The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1892-09-22
AN OPPORTUNITY

1t has been recognized safeguard to
society for years that Democracy always
blunders just at the proper moment. To
that fact is largely due the magnificent
present and still more glorious future of
the state and the nation. But for this
genius for blundering-who knows but
the Democrats might even now be in the
ascendancv? And so, now, again. The
Globe discovered a mares nest in certain
charges made by an irresponsible party
in Chicago, backed by the wheat pit
gamblers of Chicago, against the entire
elevator system of the Northwestern
more especially against Senator Wash
burn and Charles A. Pillsbury. The
Globe proceeded at once to stuff the
whole Republican psrty within the skin
of these two good Republicans. and then
fire broadside designed to annihilate
them and their Globely acquired contents
the party. But bless its soul, the Globe
didn't think for a moment that the recoil
would be worse than the shot. So it
was. After characterizing Mr.. Pillsbury
as the very demon of organized robbery,
it seeks to make him appear as the rep
resentative of hts party in this system
deliberately planned by the party. So
far all went swimmingly. But Mr.
Pillsbury addressed an open letter to the
Globe offering to refute every material
point in the charge to the satisfaction of
an unprejudiced umpire, or forfeit $1O,-
OOO-not windy dollars-but certified
checks, two OF them of $4,000 Gach-to
the Democratic campaign fund. Itwasn't
the cry of put up or shut up"-but Mr..
Pillsbury offered to do all the putting up
and the Globe is only required to print
a fair statement or summary of such in
vestigation. The points upon which
Mr.. Pillsbury places money are these:
First, that his firm, which owns and
controls scores of elevators, did not make
to exceed 112 per cent upon the wheat
handled-about one cent bushel; and
second that the mills in which he is so
largely interested did not make more
than FIVE per cent. profit upon the output,
during the time in controversy. Surely
the Globe will accept the offer, or chal-
lenge. 1t must, or stand self-confessed
libeler. If its charges be true it can much
more readily assist its party financially
than by passing the hat. as it is doing
at present. If not true, the Globe, GER
tainIy, is fair and broad enough to ac-
knowledge its error.
One word relative to the so-called
wheat steal and elevator rascality. about
which the Democrats and populists haye
to talk so much, and for which they as
sumo to hold the Republican party re-
sponsible. Ifsuch exist, and it has been
the stock in trade of the DonnelIy and
the Democratic party for years-why
was not something done in the legisla-
ture two years ago to rectify, remedy
and redress the wrongs? The howlers
had things their own way by large
majority-joined hands and hearts, Or
ganized both branches of the legislature,
sat ninety days at the expense of the
state and did nothing. Well, yes, they
did appropriate ten thousand dollars to
investigate along these lines. and the
committee appointed for that purpose
reported that there was nothing in it,
not thing. 1t would seem. that under
the circumstances both calamity parties
are estoppsd from thrusting forward any
musty chestnut favored with wheat.