St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1884-08-23
fst. Vincent New Era.
AN OPEN LETTER.
To The St. Paul Jobbers Union.
To Geo. r. Finch, ESD, President, and Mem
bers of the st. Paul Jobbers Union.

To Geo. R. Finch, Esq, President, and Mem.
bers of the st. Paul Jobbers Union.
GENTLEMEN-You have just returned from
personal visit to the Valley
of the Red River of the North. Your
visit has been made at an opportune time,
for the boundless grain fields Of this incom-
parable wheat producing region are even
now whitening to the harvest harvest
which bids fair to surpass in magnifcence
all other localities, and even to eclipse the
records of this region itself in former years.
We are glad to learn from our own citizens
who companied your excursion, that you
were pleased with what you saw; that you
have confidence in 3he future of this region,
its ability to pay its present debts, and to
buy and pay for more goods in the future.
We know that we have been largely indebted
for the articles and supplies necessary in
opening up new country; that we the far
mers of this region, have been for year or
two unable to pay our country merchants,
and that they have consequently been una
bic to pay you, who have furnished them
with goods which we have used. We thank
you for your forbearance, without which we
realize that many in this region would have
been closed out by the bankruptcy court
You have doubtless. been informed that
poor crops and reckless expenditure were at
the bottom of all the hard times existing here,
rendering collections, for year or so past,
yeiy difficult or even impossible. We admit
that there has been partial failure Of crops,
which, coupled with the low price Of grain
the world over, has done much to produce
the result. But We want to let you know
that this cause is only one Of the depressing
influences under which we are suffering. A
hydra-headed monster, with length equal
to tie extent OF country from MinneaDo-
lis to st. Vincent and with mouths equal to
the number of elevators throughout the terri
tory, is devouring our substance. lis fertile
and powerful brain, backed up 10y millions
of capital is located in your sister city It
has formed league with the parties who
control and operate the great arteries Of COM
merce upon which We are depending to i'm
port our supplies and export our productions;
corporations who's every existence is derived
from the people themselves, and to whose
Golfers the people have contributed lavishy
of their substance to build their lines of road.
The purpose OF this league is to control the
marketing, handling and sale of our surplus
production-wheat; and it has thus far been
most successful in its objects. There exists
for US as a class, but one market, one set of
buyers, who can grade our wheat to suit
themselves, and fix the price accordingly,
and from this decision there is practically no
appeal.
By this means, the very low market price
has, in many or most eases, been made still
lower to the extent OF ), 10, or even 20 or
more cents per bushel, rs can be abundant
" established by allidavits and from this
low price the rich corporations which have
built their roads with the peoples money
and lands. extort their pound of flesh in the
shape Of an exorbitant and ruinous rate for
transporting our grain. Need we tell you, as
business men, that this process leaves us no
margin of profit! Need we explain to you
that the result of it is that the amount the
producer is allowed to retain, is only suiiici-
ent to defray expenses, and lure him on to
produce another crop; while all the profits of
his work, of his risk, and the cream of HE
fertile lands are being transferred to the
pockets of monopolists? Thus the money
that should go to the country merchant, and
through them to you, is diverted from its
proper purpose, and made to swell dividends
upon watered stock, and enrich millionaires.
IHG uulHt vi IlllS ulOlSIGI 10 runway anu
elev ator monopoly; and its brain is the Mil
lers Association. That 1t exists in defiance
of law, as well as of right and justice, we
know full well. But it has fastened its dead
ly and tenacious grip upon us and to shake
it off will require II desperate struggle. For
that struggle the farmers of the Red River
Valley, in common with those of the state at
large, are now girding themselves. Con-
scious Of their power they are organized to
place legislation upon our statute books as
will result in trottling this monster and re-
leasing his grip In this effort we are bound
to succeed for right and justice, as well as
power, is on our side
But we invoke your aid in this great work.
We want you to know why it is that we cam
not pay our debts, and where The money that
rightfully belongs to you, goes to; and hav-
ing shown you this, We ask you to take hold
at the proper time and see that from your
great commercial city no pot-house politician,
or suppiant tool of monopoly, shall enter
the Legislative halls, and thus aid us to win
the coming victory, and share with MS in it's
grand results. G. SToDDARD SMITH.