St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1890-05-15
PLCKLER,S PICKLE.

The PICKLER bill, providing for sub
treasures all over the country for the
special benefit of the farmers, is liable
to assume more prominence than it was
supposed it would attain at the time of
its introduction. The bill is now being
considered by the ways and means com
mittee, and the interest that officials of
the alliance organization are manifest
ing in relation to its passage would in
dictate that the measure has touched a
popular chord in the agricultural COM
munities. 1t is hardly within the limit
of expectation that the ways and means
committee, organized, as 1t is, solely in
the interest of the protectionistS, will
be disposed to look upon Representative
PICKLER'S bill with much favor. Still,
it is possible that the farmers have just
enough influence in congress to compel
the Republican majority to give some
attention to their demands in this mat
ter, or in default thereof to lmperil the
MCKINLEY bill.
Ii the PICKER scheme could be strip
ped of Its unconstitutional features, we
see no reason why it should not become
popular measure. Breadstuffs ought
form as substantial basis for clrcu-
lating currency as government bonds or
the precious ores; for when we have
gone through with all our fine-spun
theories on finance, everything resolves
itself back to the simple truth that the
soil is the nations main dependence for
wealth and prosperity.
Notwithstanding their Importance as
wealth producers, the farmers have
been more legislated against than any
other class. They are the LAZARUsEs
of society, who have been feeding upon
the crumbs that fell from the rich
mans table ever since this has been
a nation. Their condition is now more
deplorable than ever, suffering as they
are from the sores inflicted by the pro-
tective tariff policy. 1t is about time
they we're finding rest in ABRAHANI's
bosom and erecting an impossible gulf
between themselves and the DIVES OF
Wall street. The protected interests
have enjoyed the good things of this
life a long time, and it is but natural
that the oppressed agricultural claSses
should be casting around for some
scheme whereby they could be delivered
from state of vassalage.
Congressman PICKIER and the few
other representatives of the agricultural
interests could WELD great influence
in behalf of the farming interests
if they only had the moral courage to dC
it. But there is the rub. They are 81
thoroughly partisan they fear tt
break away from caucus domination
Under the lash of the party whip they
are forced tc support the MCKINLEY bill
whether concessions are made to the
farmers OF not. They imagine tina
they have squared themselves with theil
constituents if they only make show
of doing something to favorthe farmers
without regard to whether they ge
results or not. And as long as the
farmers themselves are content will
shadows, and to let the substance go
they nay rest assured that their rep
resentatives will continue this do-noth
ing policy until the end of time.
When the farmers have once educated
themselves up to the point of mora
independence that they are indifferent
to party victories and are deaf to the
party slogan. then they may expect
relief, and not till then.