Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1882-03-14
FARMERS IN COUNCIL,

FARMERS IN COUNCIL.
A Rousing Meeting In Northfisla-Plalr
Talk for the Milllng Ring.
Especial Correspondence to the Globe
NoRTHF1ELD, March 11....Unlike last Satur
dao, the precarious outdoor elements permit
ted the day to open beautifully upon the Little
Giant wheat ring and the designated place Of
retreat for the farmers who were to meet in
mass meeting here to-day. At little before
II o'clock, President G W. Lyman, Secretary
8. Reynolds ami Treasurer John Alexander oc.
cupied their seats, together with tremendous
audience of farmers from Dakota, Goodhue
and Rice counties. Shortly after 1l:S0 a. m.
the convention was called to order,
by Mr.. c. W. Lyman, chairman. The min.
utes OF the last meeting were then read by
Secretary s. Reynolds and approved, after
which he made the following speech.
Gentlemen: eth: re is no use to meet here
and tell our wrongs, because they are we'll
known by everybody, but devise some plan
to stop them First of ali, there must be 8
union between farmers, merchants and other
like business men, and then the thing will
tell. Ihear that the wheat ring of this place
makes the assertion that the farmers can
never agree Now let us show them. Just as
long as you stick to party, just so long will you
be swindled by these mOnopOlies; but throw
all party aside, elect legislators to work for
our interest, we the farmers and merchants !"
Mr.. F. A. Noble then took the floor and
endorsed Mr.. Reynolds speech, and said there
were others besides farmers injured by these
monopolies. robbers and thieves.
The meeting then adjourned to O'Clock.
AFTERNOON SESSION.
The committee On resolutions reported, and
having under discussion the resolutions. Mr..
s. Reynolds said:
working in our interest. would say now
expect shall tread upon the holy grounds OF
some of you. The Pioneer Press last fall
footed its bugle about Minnesota's mammoth
wheat crop, and backed up by the wheat mar.
kets of New York, Chicago and Milwaukee,
estimated our wheat crop of Minnesota at
sixty millions three weeks before bushel of
wheat had been harvested, and after harvest,
the crop was simmered down to thirty. five
millions, and three months after harvest there
were not fen million bushels in the farmers
hands.
1t was bought by eastern buyers at a
low price, thus taking advantage offhe P. P.
talk of 10000, COO bushels. This the p. p.
has been doing for the past three years, over
almost invaribly every county paper in our
state and pick up the same old cry and foot
the same story. Outside of the news depart
ment the Pioneer Press is disgrace to any
woman's pantry shelf. (Great cheers.]
A. w. Ridelli: II used to be farmer, but
can't afford to farm any more; but it seems
to me that the only remedy for these wrongs
is for the Republicans to nominate and elect
Republicans who will work for our interest in
our legislature. The Republicans will work
for the farmers" Misses and cries of never.
Mr.. Reynolds: 'Should the devil be NOM
mated at Republican convention he is sure
to be nominated Repeated cheers.]
A great many otheripertinents shorter speech.
es were then made by those who had had ex.
perience with the brass kettle and stacy filler,
and explained how the kettle was not so much
which took great effect on the part of the
wheat thieves and robbers, who were among
the audience. That 'they, the speakers, didn't
believe in being modest at all, but believed in
calling things by their right name-robbers
and thieves"
Permanent officers were elected as follows:
President. L. w. Lyman; Secretary, D. F.
Kelly; Treasurer, John Alexander.
The secretary was instructed to confer with
lished through Rice, Dakota, and Goodhus
counties, after which man for each town,
represented at this meeting, should be ap-
pointed to organize In said town, as follows:
Town of Waterford, g.. @. Chamberlain;
Greenvale, Oscar Tozen; Forest, Gilbert Fish;
Town of Mortified, David Orr; Stanton,
Norm. Daniels; Castle Rock, T. C. Childs;
Randolph, X. Morrell; Ridgewater, Tew; Mar
saw, John Howey; Eureka, V. E. Van Slyke;
City of Northfeld, E. Lockwood, merchant;
Pennington, Porter Martin.
Jo,> 4.
WHEREAS, The millers of Minneapolisshave
formed an association which, by driving out all
competition In some of the towns of this
state and entering into combinations with the
wheat buyers in other towns, have taken pos.
session of the wheat markets of the state and
are fixing the price of our great cereal; and
WHEREAS, Such combinations are In the ma
ture Of conspiracy against the public welfare
and in violation of our rights as American
citizens, since they propose to determine for
us whether we shall have prosperity or pov-
crop is worth, or as little as their generosity
will grant US; and
WHEREAS, Under the common law of Eng
land, which is part of our own inheritance,
such conspiracies are criminal and punishable
with imprisonment; and;
WHEREAS. We have patiently waited for
the politicians who make our laws to correct
the evils for which we suffer; therefore,
Resolved, That we invite the farmers and all
other classes who depend for their success on
the prosperity Of the farmers, to organize in
every town In the state, in any manner they
may choose, to the end that we can make a
united and determined effort to elect legis,
lature next fall that will give as laws for the
following purpose:
First-To pronounce the Minneapolis Mil.
lers' association, and any similar combina.
lions against the people, conspiracy punish.
able with Indictment and imprisonment.
second-To abolish the "brass KETTLE" the
sStacy filler and all similar devices, and pro-
vide that in weighing wheat to ascertain how
much it weighs to the bushel, not less thar
half bushel shall be weighed, the half bushel
measure to be flied by pouring
the wheat into the center of Il
from an elevation not less that sixlinehes OF
more than fifteen inches, and that any per
son who tests wheat In any other way shall bt
liable to fine and imprisonment.
Third--To provide for the election of ONE
commissioner from each congressional dis