The sun. [volume] (Morris, Stevens County, Minn.) 1882-1895, 1892-03-03
COMMUNICATION.

There appears to be at this time, O
decided want of unanimity of opinion
among the friends of reform in poll
tics, ON what is known as the sub
treasury plan, or plank, in the peo-
pies party.
1t makes but little difference to me
what the old parties who favor the
present United States banking law
think about the sub-treasury plan, or
how much they ridicule or misrepre-
sent it and its advocates; but a dis
agreement among the real friends of
reform, of those who see and re-
alize the enor1nity of The present
financial laws of the commonwealth
to disagree ON one of the fundamental
issues involved, is a serious matt er,
and something that should be avoided
if such a thing is possible; and it is
not too soon to take the matter un-
der careful consideration.
In approaching the consideration
o. the subject, every friend of reform,
and l believe l am one, ought to lay
aside, as far as preconceived opinion
leaves it possible, all prejudices and
give the proposed plan careful,
earnest and candid consideration.
The one argument that the old
parties urge against it that has any
force, is that it is class legislation;
all their other arguments and all
their ridicule are smoke, even if some
of it has a disagreeabie odor, I am
free to say that here is something that
has always restrained me from giving
the plan that cordial support that l
should like to give to any measure
which receives so general q support
from the friends of reform. But I
never have felt that it had any such
serious objections on that account,
as the United States banking law, and
other kindred legislation, for the
whole superstructure rests upon the
mud sills of agriculture, and without
that support it would simply succomb
to starvation. Therefore anything
that helps to sustain that industry,
indirectly benefits the whole, and in
consequence is not, in the broadcast
sense, class legislation. It is argued
by some of the friends of reform, that
the land loan plank renders the sub
treasury scheme unnecessary; but it
seems to me that the land lean plank,
while good in itself, would not reach
the most needy portion of the farm
ing class. The farmers whose farms
are mortgaged for a large per cent of
their value, and the tenant farmers
could receive no benefit of the land
loan law, but would still be at the
mercy Of the money lord the same as
now.
In view Of the great need of har-
monious action on the part Of all who
have the good of the present reform
movement at heart, it would seem to
me not advisable to let the fear of
class legislation in favor Of class
whose interests have been ignored by
all legislation for the past hundred
years, stand in the way of presenting
a solid front tosthe opponents of re-
form. Now is it not plain to all re-
formers, that the land loan law would
in no way make it possible for a ten
ant farmer to hold back his grain
from an unfavorable market more
than now, and the very fact Of the es-
cape OF a few from tho power Of the
combinations against the farmer,
would render those combinations
more determined to make all farmers
tenants. [ for one can ease my con-
cience by tho same cataplasm that
detective uses, when he undertakes
to fight the devil with his own weap-
ons, that the end justiiies the means;
and [ will say further, that when by
class legislation of the kind like the
sub-treasury scheme, the tenant
farmer has become a power in the
land that controls and Injuries othe~
branches of business. I will use my
voice, my pen, my vote, and if neces-
sary, my hands, to. relegate him to
his proper place.
It would give ME great pleasure.if
this communication, accompanied by
my earnest request, should induce
both friends and opponents to write
out their views on the sub treasury
scheme and have them published. Z
believe the times are ripe for the dis
cussion, and good would follow. No
good thing is evolved but by friction
of mind with mind. Let us discuss
the sub-treasrry. G. Sax
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Seed Grain.
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