Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1882-01-14
A oorEMpoR<RY ENLIGHTENED

The Minneapolis Journal noting the
comments of the GLOBE upon the pur-
chase of the Davidson elevators by the
Minneapolis millers is moved to remark:
What has voting got to do with it? The
purchase of the elevators was business tran
saction. Anybody had a right to purchase
them providing the owners were willing to
sell. The attempt to connect the transaction
with politics is about as cranky a notion as
the charging of Garfeld's assassination to d.
vine 'inspiration."
To which the GLOBE responds that vot-
ing has got great deal to do with it.
The Minneapolis millers are governed by
the markets of the world in the prices
they pay for wheat in that city or st.
Paul, because these cities are
shipping points and buyers are
in the field ready to COM
pete and buy the grain for other markets,
if there is shipping margin in the price
the millers pay or an excess over their de-
mand. But the markets of the world do
not and cannot regulate the grades made
by these m1llers at interior points, and IN
the grading there is an opportunity for an
immense speculation of the millers and a
corresponding loss of the farmer. The
standard market price does not regulate
elevator charges. Neither does it pro-
vide competition where the elevators
and buyers are combined in one person or
one company. In towns where the mil
lers own the elevator there is absolutely
no opportunity for the farmer to secure
justice in his grade or competition in his
price. He is absolutely held by the throat,
and must stand and deliver his wheat as
arbitrarily as though hlghwayman de-
manded his money with revolver at his
head. That is the situation the farmers
of Northern Minnesota are in to-day.
While laws cannot regulate the price
offered for wheat, they can regulate the
elevator charges, the grading, and give
such support and aid as to prevent any
ring arbitrarily controlling the market.
When that is done the price will regulate
itself. A free market and fair play is
what legislation can secure for the
farmer, and that legislation the farmers
might secure if they would vote for their
interests, instead of for some political
party.
In 1878 the Minneapolis wheat ring
placed one of their number in nominal
ton for high Office. The direct issue
was made between the farmers and mill
ers. 1t was demonstrated that the farmers
were being robbed of from ten to twenty-
foe cents per bushel by swindling in the
grade and method of testing the grain.
No better evidence that voting had some
thing to do with it, is necessary, than
the fact that the exposure was
made SO prominent, that the wheat ring
temporarily suspended their swindle dur
ing the latter part of the canvass, and
brought the price of the different grades
from ten to fifteen cents nearer together
than they had previously been. If the
farmers had shown the power which they
possess. and defeated the wheat ring
candidate, they would have admin
istered rebuke which would have
been felt and understood, and taught
the wheat ring that they knew their
rights and proposed to maintain them.
They, on the contrary, kissed the hand
that smote them and demonstrated that