Warren sheaf. [volume] (Warren, Marshall County, Minn.) 1880-current, 1882-02-23
PATRONS O Il Ill USBANDRY.

EAYkUNS 10 H13iid GSB2ANDttY.fa i8
RESOLUTIONS Of the Minnesota State Grangs,
Assembled at Minneappiis-The MilItrs AS
IN ISOLATION and w heat Buy ers FOrcibly Al
| raigned and the Railroads Appealed 10. S
The proceedings OF the state grange Of n y
nesota were mostly secret and OF g little gen raj
interes, t but the InaTter which will secls the
wdes: attentl.n from all classes Of people will be
The response OF The farmers o the recent action
the Millers' association snd the leat ing wheat
buyers Of the state at their joint nieeung in
December. Upon this point the state grange
tntere a vigorous protest, which is herewith
y asented in full: ST l 54#
Whereas, The leading nillers and wheat buyers
rules for grading and buying wheat. and took such
further action as resulted in the immediate decline
Of prices 10 to 80 cents per bushel without any
corresp ending depression in the markets Of the
Whereas, For two months they have stubbornly
tried to enforce this bold system Of plunderine;
therefore, S.> n
struck blow at every interest in the State except
their own, and that all classes should there
tore promptly contribute 70 redress the outrage. Il
Ii Resolved, That this action only demonstrates
again the danger Of building up powerful monon-
olies in our midst that open compettions the only
sure means OF securing fair prices; that the system
of local buyers is one that cannot afford TO dis
continue and be left to sell our produce to foreign
companies whose only aim lis to reap as fat a
harvest as possible. and that wherever such local
buyers are to be found. communities will subserve
their own ultimate interests by protecting them in
preference the rings who have gained control OF
nearly all the markets Of the State.
Resolved, That the milling interest which we
have gladly seen developed in the State if it
continues in this present evil course, will
prove a curse where we expecteda blessing; that
in this action they have attacked power superior
to themselves; that the people can get along with
out the mills while the mill cannot possibly get
along without the wheat, and that SO long as they
adhere
TO THIS UNHoLY ALLIANCE
we strenuousiy urge the shipping OF the wheat out
Of the States that it be handled as far as possible
by independent buyers; that for the purpose Of
perfecting arrangements for the full execution Of
this plan, mass meetings be held and the subject
thoroughly ventilated and that the railroads be
called upon TO define their attitude, as to whether
they will further protect this swindle or withdraw
from the contest and allow the people to redress
their own grievances.
The above resolutions were adopted. and a COM
mtttee appointed to the intention carried out in
different portions of the State.
AN OPEN ADDRESS TO RAILROADS.
In connection with the foregoing resolutions
the following address was also adopted:
To the railroads of Minnesota The State Grange
respectfully begs to call your attention to 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 70
sell their crop at a fair, legitimate value
That the wheat OF the State is now bought mainly
of the preferable system OF local buyers and that
this evils continually growing worse:
That the prominent e BUYERS and ners met at
all competitors, dropped the price of wheat unwar-
rantably and took such further action then and
since as to justly rouse public indignation and call
for speedy redress;
That there seem to be grave reasons for fearing
that the railroads in Sympathy with this greal
wrong. The freight officers of several roads were
present at that conference and must be aware thai
the measures there adoDted were in the interest OF
combined buyers against the producers. These
measures have been in operation two months, and
yet no blow has been Struck--no stert
has been AIKEN, no word has been spoken to assure
The public that their natural and reasonable suspi-
cions We're unfounded; while, on the other hand,
railroad officials have openly made use of Their
power and influence,
EVEN BY THREATS.
to compel compliance with these cast-iron prices ia
cases where independent buyers were paying too
much to suit the rings We therefore go before the
public with these complaints, and invite the pro-
duclng AND business men Of the State, in and out
of the grange, to cooperate with us III establishing
the following principles:
First-That railroads are common carriers, and
should not be buyers nor interested in the buying
OF any commodity which they transport for Others
Second hat in endoWng and fostering rail-
roads, it was the intention Of the State aud the
people to provide means Of transportation that
should be
OPEN AND EQUAL TO ALL;
that the people give the railroads millions Of acres
or land ana buy 1t back again that they give them
millions Of dollars in bonds and that they therefore
have sufficient right and interest in these roads to
expect faritreatment at their hanls-and to compel
it.if necessary.
Ihrd-Ihat every principle Of law and every
consideration OF justice, fairness and common de-
cency prohibits a railroad company from telling
any man what ne may pay for wheat with his own
money. The markets Of the State should be open
and free for the purchase and sale Of it's products
Equal facilities should be afforded and equal rates
given to all Competition should be encouraged
and not strangled, and if any distinction is to be
ha in fa7 nf 1,yI,.
most tor produce, and not the opposite.
WIN these statements, we ask the railroads to
stand aside and let the people take care Of the
rings Let the agricultural interests of the State be
fostered: let the cultivation of the soil be encour
aged, the value of land enhanced aud towns built
up The aim should not beto keep prices down,
protect theving wheat rings, but to kill them: nor
TO merit the hostility OF the people, but their
friendship. for these are the means. and the only
permanently thrive. 5a1
Grand Lodge OF Minnesota Knights OF Pr tls,as.
The annual meeting of the Minnesota Grand
Lodge Of the Knights of Pythias was held at
Minneapolis on Tuesday last Delegates were
present from all he lodges There are 70 in
good working order. The total membership lie
i ,O24 against Ss2 last year. The a Grand
Chancellor recon III nde tia char tiers be- grant
cd 10 Winona oags, No 81; Henderson lodge
No. %; Wadena lodge, No. Is; Ada lodge, No.
p; and Crookston lodge; No. 70.
The grand lodge receipts last year were
81, O97 80; expenses 81, l4s rs; total assets
81, 5l4 "a
The grand lodge has Decided to hold s. state
parade some time during the year, at date to
DO determined by the grand chancellor twill
probably be held in Minneapolis. Prizes Of
$50, S SO and $40 each will be- offered for
the three bestlodg in points of dill and equip
ment.
Ed. "a. Stevens resigned his office as grand
trustee.
The following officers were elected as fol-
lows.
P.G q e w. B. Harvey, Minneapolis.
g. ID. G Durham, Atoka.
G v. G.--N r. Hurd, Faribault
e. p. p. Ltitrer, st. Paul. .