St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1885-02-05
AN OPEN MARKET WANTED.
The Farmers Alliance Discuss the Wheat Bill
and Hear 1t Explained.

/
The Farmers Alliance Discuss the Wheat Bill
and Hear it Explained.
The opening meeting of the fourth annual
session Of the Minnesota Farmers Alliance
wassheld yesterday afternoon at the capitol.
The following delegates were present. repre-
scnting the 226 subordinate alliances Of the
state:
John Diamond, Blue Earth and Main Prairie
| Farmers Alliance; II. W. Winslow, Elota Grange
No. &c; Hornce Wheeler, Farmers Practical
/ Climb, Glencoe; Sylvanus Duncan, Round Grove,
| Mcleod County Alliance; Geo. w. Nutter, Glen
coe Farmers Mutual Protective Alliance No.
20S; Geo. w. Day, Glencoe Farmers Protective
| Club; Mr.. r. Parks, Prosper Alliance No. 4;
Thos. Burrell, Cokato, Wright County Alliance
No. 1877; John Mygren, Mcleod County Farm
ers Darymen's Association Dr. j. Benjamin,
| Sumpter Alliance No. 1863; j. Mobiles, Stearns
County Alliance No. 1899; David Cleveland, Al
lance No. 157. Chippewa Falls; Geo. johnson,
Farnes' Alliance, Carver county; Robt. Patter-
son, A. W. Tiffany, Henry Harris, Jacob rrewe
Brown County Farmers alliance; J. j. Kelly,
Maple Bush alliance: j. S. Englerth, Fergus
Falls, Otter Tall county; j. B. Stafford, Dakota
county: Ignatius Donneliy, T. II. Barrett, Eric
oleson; Martin county, j. Stockholm: c. NJ.
Carlson. Farmers alliance town of Davis, BASS !:
F. N. Davis, Farmers alliance OF Spring Brook !;
Z. y. Davis, Pope county Farmers alliance !;
|
A. Swain, Rice county.
THE WHEAT QUESTION.
After the formal opening of the meeting
by President s. w. sprague, of Prosper, Fill
more county, the discussion began immedi-
ately on the wheat question. Secre-
! tary G.. w. Hugh stated that
correspondence with the authorities of the
state university had elected the fact that the
lower grades of wheat and -four made from
them contained as much nutriment as that
rated higher. He suggested that the legsla-
ture be urged TO pass a law grading wheat
according to its food value, as ascertained by
! scientific investigation at the state uni
versitE where the proper facilities for analysis
were provided.
DR.. Benjamin. of Hutchinson, thought
that the time spent in endeavorng to obtain
grading legislation was thrown away.
What was wanted was an open market In
this he was supported by Mr.. Tiffany, of
| Carver.
Secretary Haigh thought that the trouble
was too great multiplicity of grades and too
little scientific information. Grades varied
in different years according to the atmos-
pheric action. This amount might be aseer.
tained by investigation, resulting in saving
|
wheat that would grow contained pound for
pound equal food value. When wheat would
| grow 1t was uninjured.
Mr. Reese, chairman of the wheat commit
tee Of the house, said that his committee
had agreed that elevators at st. Paul, Mime
apOlis and Duluth should be placed under
restriction. The question now under COR
sideration was, should country elevators also
be placed under restrictionl The committee
was willing to concede anything that was
just and fair.
Mr.. Parks, of Glencoe, did not want the
legislation concerning the ANALYSIS coupled
with any other bill. Ali the redress the
farmers wanted was an open market.
THE BILL EXPLAINED.
Mr.. Reese said the committee did not in =
tend to insert anything in the proposed leg
islation which would prevent an open mar
ket. 1t was the sense of tie committee that
warehouse receipts should be negotiable pa
per, and that tickets from primary points
would be good at terminal points. 1t was
the intention to establish state inspection in
country elevators.
Hon. Ignatius Don nelly said that the rub
OF the whole question was the freedom of the
markets of the state, and that which pre-
| fCnlSu ~ was tue aoilltl vi Iucu 10 cOiDUl0c.
1t made no difference how wheat was graded
| If it was in the power OF any ring to fix the
1 price. The ring had the power to crnsh out
any elevator man who did not act with them
A Jill should be passed treating this com bin
alton as criminal conspiracy, and reach not
only the local agents but the big sc0undrels
who employ them. The only remedy for the
| grading frauds was that county commission
ers appoint local inspectors, subject 10 re-
novel, who should stand between the forIne r
and those interested in beating down the
price.
A committee Of seven was appointed TO
confer with the joint committee from the
house aud senate. The members selected
were Messrs. Haigh, Of Mankato; Tiffany, of
Clay; Barrett, of Stevens; Donnelly, of Da-
koia; and Davis, of Kittson. They went un-
| instructed.
An IMPARTIAL ELL.
Representative Durand, of Saltwater, member
of the railroad committee Of the house, ad-
| dressed the convention, stating that II was
the design Of the committee of which he was
| a member TO form ulate a till of such nature
as would bes. serve the interests of the en-
| tire Siate-agriculiural, social and railway
| He explained the bill in detail aud answered
| questions concerning its provisions He
| favored the fixing of an innexible standard
grade for wheat. and the appointment of
three state commissioners TO superinteud To-
| cal inspections.
He was followed by Mr.. Drake, of the same
committee. who favored free elevators and
free shipping, with central warehouses sup
erintended by competent inspectors. 1t was
ridiculous to cx pect that competent iuspec-
tors could be placed at every country sta
! ton.
Mr.. John Diamond made strong speech
against the acceptance Of the railroad bill as
explained by Messrs. Durand and Drake
saying that there was no relief In II and that
the appointment Of three railroad commits
! sioners was delusion and a snare. His re-
marks were vigorously endorsed by Mr.. DAY.
Mr.. Kelly favored it, saying that although
the bill was only half loaf It was better than
/ no bread.
! A general discussion followed, which was
| participated in by Gen. Baker, railroad COM
missioner, and Speaker Gibbs of the house
The convention then adjourned until 0
| O'Clock this morning.
At the session this evening Hon. Iguatius
| Donuely will address the alliance on the
questions which called it together.
YESTERDAY IN THE BULL PEN.
] RI.