be secured either from Congress
or the State legislature, and if the farmers
ever expect relief they must see that no man
is elected who will be debarred from aiding
in securing the necessary legislative relief.
Mr.. Washburn is candidate for Congress,
and it is not only legitimate, but absolutely
essential to consider his qualifications. He
is of the owners of the Washburn b
mill and the Washburn A mill (being rebuilt)
ut Minneapolis. Both of these mill COM
panies have memberships in the Minneapolis
Millers' Association, and are part and parcel
of the great monopoly which is robbing the
farmer. If Mr.. Washburn should be
elected to Congress, it is not in human ma
ture for him to go against his own pecuniary
interests and befriend the wheat-grower. In
stead of introducing bill in Congress fixing
the grade of wheat and making bushel of
wheat of given grade in Minnesota bushel
of wheat of the same grade in New York and
the country through, he would oppose the
passage of such measure if offered by any
one.
Mr.. Donnelly, on the contrary, is farm
er himself. He has 1000 acres of wheat
land (one-half under plow) in Stevens coun-
ty, upon the main line of the St. Paul g.
Pacific, where the Minneapolis wheat ring
are operating. He knows by actual expert
ence the robbery being perpetrated on the
settler, and has every incentive to aid them.
Furthermore, he has proven himself the
enemy of the Washburn wheat ring in
a practical manner. For four success
s1ve winters Mr.. Donnelly has introduced
bill in the State Senate to prevent just such
Plundering is in progress. His bill
was in substance as follows:
First. It provided for general inspector
of grades, weights and measures at st. Paul,
said inspector to be elected by the legislature
and hold Office for two years. This Inspector
was to prescribe grades of wheat, defining
what they should consist of.
second-A deputy inspector was to be
placed at each elevator or mill, such inspec-
tor to be elected by the county commission
ers, and to be paid one-quarter of cent per
bushel for grading, such payment to be made
by the farmer. An appeal was to be made
from the local inspector to the general
inspector at St. Paul.
Third-The deputies were forbidden the
use of the brass testers, but were required to
use the approved half bushel measure and
regular scales.
This is the measure, something akin to
it, which Donnelly's election to Congress
would secure, while Mr.. Washburn' s would
mean the perpetuation of the present sys-
tenn of robbery.
And still we are informed that it will not
do to mix this matter with politics. We
might add that this injunction comes entirely
from Washburn men,