Morris tribune., 1882-02-16

The action of the Minneapolis MilerS
association in seeking to monopolize the
wheat markets of the northwest has gradu-
ally stirred up intense feelipo among the
entire people of the state, ana their last
act, that of gobhling up the elevators
along this line, has caused the people in
this vicinity to awaken to a necessity of
determined and concerted action, for the
immediate suppression of an organization
Whit threatens to permanently injure if
not wholly ruin the entire northwest
Time and again has the TRIBUNE spoke
Of The need of fighting against the ELI
croachments of thus powerful monopoly;
repeatedly hav" We warned the farmers
that the octopus arms of this monster
were Slowly but surely cncompassng US,
and yet, although it was known and seen
that ills tolls were about US on every side,
yet no effort has hecn made to free our
selves from the malign influences which
threaten TO stTangle the growth and pro-
grcss of the wheat growing region of the
northwest. Figuratively speaking we are
not only knocked down and held there,
but are being kicked and cuffed, and yet
there is not a cry raised or protest Of,
fered, We take the insult and injury as alb
jectly rs ours, and instead of manfully
fighting for our rights, when we have
strength and power to overcome and for
ever suppress our enemy, we submit to the
imposition and injury, and feebly mutter a
please don't" That We have remedy,
end that the power is ours if we only use
it, is evident when we say that the ballot
is in our hands and the law OH our side.
The st. Paul Globe speaking on
this point says: The supreme
court of Minnesota in the case of
Stewart vs, the Erie & Western Trans
porlation company, reported in the sew.
enteenth volume of the Minnesota Re-
ports, declared that lit is against tie gen
crul policy of the law to destroy or inter
feYe with free competition in trade, or to
permit such destruction or interference. -"
and that "a monopoly unauthorized and
interfering with free competition in trade
is void"
Thc farmers can rest their case on this
decision 1t simply reaffirms well cs
tablished principle Of the English law.
The Minneapolis ring is a combination to
monopolize the wheat markets of the
state by driving out all competition; it
does this by setting up the price as soon
as outside buyers appear in market TO
such unreasonable figures as to drive the
buyers away; it then puts the price down
below the true value far enough to make
up for its temporary losses. They
have been known TO raise the price of
wheat in town thirteen cents in one
day to drive away competitors and
drop it again the next day upon the out
side buyers leaving the town. This
course is clearly illegal and against public
policy, and such combination should be
declared by law, a conspiracy.
This Minneapolis wheatring has become
crying evil. 1t concerns not only
farmers but the merchant and capitalists,
and even the railroad owners of the re.
gion; the wheat area is not increasing as
it should; in many parts Of the state it is
decreasing; the merchants in the farming
towns are embarrassed by the poverty of
their customers; The wholesale merchants
suffer, the growth Of our great cities ia
hindered and capital turns elsewhere.
All classes should rise mp TO assist the
farmcrs to throw of tilis incub'is.