Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1881-12-22

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TMankato Review.]
We devote considerable space to-day
to the publication of the proceedings of
the wheat buyers and millers' meeting,
held at Minneapolis, to effect some ar
rangement for the future management
and control of the wheat market. The
combination entered into includes repre-
sentatives OF all the railroad companies
penetrating the southern half Of the
state. 1t will be seen by the resolutions
adopted that they define the different
grades of wheat. In this matter no
change has been made, excepting as to
wheat injured by the wet weather OF last
fall. This is to be graded as condemned,
and bought at price at least IS cents
per bushel below that paid for No. 1.
We understand that nearly one-half the
wheat so far marketed here this fall and
winter is damp, or more or less affected
by the wet. So this feature of the com
bination is serious one for farmers.
Another agreement entered into was
the appointment of a committee with
power and authority to designate the
prices to be paid at every railroad station
on these several railroad lines The COM
mittee is to be controlled, in designating
prices, by what is paid at Chicago or
Milwaukee, less freight and five cents
for charges. This will make uni
form market all over the state, does
away with all competition, and practically
places the wheat market in the power of
two or three men. These men may be
honest, and may act fairly, but the temp
tation to act selfshly seems almost ire
sistible, and fear that such will be the
case, as well as the natural repugnance
which every American citizen feels to-
wards arbitrary and oppressive monopo-
lies and combinations, must certainly
render the arrangements entered into at
Minneapolis, very unpopular with far
mers and people generally. It will give
a new impetus aud strength to organiza-
lions and combinations among farmers,
and, if it shall have the effect to lessen
the wheat acreage of the state, and direct
the attention of farmers to more remun-
erative pursuits in the growth Of cattle,
hogs, the development of the dairy inter-
ests, etc., it will prove blessing in dis
guise.
The growth and development of COM
binations and monopolies in this country,
since the war, is surprisingly alarming.
Six or seven years ago, when there was q
general uprising of farmers throughout
the country under what was known as the
granger movement, the struggle was for
the right of the people to regulate and
control transportation charges. The
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ton of the principle by the courts that
the people through their legislatures
possessed this power. A few attempts
to exercise it were made, but they were
generally abortive, and soon abandoned,
the people seemingly content to knew
that they were the repository of this
power. But the exactions and combine
tons then complained of were
trifles compared with what
exist to-day. Then there was rea-
sonable competition in the wheat
market, and some competition between
roads as to the carrying of general
freights. Now everything Of that char
acter has been most effectually stamped
out, pools and freight combinations have
destroyed competition in transportation
matters, and few NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. one
man-controls, dictates and establishes
the prices to be paid at every sta
ton on line of railroad extending for
hundreds of miles; and to make their
power more absolute, the representatives
of these several lines of road, and their
respective now buyers meet in deliberate
convention, and place the power of es-
tabllshing the prices to be paid for q
whole state, in the hands of few inter-
ested individuals. Such combination
is SO repugant to every instinct, impulse
and principles of free. people, that it will
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