The representative. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1893-1901, 1894-06-06
THE GRAIN GROWERS
What Can Be Done.-A Few Sug.
gestiOns.

done. To avoid Scylla we must steer
clear of Charybdis.
We must go into the movement in
very moderate frame of mind;-then
if the results are splendid we shall be
magnificently disappointed. We must
remember that we are tackling an i'm
mense question and a tremendous
enemy. The power of that enemy is
manifested in the way in which they
induced the Supreme Court of this
state to overthrow the law for the
their course, in that particular,
should open our eyes as to what they
consider the most dangerous thing
that could be attempted to stop their
thieveries. 1t is good rule to find
out just what your enemies do not
want you to do, and do that thing at
once.
They think they have got possession
of all lines of outlet and export, and
that we are powcrless. They stand
between us and the external world,
with every gate double-locked. The
state elevator would have opened all
the doors, hence it had to be over
thrown. Our Supreme Court, (the
members have been reading the REP
REsENTATIvE), said the other day:
"CourtS are not at liberty to declare
statute unconstitutional because in
their opinion it is opposed to the
fundamental principles Of republican
government, unless those principles
are placed beyond legislative encroach-
ment by the constitution, or because
it is opposed to q spirit supposed to per-
rade the constitution, but not oppressed IN
,rords, or because it is thought to be
unjust or oppressive or to violate
some natural, social or political rights
OF the citizen, unless it can be shown
such rights are protected by the con-
stitution.
Except ,Clere the constitution has I'M
posed Limitations upon the legislatire po,rer,
ii must be considered as practically dbSO-
tute, and TO WARRANT THE JUDICIARY
IN DECLARING A STATUTE INVALID
THEY MUST BE ABLE TO POINT OUT
SOME CONSTITUTIONAL LIMITATION
WHICH THE ACT CLEARLY TRAN
sCENDS."
Now, there is no part of the consti-
tuition which says that the Legislature
should not regulate the transportation
of wheat. On the contrary the Legis-
lature had passed statute after
statute to control the railroads in
their transportation of that cereal,
and even to fix the rate of charges for
the same. They had gone further:-
they had established system of in
spection and weighing of wheat, for
the benefit and protection of elevator
men alone; and had levied tax on
the farmers grain to support it. All
this was constitutional. This made the
state partner in the wheat business.
But when it was proposed that the
surplus Of the fund so created, by the
wheat inspection, should be used to
build warehouse, into which the
farmers could ship their wheat, after
it was so inspected, our beautiful
court stepped in, and said ,-"Thus far,
but no farther. 1t is constitutional to
tax the farmers to protect the eleva-
tor men. but to use the surplus of the
fund to protect the farmers, that is
unconstitutional, paternalistic, most
hOrrible" No man had denied the
right of the Legislature to appropri-
ate money to stock our lakes with
fish, and to protect the widgeOns,
snipes, mud-turtles, birds and
catfish; but to protect the farmers,
who constituted majority of our peo-
pie, and paid the greater part of the
taxes, that was an utterly preproster-
Gus idea. That was socialism, COM
muniOnism, 'anarchism, diabolism!
Down with it! And down it went;
and the five hoary-headed lawyers,
called the Supreme Bench-or four of
them-executed ghost-dance over it's
remains, arrayed in war paint and
feathers, with both the old parties
cheering them on. And now they
say, that, ''except where the constitu-
tion has imposed limitations upon the
legislative power, it must be consider
ed as practically absolute"
But if the enemy are so anxious to
prevent the farmers from having
warehouse. as to drive their tools on
the Supreme Bench to such disgraceful
self qualification, such ruthless swal-
lowing of their heads in their bellies;
,could 1t not be acell for the farmers to pro
cure acareho,.se anyhO,os
And why not? There are 100000
farmers In Minnesota. If each of
them contributed S. that would make
a half million of dollars. But even
that is not necessary. Let the COM
Ing convention raise enough money to
rent an elerator at Duluth for one gear;
and try the experiment. Let us per-
suade some such man as Gen. T. III.
Barrett, of Grant county, to take
charge of it;-sOme man in whose hon
.sty we all have absolute confidence.
Let him correspond with the markets
Of the whole world. Then let the
Grain Growers Association ship its
wheat to that elevator; and let Gen.
Barrett see what can be done with it,
From Duluth to Buffalo we have the
open waters Of the Great Lakes-free
to all;-free as is the ocean. From
Buffalo to New York we have the Eric
canal; and from New York we can
send our wheat to London for cents
bushel. Then we have broken
through the Gordon of ravenous devils
who are clutching at our throats.
Suppose it is true that we are not
-