St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1890-10-02
How the Grain Inspection
Force Helps Out the Min
neapolis Miller.
The Old Wheat Ring Appar-
emily Still on Deck and
Doing Business.
A Son of the English Syndi-
cate Grades Out Wheat in
Minneapolis.
Resume Of the Political News
Gathered at the Different
Headquarters.

The grain inspection department of
the state government by its false grad
ings is robbing the people of the Fifth
district of more than enough money to
run the Republican state campaign this
year,
Thus spoke one of the most promi-
nent members of the Fifth District
Farmers Alliance yesterday in the
course of conversation with GLOBE
reporter. This gentleman is large
wheat raiser, and is thoroughly posted
on the subject of grades and prices, and
to Illustrate his statement narrated the
following incident: A few days ago
W. j. Bodkin. of MOorhead. came down
to Minneapolis with seven carloads of
wheat which he sold himself, obtaining
just seven cents per bushel more for it
than he would have received had one or
two of Grain Inspector Clausen's depu-
ties been permitted to place grade
on it.
1.-THE fact is" continued this gentle
man, that the grain inspection depart
ment is grading grain one point lower
down all along the line. TO illustrate.
No. l is graded No. 2 and No. 2 is set
down as No 8. [ understand Mr.. Claus
Ell was asked where he got these grades,
and his answer was in Chicago and
Buffalo; and, in explaining this, he said
that the Minnesota grades were not sat
isfactory in those markets. This is nat
ural enough. Those cities buy our
wheat. and the dealers would be very
peculiar were they not interested in
having the wheat of this state graded
down as low as possible. But the fact
is that the legislature of this state has
established a system of grades, and the
people of the Fifth district, who raise
only wheat, are anxious to know why
the law is not carried out"
Another point ] would like to hi v
calculated by Mr.. Clausen is why has
he has found it convenient or advisable
to appoint the son of the manager of
the M. & d. English syndicate) elevator
a member OF the grain inspection de-
partment. This young man, the son of
Superintendent Gibbs. has been de-
tailed to grade wheat out of the North
western system of elevators for the big
mills at Minneapolis. OF course young
Mr.. Gibbs could do his work honestly
and fairly. but want to inquire if his
appointment is one that the people in
terested in shipping wheat to Mime
oils would approve"
us there much dissatisfaction over
the wheat gradingS this year among
the farmers?
:, There is a great deal in my portion
of the state, and l want to assure the
managers of Gov. Merriam's canvass
that in no other way can SO many votes
be made for his opponents at the coming
election. Wheat is our only crop, and
If it is generally known throughout the
Fifth district that the farmers are being
robbed of from FIVE to seven cents OH
each bushel of grain through the grain
ipspeetion departments system grad
ing, there will be revolution in the
northern part of this state that will
sweep Minneapolis-made governors out
/ of existence.
do you mean to say that the wheat
ring 0e Minneapolis is backing the pres
ent governor" asked the reporter.
There is no doubt of it, was the re-
ply. This wheat ring has practically
made all the governors of the state has
had in recent years, and, while it was
beaten two years. it was not slow to
make its peace with the winner. All of
the members of this ring have grown
wealthy through the favor of the laws.
and the plant governors we have had
for year after year. And more than
this these grain men are not Satified
with having governor whom
they can control. but they are ev-
cry year willing to throw plenty OF
money into campaign against men
who dare to run for the legislature
without 'Pillsbury's Best stamped upon
their backs"
There is undoubtedly great deal of
| dissatisfaction throughout the wheat
growing counties of this state over the
grades established by Inspector Clau-
sen, but this is not an approach to what
there would be were the public aware
of the number of political heelers now
drawing large salaries from the state as
employees of the grain inspection de-
partment. They are more than legion
i'm number. Indeed. there are no less
than three men with salaries ranging
from s75 to $50 per month en-
gagged in inspecting the wheat
which is shipped to st. Paul.
when. as a matter of fact, one man
would be quite sufficient to do the work.
In no department of the state govern
ment has the multiplication of state
offices proceeded to such an outrageous
extent as in rhat presided over by the
railway commission. In the long, warm
days of last summer as many as five
men could be found asleep on the
IuXurious sofas in Grain Inspector
Clausen's Office almost any time.
An investigation into the workings of
the grain inspection department is ur-
gently demanded by tue wheat shippers
of the entire state.