St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1892-09-08

we GenOunce the rapaclOuS aud con-
sciencelesS Ombinationwhich has grown
up in the state with the connivance of
Republican legislatures. Our grain
markets have been monopoized and
our farmers robbed of the fruit of their
hard lahors. We reaffirm our belief
that this combination rests upon the
fact that the railroads of this state have
abJured one of their primary functions,
the provision of suitable means for
handling grain. and have given the
same over to the control of private per-
sons. and we again declare our belief
that the remedy, simple but effcaci0us,
lies IN legislation requiring the
roads TO resume this proper function,
thus giving 10 every station a free and
open market"
In these words does the Democratic
party of this state arraign at the bar of
public opinion one of the most rapa-
cious, mercilesS and powerful combina-
tons of the country. The Standard Oil
company only exceeds it in extent or
perfection. 1t covers the states OF Min
nesCtl, North and South Dakota, Wash
ington, and is reaching into the corn
sas.
To the destruction of this combine
the Democrats of Minnesota devote
themselves, and in their efforts they ask
the earnest help of all men who love
justice, and hate fraud and robbery.
They ask the aid not only OF
the men Immediately Wronged, the
farmers, but they ask it of
the business men, the merchants, manu-
facturerS, the artisans. the day Iaborers
They ask the aid of the latter, not alone
because the cause is Just one. not onl,
because it is further struggle fol
freedom and free men. but because i
appeals to their material interests. The
prosperity of every tradeSman anC
craftsman depends on that of the grea
mass of farmers who surround us. just
as their capacity to bny is lessened
just to that degree is trade diminished
and employment decreased. 1t is low
estimate WHICH places the robbery OF
the farmer BY this mercIless combina
ton at 10 cents OH each of the -, 900, DOC
bushels of w'Iiat which they produce,
decreasing tn ii purchasing power
S4,500,000 annually.
The GLOBE is enlisted with its party
in this fight. 1t intends to keep it ur
until the combine is overthroWn. |
one campaign will not effect it we will
have it in another. In its warfare i
DropcSe; TO state facts only. 1t viii
Sac lI1lLe that it cannot su5stantiate
ltcJifis Investigation. The combine
VIII tiud th.t it is lsot dealing with {;
colmissiih, which, with one honorabl,
exc 3Piiin, lt;n. E. }. Moore, was eithe
imbeci!e or vtnal.
WHAT rs TIERS COMBINE?
From the terminals Of every railroad
in TINS great eXpanSe of grain fields &
where the reads pierce either the art
lands OF the mountains. there are strunI
along the lines systems of elevators
giving one or more of these appliance
| for handling grain TO each station Wher
| grain is marketed. At the terminals ar
monster elevators capable of holdin;
| millions of bushels of grain. They are t
| the roads just what the freight and pas
| senger warehouses are. just What thei
| cattle yards and chuteS are, neceSSar
appliances for the transaction OF the buSi
| ness for which the roads exist. Freigh
| is received and shipped by the employe
| of the road into and from the ware
| houses. 1t has not yet occurred TO til
| managers of the roads that they NIGH
| rid themselves of the labor of handiin
miscellaneous freight by giving to som
other corporation the control of it. Blu
for the handling Of grain the roads max
! no provision; they have abdicated tina
branch Of their functions to other;
| These elevators, both at terminals an
along the way. belong to and are ope
| ated by corporations formed for thf
purpose.
These corporations have entered int
a contract containing stringent rule
and heavy penalties, which regulate til
business of grain buying. 1t contain
rules for the buying, grading and dock
Ing Of grain: for keeping uniformity {
prices: for the suppression Of compel
| ton, both from within and without til
combination: for the division anon
them, where they operate OH the sam
lines, of the business so that the earl
ingS shall be equal. They are not to il
terfere ;.ith each other; they are not I
compete with each other; they are /
preserve harmony Ii any one il
fringe the rules. board is provided i
establish the facts and to award dan
ages. They have divided the territor
of the state among them.
THE RAILROAD CONNECTION
The connection of the elevators an
4 ftn Ac Of In n,-+x-
early days of the latter; out of thei
selfiShness in latter and more prosper
Gus years. Men offered to build tn
elevators if the road would sidetrack t
them. There may have been ether il
ducements. Now the roads say tina
they must stand Dy the elevators be
cause the latter have built up their sys
TEN, and because the elevators proven
rate wars between the roads.
there were open markets Their
would be competition Of buy
erS which would result in graz
being drawn to one road and from al
other, and rate war would follow
The roads, too, want harmony. Th
elevators combine to stop competition
the roads combine TO help the elevator
keep down competition and to proven
themselves from competing with eac
/ Otuer. OHe Important Class are nc
taken into this combine, class withou
whom neither roads nor elevators woul
have cents value, the farmers. Bot
factors in this combine seem to thin
that competition, while very bad 70
them, is very good for the farmer. Ii
must compete; they need not.
HOW THEY WORK HI.
Having parceled out the territOr
among themselves, after the manner @
| their prototypes, the baronS of til
middle ages, they provide the details TO