The representative. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1893-1901, 1895-05-22
FARMERS READ.

THE TW1NE PLANT-A SHORT.SIGHTED
POLICY.
Our readers are aware of the fact
that about year ago the Board of
State Prison Managers at Saltwater,
found themselves with half the Irvine
manufactured during 1893 on their
hands, and the probability that there
would be no market for the output of
1894. Things looked "blue'; the War
den was in state of despair. At this
time he met US one day on the cars
and explained the dilemma. THE REP
PREVENTATIVE at once, without reward
or the hope Of reward, came to the res
cue; called on the local all iances to
move in the matter, and stirred up
such sentiment that the supply Of
Irvine at Saltwater was all sold before
the harvest opened.
Remembering these things, we ap-
piled, this spring, to the Warden of
the Penitentiary for an advertisement
to help sell this seasons output. War
den Wolfer wrote back, under date of
April Is, Il fully appreciate the infiu-
ence Of THE REPRESENTATIVE, and
recognize the assistance it has given
the Irvine plant here" but he went on
to say that the State Prison Board
would have to order the ADVERT sing
when they met May 7th. He further
more took issue with r. H. Eagle &
Co., of 6S and 70 Wabash avenue, Chi
cago, in their offer, in The REPREsEN-
TATIvE, to sell Irvine at the following
figures:
Standard, 500 feet to pound. ..... Axe
Manila, 600 feet to pound ........ sac
Pure Manila, 700 feet to pound. 67sc
And declared'-''If the gentlemen
named can sell the Irvine at those
prices they certainly can produce it at
q much lo,cer figure than zoe can."
Subsequently on May 9Th. Warden
WOlfer writes us:
Il regret to inform you that at a
meeting of the Board of Managers yes
terday, it was decided by them not to
do any advertising this year. This de-
cisfOn was arrived at after having con-
sidered the various expenses incident
to conducting the business, and the
necessarily low prices at which it will
be necessary to sell the twine''
Put these declarations together and
the State Prison authorities stand in
the position Of declaring:
l. We cannot manufacture Irvine
as cheaply as others-therefore we can
not expect the patronage of the farm
ers, who have right, in these hard
times, to buy what they need at the
lowest possible prices.
2. We will not only want more for
our product than it is worth but we
refuse to bring our goods before the
public by advertising them.
3. We recognize the great value of
The REPRESENTATIVE in selling the
output of 1893 and 1894, but we refuse
to spend one cent to compensate it or
helping us to sell the output of 1895.
Did any one ever before hear of a re-
tail establishment, dealing directly
with its customers, that refused to use
the ordinary methods Of bringing it's
wares to the attention of the public?
Who constitute this State Prison
Board of Managers, who are doing this?
They are lot of political fossils, be-
longing to the two old parties, who
have lain on their bellies in the deep,
lush grass, where the pickings were
rich, until they have become moss
grown, like a lot Of antediluvian
turtles. Here are their names:
Frank Temple, Blue Earth City, (rep.
James S. O'Brien, Saltwater, (dem. }
NJ. o. Hall, Duluth, (rep)
John F. Norish, Hastings, (dem.)
Edwin Dunn, EYota, (rep.)
There is not Populist among them
and not bona-f ide farmer. They
fraudulently fooled away four years
with machine that would make only
hemp-twine, when the original design
was to have one that could compete
with the makers of Manila and Sisal
Irvine; and now, when, through the in
fluence of Populist Senators and men,
bers, they are at last forced to come
into competition with the makers Of
the Irvine generally used, land throw
away $50, 900 worth OF old machinery as
SO much waste metaD, they announce
that they soal not be able to manufacture
as cheoply as outsiders, although they
have their shops, 1oosoer and labor tat1'-
nisted free by the state, aud largely paid
for By the tdres of the farmers! And nei-
ther will they advertise their dearer
goods, but keep them on hand, so as to
break down the whole business, and
force the prison labor into some field
where there can be some inside steal
ings for those in authority, as there
was years ago. Aud they are rather
tickled over the fact that they can
refuse to advertise in The REPREsEN-
TATIvE-a Populist paper-to which
these lumbermen, merchants, specu-
ators and old-party tricksters and
hacks are hostile. But THE REPRE-
SENTATIVE and the State Alliance. of
which it is the organ, are much better
| fitted to live without their help than
their plant is to survive without The
REPRESENTATIVE and the Alliance.
| Eretheren, our advice to you is to
deal where you can deal to most ad-
vantage. II the State Prison Irvine is
the cheapest buy 1t. Ifsome one else
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