St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1889-03-25
THE FARMER AND MILLER
Should Dance Together About the
Pit Where They Bury Their Mu-
tuaI Troubles,

Special Letter to the Globe.
FO UNTAIN, Mimi, March IA few
years ago, when the grange was begin
ming to make noise in this world, and
its vibrations hadreached the eastside of
the Hudson river, near Albany, rela-
tive who was running a great Touring
mill in that section concluded To view
the landscape o'er'' and visit relatives
once more. With wife and daughter he
leisurely traversed Ohio, Michigan, In
diana, Wisconsin and Iowa. The wheat
crop he pronounced spldndid and very
promising, but thought it would be low
in price, as the whole country
seemed one vast field of wheat.
''Ahd the Changers: what of that
combination of the farmers?" Zone
great monopoly fighting another great
monopoly; and now tell me which side
will win? THE proprietors of the great
Touring mills of this srate and every
farmer in the state should be the very
best of friends. 1t is for their own
mutual interest to be so. And surely
the farmers that look at the prices out
of the state, and then at market prices
in Minneapolis and st. Paul, can see
where their market is at once. (which
side will VIM" has always been the one
question all the years since | was asked
to tell, and the years since then have only
brought this home to me.
The farmer and the merchant millerS
should be the very best of friends, and
more SO when the product is shipped
away to a foreign market from first
hands. Perhaps | am far away from
the way of the world, but can see but
few obstacles in the road between the
farm and the mill. During the many
years this warfare has been going on
between producer and consumer, the
middlemen seem to be in the way.
The idea expressed by Mr.. Ingram at
the Sleepy Eye meeting is about
the right one on the subject, and,
l may say. ne struck the
gone farther without getting lost in the
woods. The one single idea is to first
get the merchant miller by the button
hole and then hold him until you get
him to see your side of the question,
and you look on his side and see if you
both cannot agree to save to each other
the money that the middlemen take
from the pockets of each one; but the
greater share comes out of the farmers
pockets usually, Having closely
watched the various markets at
prominent points in this country, and
the foreign markets, it seems to me the
farmers should deal directly with in the
wheat deal,'' There are many good
reasons why this should be so, and no
good reason why Minnesota farmers
should not get the or OF more cents
higher rate paid by Minnesota millers
than Eastern purchasers offer in their
markets. This used to be mystery to
me, but | have learned that they
shipped direct, and there is no middle
men to eat up their profits; and why the
farmers of the state have never tried to
keep their wheat at home. and get the
advance offered by home millerS, is
puzzle | cannot solve. Perhaps it is be-
cause | am woman. and women are
not supposed to know much any way
about business affairs. Will some one
explain it? And will some one of the
knowing ones tell why the miller and
the farmer cannot sail in the same boat
and take counsel together about asking
the officials of the railroad companies to
take sail with them upon the ''sea" of
discussing the problem of all joining
hands in dance around the pit where
they bury all their troubles; about
the grain monopoly, or the robbing of
the farmer by grain dealers. These
three parties together ought to be able
to settle the whole difficulties that af-
fiict the farming cOmmunity-eXcept
the taxes. All! well, taxes must be paid,
and have paid them and complained
of overtaXation; had them levied at
lower rate. then. and. as for that mat
ter, felt thankful that | had home to
pay taxes on; but there was one thing
that was never paid by any of the MEM
berS of my househOld-not farthing of
interest money, or anything ever draw
ing interest ever was executed by one
of them.
Taxes are low in comparison with
some states, and hear that the farm
ers-in fact. the taxes in this township
now due have all been paid with the
exception of about. or a little more than
$40. The farmers have been unusually
early in paying threshing bills the past
season, I've been told. Is not that
good showing?
Mrs. MARTHA CRANDAIL.