davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The great West. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1889-18??, 1889-10-25

To our great pleasure, surprise in
measure, we have received quota
tions of wheat and coal from three
country editors in Minnesota, having
with them words of the most pro-
found sympathy and encouragement.
One OF them speaks of 1--WE country
editors says that the idea
that the country newspaper is the
tool of the conspirators is an injus-
tice. "We have to live" he says,
"and we are not outspoken as we
want to be. Nor are we, as class,
able. to find out about the great
enemy of the farmer, the facts as
some are" There are many grand
spirits among the country editors
who will yet rise and give their souls
wings-and when the great conflict
comes, the great mass of these men
will be found fighting on our side.
Farmers can't expect a country edi-
tor to put his all on the altar when
they themselves, as body, have
been so slow to move.
The great West. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1889-18??, 1889-10-25

We state fearlessly and knowingly: :
that never, in the history of this world
has labor risen from the depths of an
animal degradation except through
STRIKES. England, France, Germany,
Switzerland and-yes. America, fur
nish the demonstration of this.
Is the strike success? No-rare-
ly. But under their terrible expert
ences of conflict, and the stirring in
fiuence of the warfare against lad
vantage" and injustice, Labor as
serts, physically, a fright" which is
inherent, but unrecognized in law.
Rebellion against wrong to nature
is always right-and always results
in good. Out of multitude of de-
feats and sufferings is sevOlved union,
strength, respect, and success. And in
this way alone can labor ever put it.
self before the world as force. This
it is doing. The age of unsuccessful
strikes is passing away. The next
step will be the definite recognition of
the unrighteOusness of advantage"
against labOr-and the economic
Jurisprudence of the world will re-
build upon the new foundation.
The great West. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1889-18??, 1889-10-25

A man who would claim that grain
could be taken to market by teams
cheaper than by rail, within a limit
of a hundred miles, at this late day
in the 10Th century, would not be re-
garded as sound in his upper story.
But let us see how nearly we can
come to this in imagination:
Before the time of railroads there
were what were called estate roads, -
and counties took more interest in
such matters. On the roads in and
approaching city, teams haul ~
tons easily. A load of 65 bushels
The great West. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1889-18??, 1889-10-25

The Union Pacific, over which the
Senate committee is junketing to see
if the giant corporation can pay
back the money we loaned them re-
ports great increase of earnings, as
follows:
Boston, Oct 16.-The August state
ment of the Union Pacific system, in
Guiding roads in which a halfinterest
is owned, is as follows: Gross $3,
SIG, 1876, increase 1851 ,5SS; net 81 1892,
600, increase $265,54S. For eight
months to Aug. 81: Gross 1924 ,349,
a33, increase $254,3O2; net $S,94S, ,432,
increase $A ,594.
The great West. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1889-18??, 1889-10-25

We rejoice in the sentiment of the
Heron Lake News. The editor is
"alive with the TRUTH
Heron Lake News: A neighb or edi-
tor thinks he sees danger ahead, and
exclaims very excitedly, that ''the
farmers are organizing Alliances un-
doubtedly for political purposes. "
Well, suppose they are; it's just what
they ought to do. The bulk of the
population of Minnesota are farmers
and they ought to have more to say
about the management Of the state
government than any other class of
people, Good for the farmers!
The great West. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1889-18??, 1889-10-25
Stand by the BarnacIes !

Mr.. Donnelly has been true as a
needle to the pole to Alliance doctrines
and work-so an old country idiot,
who manipulates a press mortgaged
to the ring, calls him a 'barnacle.
A man up in Pope County summoned
aid from abroad, and by great exer-
tions organized nine alliances in one
county-and at once he became a
"barnacle.''' So great a barnacle did
he become that even the highest
justiciary in the state had to be sum-
moned to scrape him off their bot
toms! A man in Mcleod Co. organ
lied splendid alliances-a legislator
buttonholes patriot and says,
'The Alliance is all right, but you
want to get rid of that barnacler'
Every man who sharpens a knife for
a murderer, in the commercial world,
is "barnacle." Every man who
does the work which tells against the
rotten-hearted thieves who palsy the
industries of the west, is a "barna-
cle." No sooner does a man decline
to be huttonholed, and run into dis
grace so that he can't squeal- than
he is a barnacle!
Nominate those barnacles for office.
laboring men. You can trust a bar
nacle every time! When barnacle
has sand enough to crawl up on the
belly OF the octopus, and open up
the avenue to his ''innerds'' you can
count on his staying qualities.
Give these buttonholing scamps a
chance to stay at home and wash
few of the old rags in which their
sins are wrapped. God bless the Bar
nacle-come up here, you lot of bYf-
tomers-come up and receive fhe
benediction of the oppressed, apM the
blessings of the children of msm.
The great West. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1889-18??, 1889-10-25

Scarcely were our forphs sent to
press last week when Me found that
the Republican Cauc'ds had been held
at Pierre, South Dakota, and candi-
dates practically elected for the U.
S. Senate. The vote stood, Pet
tigrew, 50; Moody, 85; Edgerton,
81; WardaM, the Alliance candidate,
A.. Pettagrew and Moody were de-
claredrthe successful candidates.
This is the result of Caucus rule. II
The great West. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1889-18??, 1889-10-25

The blood stirs. The winter is
coming, and the time for evening
work is at hand. Houstin County is
making good beginning. Fivenew
Alliance organizations in two weeks
and a county Alliance organization
at Caledonia on the 12th%of the
month.
State lecturer DOnnelly and Deputy
Allison started big ball rolling in
kandiyOhi county this month.
The great West. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1889-18??, 1889-10-25

The price of wheat went up to
81 ASH in 1SS1-in the fall. At that
time the foreign demand was not un-
usually large, nor was the home crop
small. Some of the old Bears on the
Chicago Board let up awhile and let
the Bulls toss the grain up in the air.
1t came down though. We know
one broker who chased large option
down from 81 .4SX to $1.17, losing ten
dollars on every thousand bushels
for every cent of drops.
The great West. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1889-18??, 1889-10-25

The following clipping gives us en-
couragment. While here and there
there are discouragements, the ten
dency of the whole general movement
is forward:
The Industrial Age says: The rap
id growth of the Alliance and other
organizations is one of the most
hopeful signs of the times. All
branches of honorable toll will soon
be consolidated under one head and
for one general purpOse-the best in
terests of the producing classes.
The great West. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1889-18??, 1889-10-25

When the economists are figuring
up the enormous wealth of the cOun-
try, and the prosperity OF the times
they quote 45O,OOO,OOO bushels OF
wheat at S5c.! That is the gamblers
prosperity of Chicago. Why don't
they quote 45O,OOO,OOO at 55c., and
twine at 2Oc pound? That's the
way to quote a nations prosperity
Dakota 55c, Minnesota CSC. Liver
pool ST. .25 This is the new schedule
of prosperity.
The great West. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1889-18??, 1889-10-25

In reference to our article on the
European war last week, we run
across the following:
When war comes in Europe, as it
must come some time, it will be seen
that a new era has begun in the art
OF destruction. The Belgian histor-
ian, Emile de Daveleye, sums up in
an article in the Forum for October
the terrible factors of the next con-
fiict. The civil war in the United
States was but child's play in COM
parisOn. With Russia and France
on one side and Germany, Austria
and Italy on the other, seven millions
OF men can be instantly put in the
field, with ten millions in reserve.
The facilities for concentration and
the improved arms are such that more
men may easily be killed in one day
than have ever before been killed in a
whole war. ThecOntinuOusp prepara-
tiOns for war, even when there is no
thought of it's immediate occurrence.
are far greater and more expensive
than ever before. France has sur
rounded her frontiers and her capital
with continuous line of forts and
Entertainments. Germany has made
Metz, Strasburg, Mayence, and
Cologne gigantic fortre sses, which
seem absolutely impregnable. Italy
has fortified her Alpine passes, her sea-
ports, and even the Eternal City it.
self. Belgium is spending forty mil
lions Of francs in demonstration of re-
doubts with cupOlas of steel, to close
the passages by the Maas valley.
The war budgets are everywhere in
creasing in enormous proportions.
"And it is under the continual mem
ace OF the most frfghtful shock OF
armies that our planet wifi ever have
looked upOn,' writes M. de Laveleye,
that we live. And the most ex-
traordinary thing is that we get used
to it. We go about our business.
our pleasures; we rush in crowds
from all parts to the Paris exhibi-
ton, while each one says: 1T NAV
be for tomorrow!
The great West. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1889-18??, 1889-10-25

1t is exceedingly difficult to get the
lever under the mighty fabric OF the
monopolists who rule the west-but
once under, there will be a wreck
which "passeth understanding
and a prosperity of the republic nev-
er dreamed of in this latter day.
The great West. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1889-18??, 1889-10-25
could be hauled on the old fashioned
state, ''plank" and turnpike roads.

could be hauled ON the old fashioned
state, 'plank" and turnpike roads.
1t costs all the way from Is Scents to
rs cents to market wheat from Pope
county, A cost of 20 cents bushel
would give $13 for hauling load of
65 bushels. The trip of hundred
miles land it never was over a hun
dred miles to a water course before
railways) could be accomplished in
three days. The return trip takes
care of itself in freight. Thirteen dol
lars would pay farmer in the VIM
ter time. A man who took 1000 bu-
shells to market would have $500
more to use on his farm and for labor
of hauling. There are multitudes of
other advantages. The cities would
lose $40, 100000 year in exchanges.
and there would not be SO many IL
story buildings and governors pal
aces. But would there not be an
equal prosperity? And would there
not be more canals?
While this extravagant view may
be an unjust one, no man can main
tain for a moment but that the canal
is vastly superior to the railroad for
freightage.
1t is true that the matter of speed
may be introduced. But the modern
canal an is institution as different
from the ancient affair as the
the steel tracked railway is different
from the old ten-miles-an-hour strap
railroad! Scotch canal packets are
making Is miles an hour. And were
it not for the intrigue, cunning and
suppressive energy OF the railroads,
canal improvements would have
gone on until the canal boat could
metaphorically "mop the prairie
with the freight trains. When the
fetters of railway monopoly are re-
moved, people will be putting thou
sands into canals where now millions
are invested in railways-and get
better service.
The great West. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1889-18??, 1889-10-25

Since publication of our statement
that the order had gone forth to our
Northwestern lines to grade no No. l
hard under any circumstances, we
note the following in the Howard
Lake Herald:
A Wright county wheat buyer,
agent for an elevator located not
further than ten miles from Howard,
respectfully inquiries of the state grain
inspector why it is that sound Scotch
Fife wheat weighing from 60 to 81
pounds tester-weight, and being at
least IS per cent hard wheat, is not
graded No. hard, when the rule for
inspection requires only that the
wheat be So pounds and Is per cent
hard. TheinspectOr answers by way
of excuse that the trouble with the
wheat is t hat it is not of the hard
variety. The agent on the other
hand, states that the trouble is that
the inspector is too much 'of the hard
variety" This is at least a subject
which requires from the state inspec-
tor a careful investigation and can
did explanation. Hard wheat comes
from the northwest, and from Min
nesOta, and the world knows it. If
the hard wheat is raised here it
should be paid for as such. If the
price of hard wheat is paid, it should
be paid to the tOilers who produce
the wheat. There is no escape from
the justice of the demand. There is a
wOOdchuck in the fence somewhere.
and it behOOves the state official, the
grain inspector, to do his frank and
honest best to help find and exter-
inmate it.
The great West. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1889-18??, 1889-10-25

The act by which the Railroad and
Warehouse commission was appoint
ed should be amended at the next
session of the legislature so that ALL
of it's proceedings shall be published.
We are fully aware of the gales, con-
are going on in that room in the
capitol building. 1t is well known
that the Commission rerely, if ever,
hold formal session. The acts, the
dOings, the arguments are not only a
dark passage in the subterranean
corridors of current political history.
but they are too ragged and Jagged to
be even recognized as passages.
Every session Of that commission
should be formal, and every word
published. 1t is mistake to suppose
the Granger laws OF Minnesota are
not sufficient to put a stop to the
stupendous robberies being consum-
ated. The laws are not perfect
enough to hedge in the rascals when
defiant! But they ARE complete
enough if we have a commission in
harmony with the spirit which Great
ed them.
There is but one way to bring the
acts of the commission before public.
That is to employ a stenographer,
and report as legal printing every
proceeding, week by week Or month
by month. This means expense. 1t
doubtless means $4,000 a year. But
what is $4,000 a year to the millions
being lost by the skullduggery which
this commission was created to
squelch but practically sanctions.
We quote here a single passage, to
which we call the attention of the
worthy editor of the Dawson Sentinel,
and Mr.. Murray, whose grievance we
publish:
FROM THE GENERAL LAWS, 1887.
Every such common carrier shall
permit connections to be made and
maintained in reasonable manner
with it's side tracks to and from any
warehouse, elevator or manufactOry
without reference to fits size or capa-
city +; provided, that this shall not be
constructed SO as to require any COM
mon carrier to construct or furnish
any side track off from it's own
land.
1t shall be unlawful for any COM
mon carrier, subject to the provisions
of this act, to make or give any un-
equal or reasonable preference or ad-
vantage to any particular person,
company, firm, or corporation, or
locality, or any particular descrip-
tiOn of traffic, in any respect whatsc-
ever, or to subject any particular per-
son, company, firm, corporation, or
locality, or any particular description
or traffic to any unequal Or unrea-
sOnable prejudice or disadvantage in
any respect whatsoever.
The great West. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1889-18??, 1889-10-25

One of our exchanges says of ''The
Great West, ,"-"If the farmers do not
fairly snapit up as they would an ex-
ira 1Oc. per bushel for grain, they
are too blind to recognize a good
thing.
The great West. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1889-18??, 1889-10-25

Would the railroad in this Western
country consent to show up it's con-
tracts for building, and let the out
side world know how we lie when we
say there is not a road OF so miles in
the state that cost $4,000 to the
mile to build!
The great West. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1889-18??, 1889-10-25
90 A YEAR IN ADVANCE

We want a statement, from some
Alliance friend of Traverse county,
about the Browns Valley branch rail-
road. The facts are said to have an
interest both touching and SUBJ
lime. Who will write us?
The great West. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1889-18??, 1889-10-25


road carries freight ''for the fun of
it?' In the summer time. when the
Erie Canal is open e months in the
year,, all-rail freights from Chicago
to New York are in competition with
all-water freights.% What is the re-
suit? Wheat is frequently taken
nearly 1900 miles for just what it
costs to freight it 100 miles in Min
nesota-71Hlc. a bushel. In regard to
this matter, Ex-Gov. Bross, of Illi-
nois, said before the Senate Inter-
state Com. Committee.
The all water transit between Chi
cago and New York, instead OF being
II and 20 and even 25 cents, few
years ago, now rules at about six
cents; sometimes a fraction above
and occasionally small fraction be-
low that figure. In summer the all
rail freights per bushel are generally
a fraction above those of water, de-
pending upon competition and the
demand for export; but in winter the
rates range from II to 21 cents per
bushel. No comment is needed.
We will add to Gov. Bross' state
ment that we have stood on the hub
OF q farmers wagon in Aurora, Ne
braska, and seen magnificent yellow
dent corn sold for seven cents-the
market price-and burned for fuel.
Yet at that same time hard coal was
being mined in Pennsylvania for 9Oc.
a ton-and 1926 a ton was big
freight-but coal cost $11 a ton
there, in Nebraska. He continues:
f. Coal was carried at an average
chasge for the season (thes season of
1854 from Erie and Buffalo to Chi
cago, about l 900 miles, for 81 cents
per ton; thence to the Mississippi
River, 200 miles, the charge was
$500; for the next 100 miles it
mounts up to $500 per ton from
Chicago, and in Western Iowa it runs
upward to a much higher figure.
dhc dlOUllcT eAdIQplC. LIE
freight on a bushel of wheat between
Northern Iowa and Chicago, some
400 miles, is and has been for the
season 1913 to 1868. From points in
Nebraska and Southern Minnesota,
1853 to 21 cents; the highest figure
being more than the cost of trans
porting a bushel of wheat in June
last from Chicago to Liverpool,
about 1000 miles. So oppressive
have been the enormous freight
charges for some time past that
wheat was sold west of the Missouri
River for 80 cents per bushel, and
corn for II, making it's value by the
ton less than that of coal, so that
producers have actually burned it for
fuel. 1t is, therefore, plain that if
Congress does not want the vast fer
tile West-the Upper Mississippi Val
ley-to go back to it's primitive des-
olation, they must provide cheapwa-
ter transit for it's cereal and other
p oducts.
The great West. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1889-18??, 1889-10-25
One of the most astonishing things

One of the most astonishing things
in the offensive warfare against
capital and trusts, is the attitude of
the southern alliance.
We have looked upon the south as
backward. 1t was never dreamed
that the New South had such
magnificent timber in it. The trusts
reached out their octopus tentacles
to suck southern blood andlo! Sud-
denly the southron rises like a young
giant, and strikes a blow which
knocks the hydra insensible, at least,
for a time. This new race of stall
wart sons OF the South, in the shape
of the Farmers Alliance, proclaim
the boycott. Not a boycott. mind
you, against men. Not a boycott
against factories, not a boycott only
against newspapers and villages! But
a boycott against the old traditional
cities of blueish blood-even Charles
ton! Successful? Well yes So sue
cessful that they have found how to
conteract the gangster's Doodle! So
successful that when newspaper
pounded an alliance man, as Slocum
OF Glencoe did Mr.. Donnelly, the COM
bined alliances declared boycott
and o!-there was one enemy less.
Now that is business. That is the
most sensible style of doing business
we have ever known. Why, if Min
nesota farmers had that grit Jim
Hill, in six months, would apply for a
coal clerkshpeon the levee! If they
would come up to the breastworks
with such masterful courage, in a
year the farmers would be $2O,OOO,-
900 year richer. You wouldn't see
any railroads tearing up sidetracks
to the independent elevators! You
wouldn't see a 23c. difference in the
price Of wheat 125 miles from mar
ket! You wouldn't see freight rates
from Southern Minnesota to Chicago
$50 miles), two cents more than
from Chicago to Liverpool (nearly
1000 miles,! You wouldn't see a
coal combination land coal at Duluth
for $3.50 a ton (hard coaD and ITS
miles further lamm it to farmers at
$40 a ton! Nor would you see the
Knights ofLabor of Chicago purchas-
ing 500 tons of coal in Indiana, and
then have to sell it again at tie
mines because not one of the rail-
roads would carry it for them!
No, but you might see more empty
tomato cans and guava jelly boxes
at the back door of the farmer. You
might see the farmer pay his debts
and wear calfskin boots on Saturday
night and slippers on Sunday after
noon, like the bank clerks! You
might see the farmers children edu-
Gated ''for all it was WORTH" You
might see the old man and the old
woman "clear OUT on the bright
August days; take a vacation along
the shores where whispering waves
sing lullaby to the past-and the
mirage of the distant ships cast pic
lures in the eye OF the port so near.
In fact, they could hobnob with the
81 7,OOO-a-year-and-parsonageprea preach
er who wasn't born in a manger, by
a long shot, or the Shylock who
don't live in one by short
shot. Yes, ye dirt-slingers, get
little sand in you, take lesson of
your southern brother-and try a
hand at comfort and a two-for-a-
cent luxury for the baby, and new
bonnet for the pretty daughter-try
the thing once, and see chow the old
thing works!''
Last week we gave railroad grad
inO stnriSm'' nf G foot on +bo o1o1,o
The great West. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1889-18??, 1889-10-25
The liabilities of the Northern Pa
'cific road amount to $77, 1922 per
mile.

1t may seem like strange prOphe-
cy, but the freight carriers OF the
next century will be the canal steam
packet, with speed greater than
that of the freight car OF today.