St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1891-02-15
FARMERS IN THEORY.
The Decimated Twilight Club
Gives Changers Cards
and Spades,
And Then Beat Them in the
Best Style Of Tilling
Mother Earth.
Attorney Donahower Fails to
Reach Chicago With a
Live Prisoner.
The Singer Shooting Seance
Ends With a Double Head
ed Divorce.

The adjourned regular meeting of the
Twilight club, which took place last
evening at the Hotel Ryan, did not at
tract many members, only eight as
sembling at the festive board under the
presidency of EX-Gov. Austin. The
paper presented was by L. c. Hodgson
who choose for his subject ''HaS the
Farmer Grievance Which Can Be Ma
terially AlIeviated by LegiSlation?" lie
took the stand that if farmers griey-
ance arises from his own incompetence,
neglect of business, lack of knowledge
of good farming, no law is
necessary to alleviate his condi-
ton. His grievance is against himself.
He has no right to call on the law to
rescue him from the consequences OF his
own thriftlessness. But it the evil OF
which he complains arises from unequal
conditions over which he has 10 control
and cannot remedy, he has right. to
the claim of the public, the protection
of the law. If the operation or govern
ment permits unequal conditions to
exist, or if it produces them, 1t is APP
parent lie has case against the govern
ment which can only be rlghted by the
proper interference of law. The farm
Cl vi lO-Qc1 dlO iuob DO IiiObStAoCNS ~"
those of the previous generation, but he
is better posted OH the principles of
scientific farming.
The speaker dWelt at some length
upon the grievances of the farmer,
and said that many persons were
apt to scott at the farmers and call them
cranks. The only and right thing to do
was to study the condition of the farm
erS carefully, and If real grievances eX-
listed to pass wise legislation to help
eradicate those conditions the farmers
complained of.
The Discussion
was opened by f. J. Hodgson, who said
that the first great grievance of the
farmer was the question Of tranSporta-
ton. A railroad was of necessity a
monopoly, and great power must be eX-
ercSed over them by law; but he feared
that if once the farmers secured the
upper hand they would go too far How
far legislation should go to remedy the
misuse of power by the railroads he could
not say. A board existed in this state
to watch the question of rates to farm
erS, and he thought that was as much
as could be done, but he was OF opinion
that the powers of the railroad commits
sion might be extended. On the ques-
ton of ''interest," he did not think any
usury law would reduce the rate, but
would increase it. II there were pen
altieS men would become afraid and
would withdraw their money from the
business of loaning.
Prof. j. G.. Bryant thought that the
farmers had grievances which should
receive attention at the hands OF the
legislature. He agreed with the pre-
hot In fnn oh I'll
hold in check the corporations and rail-
roads. The matter was very grave
one, but he thought a settlement would
be reached in the course of few years.
w. L. Kirk said that the farmers had
no grievances. They were always howl
ing against the railroads, bat where
would the farmer have been without
the railroad? They had made his land
for him, for they had opened up the
country. The farmers were i'll the
hands of men who used them for their
own selfish motives. He thought that
so much organization was dangerous,
and if the farmers would stay at home
and attend to their farms and keep out
of the hands of demagogues, they would
have nothing to complain of. He be-
lieved, as far as corporations were
concerned, that prejudice existed
against them among the farmers, and
they could not sue farmer III rural
district and receive justice at the hands
OF farmers jury. He, as represent
alive of a corporation, would rather ac-
cept so cents on dollar than enter suit
in a rural district for debt. The farm
ers could not expect justice for them.
selves until they gave Justice TO others
Prof. Baker thought that the griev-
Of 0nttId no ntIpuiatnH NV
a proper adjusting of tariff and taxation.
1t would be practicable to make a law
that man who bought a small farm
| should for few years be free from tax
alton, while man who had 1000 acres
should be increased in the standard of
taxation. This would equaliZe matters.
| The speaker favored the heavy taxation
of foreign agricultural products, so
as to protect home industries.
Ex-Gov. Austin was glad Of the move
ment among the farmers, for it would
broaden their business principles and
make them better farmers. AS to the
matter of their being led by the dema-
gogues he could only say that in course
of time these men would drop out and
honest men take their places. The eX-
| tent of the Alliance showed that they
| had arrived at great point of intelli-
gence and it would result in justice to
the farmer at the hands of the two old
parties. The farmers were justified in
looking upon the railroads as their
natural enemies, and their prejudice
against corporations was shared by la
boring classes in the cities. The out
look was serious, but he thought that
everything would end with justice to
all. On the question Of interest he was
ctpnnmIu in faUnr nf II Ia for n c
rule money lenders wo uld take adj
vantage OF a borrowers position and
| take every cent they could for interest.
New Spring Derby Hats.
| All Blocks. Plymouth Clothing House.