St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1892-09-20
CONTROL REPUBLICAN RING
Continued From First Page.

piC. Ut was Wiling 10 Ifaue ana Qlu,
according to the inside history OF the
nominating convention. One Fletcher
is at present Republican candidate for
congress in Minnesota. He was friend
and political associate of Gov. McGill
and closely allied at the time with the
Fllisbury-W aShburn elevator interests.
his man Fletcher, seeing that his
favorite candidate for governor was
likely to be slaughtered, approached
Candidate Merriam ana his friends. Mr.
Fletcher, in the interest of the elevator
combine, told Merriam that sufficient
part Of Gov. McGilps strength would be
turned over 10 him on the condition
that he, If nominated and elected, would
permit the elevator combine TO name the
railroad and warehouse commissioners.
Mr.. Merriam was nominated by the Re-
publicans and elected governor, admit
tedly through the support and influence
OF Gov. McGiiFs former friends. The
railroad and warehouse commissioners
nominated and eDufirmed by the new
governor were satisfactory to the eieya-
tor combine.
During lhe campaign for the COVER
norShlp Mr.. Odeli, as the agent of Mer-
Ram. endeavored to enlist the farmers
ID his patrons political fortunes. He
assoc lated himself in this movement
L
in quite formidable showing. AT one
time during the early stages Of the
campaign Odell said to his companion
in the movement: Il see the farmers
are going TO get Oh top and think we
better get Merriam to come out as the
farmers friend" He suggested that
his colaborer 70 see Merriam with this
object in view. but the willy Merriam
declined to have anything to 10 with
the farmer in politics. Odell was
persistent and finally induced II. L.
LOucks. president of the Farmers Ali
ance of the United States, to visit Mer-
Ram and urge upon him the necessity
of coming ont as the particular friend
and champion of the farmers. Leueks'
mission was also unsuccessful. Mer-
RAM declined to be other than the Re
publican candidate. lie afterward
regretted this course, and in converse
ton with d friend in this city after his
election as governor said: II made the
mistake of my life. If / had stood by
the farmers at the time l could have
had anything IN the state / wanted. As
it is, they identify me with the railroad
and elevator interests"
No Money fer the Farmer.
Odell made a speech at the st. James
hotel in Minneapolis al one time. The
meeting was called III the interest of the
farmers. He commenced his speech by
saying that he was farmer, and that he
could not make living by legiIimateiy
following farming. He had a farm in
Southern MINES Ota, he said, and had
never been able to make a living from
if. He charged that he had shipped
potatoes, hay and wheat to market only
10 be robbed, claiming that the state
Trrs tang iaafr n +hia
elevator combine to rob the farmer of
his products. He said it WIS gigantic
steal from the time the products left the
farm until they reached the rapacious
hands of the combine. One Of the
state weighnaSters was present during
OdelFs speech and interrupted him.
The interruptions became noisy, and
the state official and Odell got into an
angry alteration, which was con-
tinued after the termination Of the
meeting.
Mr.. Odell, as the friend of the Repub-
lican nominee for governor, also had an
incidental experience with s. n. Owens,
who was the Farmers Alliance candi-
date for governor two years ago. Owens
was vigorous candidate. He was vehe-
ment in his denunciaIion of the elevator
combine, and came out in letter at one
time during the campaign saving that
the elevator men earned So per cent on
their investment. The elevator people
denied the charge, and under pres
sure forced Owens to withdraw
the letter. Owens at the time
claimed that he had the information
from one of the clerks in the elevator
Offices in Minneapolis. But the clerk
failed to Substantiate the charge at the
critical moment. Owens was free in
saying he would like an opportunity of
proving he was right in his declaration
as to the earnings of the combine. He
expressed this desire in the presence OF
various parties. Finally it came to the
ears of c. c. Wolcott, and he agreed to
furnish the data, for which Owens ex-
pressed warm gratitude. Wolcott came
TO Chicago, and IN a conversation with
Odell incidentally informed him that he
proposed furnishing the data 10 Owens.
OteH had business in Minneapolis pre-
Sumably, for the next day he left for
the Flour City, and it is a matter of his
tory that Owens never after displayed
any desire for the information enabling
him to establish the exact profits Of the
combine.
Gov. Merriam is a candidate for the
seat in the United States senate now
occupied by Cushman &. Davis. The
one who can develop the most strength
in the legislative caucus Of the Repub-
lican party is to have the party nomina-
ton and the support of the other as
against all combinations. That is un-
derstood by those manipulating Repub-
lean politics in Minnesota. Both aspir-
ants have the friendship of the elevator
combine.
Cheating All Around.
Il. A. OdeIl was seen in his Office yes
lar- l., 49, 7 i
synopsis Of the elevator conspiracy.
He said: II have been away from Min
nesota and Minnesota politics for sew
eral years, and do not care 10 be quoted
in the matter. The matter has ALWAYS
been one of politics. ] don't care to be
personally mixed up with it. Yes, did
make a speech at the St. James hotel.
as you say. Well, yes, that was on a
particular occasion. l don't care to say
anything about it. Charges and Coulter
charges have been made as to the ele-
vator men. The farmers have reiterated
the charges and the elevator people
have denied them. The charges have
been insisted upon and as vigorously
denied. l am not in position to say any
thing as to my personal knowledge.
The elevator system Of the Northwest
q complicated affair. There is room for
cheating on both sides; that is. room for
the elevator people to cheat the farmer,
and the SuperiDteDdents to cheat the
elevator proprietOrs. In either case ]
think it results not so much from inten-
ton as to the practices in vogue. For
instance, a superintendent is placed in
charge of an elevator at LarimOre, Oak.
say; he is paid so much q month. and
the particular object be has in view is
TO make the elevator of which he has
charge come out even; to see that it is
not short at the end of the season. To
accomplish this he employs his best
Judgment. If his judgment is at fault
the farmer is the victim, and if he
is over cautious the elevator propri-
etors are the benefciaries In other
words the process is this: A farmer
brings his grain to the elevator I'M
cleaned. He brings it just as it comes
from the thresher. 1t is full OF dirt and
straw, and the elevator superintendent
says 10 him as the wheat is running to
the bin. i will have to deduct so much
just as ms judgment Indicates, whether
it is one pound or fifty pounds to the