The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1892-10-13
THE WHEAT GAMBLERS
Raked by Hon. w. w. Erwin, the
Eloquent Lawyer and Alli-
ance Orator. .-s%
he Defends Pillsbury Against the
Attacks of the Grain Gam
4 blers and Their Organs.
Washburn and Pillsbury the Best
Friends the Northwestern
Farmers Have Upon Earth.

Farmers Have Upon Earth.
The UNION honestly believes that
the Washburn anticipation bill is a mer-
ltorious measure. We believe that the
fictitious sale of millions of bushels of
wheat in the Chicago gambling hell
(called a board of trade) unnaturally
depresses prices, and that the North
western farmers are robbed of millions
OF dollars annually by these gamblers.
II there is a remedy for this state of
affairs it should be applied, and at once.
We are firmly convinced that the
Washburn anti-option bill is the proper
remedy for the suppression of the evil;
anyhow, it is the only one suggested.
If that bill becomes law, and after a
fair trial is found to be defective it can
be amended or repealed. But matters
cannot be much worse for the wheat
raisers than they are at present., The
UNION believes in any Legislation that
tends to suppress trusts and combina-
tions of capital to depress prices. The
wheat-gamblers of Chicago and other
cities are millionaires-they have made
their millions out of the farmers of the
Northwest. These grain-gamblers can
afford to and will spend money freely
to prevent legislation hostile to their
interests. Their interests are not the
farmers interests. We do not view
this matter as partisan. We are hon
est in our convictions, and would cham
pion an anti-option bill were it fathered
by a fre-eating Democrat or the most
pronounced Populist. We are also
fconVinced that the st. Paul Globes at
tack on Washburn and Pillsbury is in
spired by the Chicago wheat-gamblers.
There may be evils connected with the
elevator system of this State that
should be remedied, and the UNION is
heartily in favor of any legislation nee
essary to correct abuses that may exist
That the wheat gamblers are untir-
ing in their efforts to create a public
sentiment against any anti-option leg
islation by congress is evidenced by
the following associated press dispatch
from St. Louis, and it should be re-
membered that Congressman Hatch,
who is Democrat, has introducedin the
house bill similar to the one fathered
by Senator Washburn in the senate
ST. LOUIS, Oct. IA mysterious
scheme, presumably looking to the de-
feat of the Hatch anti-option bill, has
been set on foot by persons who, for
motives best known to themselves, will
not allow their names to be disclosed
by their subordinates. The thing was
lnaugurated here some time before the
opening of the fair, and first revealed
to the public Monday, when three or
four men took their stands at various
points within the grounds with tables,
pen and ink, soliciting signatures to a
memorial to the United States senate
for the defeat of the anti-option bill.
On Monday or Tuesday the men and
their tables were thrown out of the
grounds by order Of the fair associa-
ton, but they were back the next day,
having Modified the authorities in
some way. The petition sets forth that
nearly all the elevators and large mills
belong to trust and their petitioners
believe and charge that the Wash burn
Hatch bill originated in the counting
room of this trust and ask a postpone
ment of action on the bill until an in
vestigation can be had. The leaders of
the men here are A. Merriam, DR.,
Epherson and a Mr.. Westbrook. The
latter says that he is paid 800 per
week for his work, and that men are
now ready to go out in the entire West
to secure additional names to the petit
tions. Who are the real hackers of the
enterprise is not known.
| 1t can be easily surmised who the
real hackers of these $l00-a-week men
are-the millionaire grain and provis-
ion gamblers.
w. w. ERWIN's OPINIONS.
The eloquent w. w. Erwin, who
stumped the State for the Alliance
ticket in 1890, and who appeared be-
fore the Investigating committee Of the
last legislature as the especial attorney
of the grain-growers' association, was
recently interviewed at Duluth, and we