The representative. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1893-1901, 1894-06-27
THE GRAlN-GROWERS
Importance of the Convention of
July 10Th.

Importance of the Convention of
July 10Th.
our coming convention of the
Grain Growers of the northwest is ex-
citing great interest, and will certain
ly be one of the largest and most i'm
portant ever held in this state.
We receive all sorts of communica-
tions, protests, etc. The millers as
sure US that they want the projected
association to be formed; and that they
Will DO all they can to help it. They
say the trouble is not with them; but
with the elevator men, who stand be-
tween the farmer and the miller and
plunder both; and that they are just
as anxious to get clear of these bar
nacles as the Alliance is. The railroad
men talk much in the same way, and
profess an anxiety to help the agri-
culturists if the agriculturists will
first try to help themselves. They
complain bitterly of the elevator ring.
They told us of one warehouSeman at
L1tchfield, who mulcted the farmers
out of 10 cts. on everyibushel of wheat:
which was more than the farmers
profit for raising it; or the railroads
charge for carrying it to Minneapolis.
We were told that the Great Northern
Railway company came down on this
rascal and made him abate his extor-
tionate charges. And still later we
hear that when the Elevator Ring
purchased certain set of elevators on
the same line, and intended to cut
the farmers meat to the bone, the
head OF the company told them that
the warehouses were on the right of
way OF the company, and they could
not operate them unless they made
their charges reasonable. The Ring
howled but had to submit.
We propose to give the devil his due.
Even the railroad managers begin to
see that if this robbery of the farmers
continues their properties will soon be
in the hands of receivers. So out of
even As cent wheat some advantages
may flow, in the way of increased in
telligence and mutual cooperation.
And we would repeat-that this
grain-growers' movement is initiated
IN no narrow spirit. 1t persecutes no
man. 1t is purely self-defensive. It
does not want to wrong any person.
1t desires to find out where the rob-
berry is and put stop to it. Any man
who will help us,-even from interest
ed motives,-is our friend. Any man
mr. in xrysn ha
crushed.
We will open our doors on July 18th,
and let the representatives of the
millers and the railroads come in and
present their side of the case. We will
reason together like sensible men. We
are not afraid of them. They cannot
humbug us.
Why should not the millers COM
municate directly with the farmers,
receives samples of their wheat, and
buy from them directly on sample,
and the farmers load into cars and
thus eliminate the elevator man?
The agent of the Grain-G rowers Asso-
citation could supervise the delivery
and payment in this city.
Or, why should not the railway COM
panies receive the wheat and deliver
it just as they receive and deliver
carload of hay? There is no ring to
make profit off the hay. Why should
there be one to make it off the wheat?
Why should wheat be treated differ
emily from wood, pork, potatoes, live
stock, hardware or dry-goods?
Hump yourselves, then, brother
farmers. Come out to the convent tion
in swarms, and see if all our wits put
together cannot eliminate the middle
men. For the first time in the his
tory of the state you have got a paper
of your own, devoted to your interests;
and not to be spiked, fooled or bought
up. So make a holiday of July y, and
18th, and load the old lady and the
babies, and all your friends, into the
wagon, hoist an American flag over
head, beat the tom-john and let the
hurdy-gurdy sound; and come in "to
the help of the Lord against the
mighty" Let US see if 1000, 600 farm
ers are match for score Of highway
robbers. If we are not we had better
give up the fight and tell them to
take the state. I'D,