The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1889-10-25

President Colman Succeeds in Surrendering
the Wheat-Growers TO the Democracy.

ST. LOUIS, Oct A-The Interstatew-heat-
growers Convention met again this after
noon, with Col n j. Colman. the per-
manent president, in the chair. Robert
Lindblom, the Chicago wheat speculator,
made a speech. in which he gave the spec
ulator's side of the wheat question. He
said the monopolists had taught society a
lesson which would. in time. make monop-
oily an impossib ility. The lesson was the
lesson Of cooperation. The lesson taught
by trusts was cooperation. 1t was intend
ed as a blessing to monopoly. 1t will end
In being blessing to humanity. Mr. Lind
blom said he was brought up to be-
lieve that wheat on the great lakes
at 81 per bushel was as good as a
government bond. but in four years it
never went as high as 81 until last year.
when it touched 81 for q minute because Of
"Old Hutch;" and he was as much sur
prised as anybody. He believed that at
fairly high prices more grain could be sold
than at low prices. There was no founda-
tion for the cry of over-production. In five
years, while the production of wheat de-
creased gig per cent. the price decreased 2S
pSA SSHss law oPOohOA sASA "SAs Wa W
show that there had been no over-produc-
President Colman then addressed the
convention from a free-trade stand point;
denounced the way the farmers are used BY
the present administration and tho protec-
tive policy, and said that the only way to
protect their interest was to adopt free
trade. He assailed elevator combines,
pools commission men and spectators as
robbers OF the farmers, and said that be-
tween these factions the farmer was
After these speeches, which were applaud
ed. Lindblom's by the protectiOnists, and
COlman's by the free-traders the commit
tee on resolutions presented the following:
Resolved. By the farmers OF the States lying
In the Mississippi and Missouri river valleys,
and of the States of Oregon, Washington and
California in national convention assembled,
that we hereby memorialize our national Con-
gress and the President of the United States,
and most seriously petition them to make such
reciprocity treaties with those foreign nations to
whom We ship our surplus farm products, as will
cause such foreign nations to remove the GUS
toms dnties from our farm products shipped
abroad. thereby causing US to receive higher
price for our foreign farm surplus and thereby
liking higher price upon all that we sell at
home.
Resolved. That we ask that such steps be
taken by our national Congress as win destroy
the present existing monOpolies and trusts and
prevent the formation of Others
Resolved, And to the end that we may get our
IdEulDg implements AT u less price, Ln3b the
present laws be repealed that place duty upon
farming implements or the raw materials used
In their manufacture.
Resolved, That we are more deeply interested
in the carrying out Of the above resolutions
than we are in the success Of any political party.
A very animated debate followed. which
was decidedly political in character. The
free-traders greatly outnumbered the pro-
tectiOnists, and the resolutions were finally
adopted by large majority.
During the afternoon permanent organ
IzaUIon, to be known as the Interstate
Wheat-grOwers' Association. was formed.
Permanent officers were then elected as
follows: President, Hon. Norman j. Col
man. of Missouri. with the privilege of
naming his own secretary: executive board,
w. L. Scott and A. ID. Noe, of Kentucky; n.
J. Colman and u. 5. Hall, of Missouri: L. IL.
Murphy and p. A. Odell, of Minnesota; ID. b.
Green and j. s. McCaffrey, of Illinois; Cal
vim Cole and Geo. Gibson. of Oregon: Wal
ther n. Allen and Gov. Cbas Robinson, of
Kansas; j. A. Coates and ID. A. Eppeson. of
Indiana; n. .. Walker, of Tennessee, and
II. w. Sargent, of Ohio.
one requesting Superintendent of Census
Porter to collect data to show in the next
census what percentage of the people in
this country occupy their own farms and
homes and what percentage are tenants.
The remainder of the afternoon was devoted
to desultory political debate In humorous
strain. and the convention finally adjourned
sine die.