St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1885-02-20
FARMERS IN COUNCIL.
The Meeting at Fargo Yesterday
Largely Attended and Much
Interest Taken.
Different Ideas Expressed in Regard to Wheat
Grading and General Freight
Business.
Another Railroad Wanted to Duluth-The
Elevator System Discussed
at Length.
Dakota Farmers in cou,.cts.

Dakota Farmers in Councfl.
| Special to the Globe.
FARGo, Oak, Feb. l9.-The farmers meeting
| occurred this afternoon. 1t was quite large
ly attend, many farmers being over from
Minneapolis, and elevator men were present
as listeners to the speeches. j. L. Mansfield
OF Grandin was made chairman; r. Green
OF Mapleton, secretary; F. J. Schrieber of
| Moorhesd, first vice president, and james
| Holes second vice president Col. Benton
sail:
81 am farmer. I would like to hear the
object OF the meeting stated. will say here
no one seems willing to take hold
OF the matter. l do not blame them,
as 1t is one of the most
difficult questions to handle that there is.
and hope that the results of the discussion
will benefit the farmers''
81. M. Burdick of Glyndon spoke against
the elevators. William Rea advocated the
free elevator system and SAID: 81 have never
been jewed much and the reason is I have
always cleaned my wheat at home. believe
the best remedy is for a large central elevator
to be built in Fargo and smaller ones along
the various roads,
Col. Morton advocated the making 1t
crime to mix grades. Col. Benton said the
main sources of trouble were outside of
the territory. He would like to see
an inter state railroad law. He deprecated
calling elevator men thieves, and said that
he believed their motives were honest and
the discrimination resulted from mistakes
rather than crimes. He said:
'The greatest reason why we do not re-
ceive our rights is that the country has not
facilities enough. We need another railroad
to Duluth, and one by which we can ship our
grain direct to Chicago, which is now the
market of the world, and We shall sometime
have our wheat stored in Chicago as well as
sold there as now in options. Until that
time comes com bnations can fix such prices
as they may desire"
Mr. Marsh6eld said: ''The only way to
reach the true method is to analyze, not the
product of every farm, but if it pays Mr.
Pillsbury to keep man to determine Just
the value OF the grain he mills, it will paV
the farmers TO have one they can employ
Have this in connection with an expert
mental farm, or an agricultural college It
is the old conflict of labor against capital,
not but what many of US would do the same
if placed in the same position. MANY Of
the remedies are with the farmers themselves.
We should only SOW the best wheat,
keep the weeds out, and if our wheat is not
clean enough, clean it before it goes to the
elevator. The dirt and foul seed will pay the
farmer for his work. Send only the best
grain to the elevators. l don't believe we
should demand everything from the eleva-
tors or the railroads"
James Holes said: 81 believe we should
commence on our farms. We should build
our own elevators, have our own tanning
mills, clean our own grain, then If the ele-
Tators do not give us our rights we can get
cars and ship our grain. l haze never
had any trouble in securing
cars. We must help those who are too poor
to build granaries. Let them do without
their tobacco and whisky. We must store
our wheat on our farms and keep it back, not
send so much Of it out when we should be
plowing. We should raise less wheat and
more poultry and hogs"
The following committee was appointed to
attend TO legislation for the benefit of the
farmer: William McLaren of Mapleton,
James Holes of Fargo j. L. Mansfield of
Grandin, A. b. Monck of Fargo, r. j. Green
of Mapleton.