The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1891-03-06
LETTER FROM UNCLE JOSH.
FIpDLER's CREEK, Feb. y.
No e

I No. 6.
Editor Free F-ess:
! Ny last letter got TO be so long that
l was obliged TO stop short OF In bhe
middle of one of the Deacon's well
rounded sentences. He was saying
that Railroad men would hail with
delight the day when farmers had
brains enough TO set a price on their
own wares, the same as other people
do, and get too"
The Deacon still had the floor, and
he continued land not only the Rail-
road men but every right thinking
business man in the country would
hail the day, for if there are any men
in the country who admire brains, 1t
is the business men, above all others.
Business men do not envy the man
who accumulabes great wealth; they
admire him, and sigh for more brains,
that they might do likewise.
But the farmer, does he admire the
successful man? not much, and he
Iegislates against him with all his
might and main, but goes right on,
playing into the hands Of the grain
manipulation The latter individual
is the one who would predict that the
country was going TO the dogs, should
the day ever come when the farmers
fixed the price on their own wares,
ceased their senseless warfare on the
Railroads, and gave it out for publica-
tion To the world at large, somewhat
after the following manner:
The Farmers Association of the
State Of -- through It's executive
committee has decided that the price
Of wheat shall be. so and so. at point
Of shipment, from this date, and until
further notice,
Let the farmers pay no attention
whatever to the Railroad rates. If the
rates are not satisfactory To the buyers,
let them fight it out with the Rail-
road Companies, while the farmer
rests on his dignity, and bides time,
which is sure TO come, for as sure as
sunrise, he viii get his price, and that
is all he asks for. The Farmers As
ISOLATION need never take the trouble
10 hunt for buyers. Let the buyers
do the hunting. If the latter hold
off, thinking or expecting break will
come and the farmers will tumble
over each other in their mad haste 10
sell let them for once, and for all,
be cured Of that nonsense. for the far
mers have learned at last. that in
stead Of meekly submitting TO the old
way Of allowing all the rest OF the
world TO fix their prices for them, on
all they have TO sell. as well as upon
all they have TO buy: let the world
understand, that those good old times
are past. never 10 return: that the
farmer has at last discovered that he
holds the key TO the situation himself.
Yes. holds the KEY and he holds the
fort DIS well.
/ tell you. Uncle Josh, / long for the
day when the farmers of the North
west shall have come TO their senses.
when they shall have learned the
methods of modern business: learned
how TO make money, and instead Of
borrowing and sweating their lives
out TO pay the interest, they become
lenders Of money, and live lives Of
ease and luxury, wear good clothes,
and have the best Of everything that
is TO be had. And it is such an easy
thing TO do. O, so easy. We have only
TO apply the rules Of modern business
methods, and the thing is done" The
Deacon ceased speaking, and sat down,
looking intently into the fire. As for
myself, i felt as though didn't know
anything, but / thought / must break
the silence, so / Tentured to say, What
is the root of these rules of modern
business methods, Deacon" II can
answer that question in three words.
Uncle Josh.-Brains and Determine
tiOn." The Deacon had risen as he
spoke, and remarking that it was get
ting late, and he would take UP the
subject the following evening, he babe
me good night.
UNCLE JOSH