The representative. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1893-1901, 1894-05-09
THE TWINE QUESTION,
seth BottOmley Discusses 1t and
Whacks Two Brother Farmers

seth BottOmley Discusses 1t and
Whacks Two Brother Farmers
Let Us Hear From Them
Editor of The Representative: In The
Representative of January TO- 1894, you pub
ilsh biographical sketch of Elias Steener-
son in which he is described as dealer in
farm machinery, and of course that would
include binding Irvine. In The Representa-
tive of April is a letter of Andrew Steen-
ersons complaining of the bad quality, and
the bad management of state binding Irvine
business AS Andrew and Elias hail from
the same town, it may be inferred that they
are related. may be brothers, engaged in
the same business. Anyhow it is but rea-
sonable to suppose that Andrews COM
plant is but the old dodge of crying out:
Inc other fellow is selling shrinking fish, -
1t used to be said that 'if you would
cross two sticks, and spit where they
crossed each other, it would raise the devil. ;,
The trick in it was, that few boys had the
courage to spit on the sticks. This seems
90 be the way our farmers act. For years
they were bled by the binding Irvine trust.
and howled with pain. The state came to
'helr relief, making and selling a better
wonder they got a warden of the states
prison who carried out the farmers wishes
in a falr and skillful manner. This pricked
the trust and brought their prices down
but seeing that the farmers are like the
boy, they have crossed the two sticks, but
dare not spit on them. The trusts" and
their agents are telling them they will
raise the devil if they do.
We have used the state Irvine two seasons
ana found it the very best Irvine we ever
did use, though we have paid IS cents per
pound before times. We have found Mr.
Woifer very prompt and efficient business
man. Last year the freight from the states
prison to Winnebago City was a shade over
1-3 Of cent per pound We bought 60 lbs
from a local dealer, which cost $1S0-for
Tar inferior tWine-mOre than if we had
bought it from the state. We are not
blaming those farmers who cannot pay
cash, nor is Mr. Wolfer to blame for de-
handing good paper, he would go out
side the law if he did otherwise, which
for the lands sake alive, do not let us
tempt him to do for we shall want him to
put in a museum a freak-an official or
state servant who does not wollop his
master.
Spit on the sticks boys" it wont raise
the devil, but it will keep lot of monopo-
iistic devils out of your pockets.
Still some plan ought to be devised so
that the individual farmer ought to be able
to get his Irvine on time One plan might
be tried by the farmer himself which would
be, to pay richer neighbor, merchant or
banker a small per cent to go security AS
the indorser would have no money to ad-
vance, that need not be much Again Mr..
Wolfer might safely extend his offer of
Endorsement to reputable merchants and
others. A local newspaper, sent by the pur-
chaser would give him the necessary in
formation who they were. Anyway, if the
state Irvine factory is allowed to "go down.
it will be a pair of big black eyes for the
farmers. That there is a desperate at
tempt to break it down, there is not a
shadow of doubt. We, ourself had an
offer of three different agencies, at
good commissions, last year. Let it not be
murdered in the house of it's friends.
SETH BOTTOMLEY