Morris tribune. [volume] (Morris, Minn.) 1880-2000, 1882-02-23
MINNESOTA NEWS
PATRONS OF HUsBANDRY.

PATRONS OF HDSBANDRf.
K solutions of ths Minnesota State Grange
Assembled at Minneap9iis-fbe Mill'rs' As
sOciati0n and Wheat Buyers forcbiy Ar
raigned and the Railroads Appealed TO.
Tue proceedings CT tie state grange Of NJ n
nesota we're mostly secret aud OF lit e gen raj
iateres, but the matttr which will Eeeuec the
wide,: attention from all classes OF people WILL be
ihe respC nse OF The farme g the ] ectn mt action
OF the Millers association I'M the leac ing wheat
buyers of the state at their join. meeting i'll
December. Upon this point the state grunge
enters vigorous protest, whi,h Ii herebWith
presented in full:
Whereas, The leading millers and wheat buyers
OF the State met in December and adopted new
rules for grading and buying wheat, and took such
further action as resulted in the immediate decliIe
of prices 10 to 80 cents per bushei wiihout any
corresponding depression in the markets Oh the
Whereas, For two months they have stubbCrny
tried to enforce this bold system OF piunderlng;
Therefore,
Resolved, That in such action these men have
struck blow at every interest in the State except
their own, and that all classes Should there-
fore promptly contribute to redress the outrage
Resolved, That this action only demonstrates
again the iatger Of building up Dowerfni mouoD-
olies in our midst; that competitions the only
sure means Of securing fair prges that The system
Of local buyers is that we cant siioFd 10 DIS
continue and he left to sell our produce 10 I":clgn
compauies whose only aim 1s to reap as TAT
harvest possible, tnat Wherever sucil ICc.t
buyers are to be found. communities will subserye
their own ultimate interests by protecting them IN
preference to the rings who have gained control OF
nearly all the Markes Of the State.
Resolved, ThGt the milling interest which W.
have gladly seen developed in the State, II il
continues In this present EVIL course, wall
proye a curse where expected q blessing; tEai
in this action they have attacked power superior
TO themselTes that the people can get along VIII
out tho mills while the mill cannot possibly get
along without the wheat, and that so long US they
TO This UNTtoLY ALLIANCE
we strenuousy urge the shipping Of the wheat or
Of the State; that it be handled as tar as possible
I by independent buyers; that for the purpose Of
perfecting arrangements fer the full execution OF
this plan. meetings be Etid All The sui9rc'
| thoroughly ventilated, and that the faliroads D.
called upon TO define their attitude, as 10 whether
they will further protect this swinGe. or Withdraw
| from the contest aud allow the people to redress
; their own grievances
| The above resolutions adopted. and COM
mittee appointed TO the intention carried out IL
| different portions OF the S;ate.
| ET OPEN ADDRESS TO RAILROADS.
| In connection with the foregoing res0tuhons
| the following address Tas also adopted:
| To the railroads Of Minnesota: The State GTange
respectfully begs TO call jour attention 70 the fol-
| lowing statements:
| That wheat being the principal product of Min
nesota, it is essential to the general welfare OF the
people that the producers should be permitted ia
sell their crop at a fair, legitimate value:
| That the wheat of the State ls now bought mainly
by powerful and greedy monoDolies to the exclusion
Of the preferabe system OF local buyers, aad tAA'
| this evil is continually growing worse;
That the prominent buJe ers ard lnlers met a
| Minneapolis III December, took steps 10 shut ou
all competitors droUlJed the price of wheat unw1r-
rautably, and took such further sc1ion then and
since as 10 justly rouse public Indignation and ca!
| for speedy redress:
| That there seem to be grave reasons for fearinc
| that the railroads are in sympathy with tins grea
wrong. The freight officers of several roads wer.
| present at that conference and must be aware tina
the measures there Gdopted were In the interest o
combined buyers against the producers. lhes'
measures have been in operation two mouths ant
| has been taken. word has been spoken TO assure
! the public that their natural and reasonable susp
cions were unfounded: while on the other hand
railroad officials have openly made use of thel
| power and influence.
EVEN BY THREATS.
to compel compliance with these Cest-ron prices IL
cases where independent buyers were paying to-
much to suit the rings. We therefore GO before tn
public with these complaints. aud invite the pro
ducing and business men Of the State, in and GU
of the grange, to cooperate with US III cstaplishr
the following principles:
First-That railroads are common carriers, an
should not be buyers nor Interested in the ouyln
| of any commodity which they transport for Others
| Second-That in endowiug and fostering rail
roads, it was the intention of the State aud th
people to provide means OF transportation tha
| OPEN AND EQUAL TO ALL:
that the people give the railroads millions of acre
OF land and buy it back again; that they give then
dlu t4ity
have sufficient right and interest in these roads t
expect fair treatment at their hauds-aHd TO conpe
it, if necessary.
Third-That every principle of law and ever
| consideration of justice fairness and common de
cency prohibits railroad company from tellin
any man what he may pay for wheat with his owl
| money. The markets of the State should be ope
and free for the purchase and sale OF its products
Equal facilities should he afforded and equal rate
given to all. Competition should be encourage
| and not stranged, and if any distinction is to b
made. it should be in favor of those who pay tn
most for produce, and not the opposite.
| With these statements, We ask the railroads t
stand aside and let the people take care of tn
rings Let the agricultural interests of the State
| fostered: let the cultivation of the soil ee encour
aged, the value of land enhanced and towns bui!
| up. The aim should not be to keep prices down
but up: not to make farmers poor. but rich: not
protect thieving wheat rings, but to kill them: nc
| to merit the hostility OF the people, but thei
friendship, for these are the means. aud the onl
means. by which the railroads or tho people ca
permanently thrive.