The great West. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1889-18??, 1890-01-17

Farmers Friend:
1t has beena pet idea with q certain
class Of politicians Of both the great
parties, that Ordinary farmers are
not just the kind Of timber that
makes the best legislators. This
principle has come into such general
practice that farmer members OF
Legislatures are the exception and
not the rule. 1t is evident that a
great change in this respect is immi-
nent. This increased political activ-
ity Of farmers everywhere will newt
ably result in a phenomenal attend
ance of farmers At the caucuses of the
respective parties next year and
the nomination and election of an
unusual number Offarmercandidates.
According to the Red Wing Republi-
can, the assessed valuation of Good
hue county has been steadily shrink
ing for the past twenty years, until
the shrinkage now amounts to about
two million dollars, or two-thirds OF
the valuation of twenty years ago.
The same proportion will doubtless
hold good in other parts of the state.
From an Iowa Exchange:
Some idea OF the perquisites which
attach to certain offices can begath-
cred from the recently developed fact
in law suit in which Mr.. Ezekiel
Clark Of Iowa City is interested. Mr..
Clark had some 10000 invested in an
Oskaloosa coal company. He had
just enough stock to be out voted.
In his petition to the supreme court
he alleges that the purchasing agent
of the G. r. l. & P. railroad was Civ
en- a salary of several hundred dol
lars a month and a big block of
stock to buy coal from the company.
Mr.. Clark objects to the use of the
funds as Doodle.
The "Coal Company" spoken OF
above, is also a railroad company.
Ask for Bread; Receives a Stone.
Journal:
Rejoice, oh farmers and be glad {!
"The system of inspection and
weighing was established for the
purpose OF securing justice to the
grain growers of the stated" (There's
HOPE in that, but that's ALL and on
ly costs the grain growers of the
State a half million or SO to main
tain. 'The appointments are all
made by the Railroad and Ware
house Commission of none but hon
est, intelligent and experienced men
chosen for their fitness and adapta-
bility" and not appointed with a
view to strengthening the political
ambition Of one man as some have
been foolish enough to suppose We
have paid big taxes to support "a
system intended to benefit the wheat
growers and what have we got for
our money? Why we have got a
neat little pamphlet that informs us
in hOnied accents that
"BUYERS AND SHIPPERS"
are just as happy as skunk. What
consolation that must afford the
poor tiller of the soil who has worked
hard all summer, denied himself and
family every luxury and many COM
forts in the vain hope of getting
enough out of his wheat to keep his
family, to have an elegant document
like this sent him by mail, (instead of
getting hisjust share of the profits of
wheat raising)-one of the luxuries of
life for can he not frame it and hang
it up to ornament the walls of his
shack? And while he wonders what
his family is going to do for bread he
can gaze upon the handsome dOcu-
ment and rejoice that the buyers and
shippers are happy-that somebody
had some money as the result of all
his toll and rigid economy. Oh yes,
what though you do not get thecost
of raising your wheat and see star
walton staring you and your family
in the face, and through your ina
bility to pay your bills see the bust
ness of your section of country Ian
guish and perish, your little farm de-
preciate in value because of the de-
preston of your business, yet rejoice
and be exceeding glad because YOU
pay the fiddler and the other fellow
reaps the benefits!
Industrial Age:
II. L. Loucks resigns the presidency
of the South Dakota Alliance because
of his election to the presidency OF the
National Alliance; he is succeeded by
C. V. Gardner. The South Dakota
Alliance is the most aggressive OF the
Alliance organizations and it has &C
complished an immense amount of
good for the farmers of the Dakotas.
Yes, and now the Minnesota Ali
ance gives Mr.. LOucks a welcome to
citizenship.
The following, from the Clark COun-
ty Democrat, is as refreshing as a
warm shower after a hot spell-hOld
ND the editors hands, brethren: