Jamestown weekly alert. [volume] (Jamestown, Stutsman County, D.T. [N.D.]) 1882-1925, 1893-01-12
GRAIN GAMBLING OPPOSED.
Anti-OptiOn Bill Discussed
by the North Dakota
House..
Legislative and Senatorial
Gossip From the Capital
City.
Miss Putnam Writes About
Various Worlds Fair
Matters.

BISMARCK, Jan. 8, 1893.-[Special] T.
In the discussion Of the anti-option
bill in the house, Speaker Walsh opposed
the resolution asking congress to pass
that measure. He SAID: "As fa. mer
and republican I protest against the
measure passing. There is no section
of the Dill which I favored except the
one to prevent gambling in grain. II
the Washburn bill passes it will reduce
the value of the farming lands of the val
icy from SO to Is per cent. 1t does away
with the competition and places grain
directly in the hands of the miller ele-
vator combine leaving farmers at the
mercy OF the English syndicate of which
Washburn and Pillsbury are members
The mlllers do not come IN competition
for the purchase of farmers wheat.
One man in Minneapolis orders
what shall be paid for wheat. The ele-
vators buy what they want and pro-ra,e
It among the mills. Wheat, barley
cotton and pork are covered in the BILL
while Hour is not. Why is this? 1t is
the millers' interest that the bill is
Intended to protect The farmers spoke
their piece in November, and slrictl,
speaking, the republicans 'ain't ip IT,
With anti-optlon they won't get in very
soon. l know all about this elevator
and mill combine. have been railroad
commissioner for two years, and 1 have
Investigated the bill. 1t pro oses TO tax
those who buy or cell futures 10 cents
per bushel, and requires license OF
$1,000. 1t would kill competition, and l
am opposed to the resolution" In con-
cIusion he roasted Pillsbury and Wash
burn, saying anything they advocated
be viewed with suspicion. II. Hallum
said option dealing helped the farmers
tie had managed farmers elevator at
cost Of q OF cent per bushel 1t would
cost 5 scents If the bill was passed. He
advocated selling wheat after harvest
and buying May options If prices arr
too low.
Mr.. Walsh said the elevators we're a
curse to the farmers. He would be ip
favor of wiping them out. He believed
10 farmers elevators and buying options
to protect them. lie wanted the railroad
companies to receive wheat at stations
and give bills of ladinv as on other
freight.
The ajority of the legislature, while
not certain as to TIE results Of the meas
ure. seemed to favor the attempt TO put
a stop to gambling IN wheat. If possible.
This side was represented by such strong
speakers AS Mr.. McCulloch, of Grigys
county, who said:
! This was neither a democratic measure
nor republican measure. 1t was the
peoples measure. Gambling is wrong
whether in wheat or in the lottery. The
lottery bill, had it become law, would
have worked to the destruction of The
state, as this dealing in options destro, 6
the interest OF the farmers. 1t is claimed
that the passage of the Washburn bill
will pnt down the price of wheat. The
markets we're steady VIII n there was no
gambling in wheat. Now the millers are
forced to deal in options IN order to
protect their purchases of wheat and the
cost OF this is charged TO the farmers
and taken out OF the price Of their wheat.
| They can't tell today what the price will
he tomorrow. It may be this bill is not
what We want. but we want to put down
option dealing and stop gambling in
farm products.
Mr. Logan: The leaders OF this move
ment have been farmers. The farmers
organizations and farmers papers have
approved the antl.option bill. The mil
lers' organization favor it because they
are business men and want steady prices
The bill does not prevent anyone from
selling grain for fnture delivery If they
have the grain. 1t only forbids gambling
and prohibits men from selling what
they haven't got or don't expect to have
thereby depressing prices. It Is only
necessary TO look over the records of the
pact to show h.w gambling effects the
prices. II they want to gamble let them
bet ON the sands on the seashore. The
Inter Ocean. Tribune and other Chicago
papers and the popnllst and democratic
papers and the European papers also
have shown how gambling affects prices
Prices should be regulated by the law OF
supply and demand and not by gamblers
Gambling is not necessary to success OF
anv interest. Farming and legitimate
business interests do not depend npou
gambling. and the farming interests do
not demand the cooperation OF gamb-
lers.
Mr.. Hodgson: They tell us We are in
the clutches OF q vast combine, and SO
We are and we want chance to get out.
It ls the uncertainty of prices which is
robhinG the farmers and gambling IN
grain is the cause of that uncertainty.
Those who buy are Obliged to depress
the prices in order to protect their pur.
chaees and the farmer Is the one to
suffer.
| Mr.. Dean desired to present another