The representative. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1893-1901, 1895-01-02
THE TWINE PLANT.
IT is LIKELY TO BE ABOLs
ISHED.
A Saving of 81, $50, ,OOO-Turn Out
to the Alliance Meeting.
l. A5E;aN.

l. 92&bsr9t
10 the Editor
l enclose you herewith page taken
from EARN Implements for Novem-
ber, monthly published in Mime
apolis. Notice marked editorial ON
1.-THE Minnesota Prison Twine Plant"
l hope Mr. Donnelly can give the read
ers of the REPRESENTATIVE history
Of the profits accruing to the state
from prison labor under the contract
system, as shown by the legislative
committee appointed at the 1891 ses-
sion.
wish your readers to compare it
with the so-called deficit Of Ss3l.37
shown in this editorial.
In twenty years before the twine
plant was esta blished the state prison
at Saltwater cost million dollars
more than were received from it.-ED,
REP.
"In the near future it is hoped the
state will abolish this losing plant and
turn its attention to something which
will prove beneficial to the state at
large, instead of detrimental to all;
even those whom it was proposed to
aid"
Farmers, can you not see what Or
ganization has accomplished in plac-
ing twine plant at saltwater. TwiDe
% cents per pound at the time the ef-
fort was first made by the Alliance to
establish the plant. Now, twine is
furnished at 6! to1a cents delivered.
This in the face Of a prison board hos
tile to the enterprise. Now, through
the feeling prevailing that the Alli-
ance is dead the farmers are not recog-
nized as even part of the state at
| large
''The factory was conceived by that
great schemer, Donnelly, and a farmer
| legislature officiated at its birth. 1t
| is to be hoped the recently elected
business mems legislature will act as the
undertaken
Do not let us complain if this plant
is done away with. and the one year
redemption law is repealed. The ma
jority Of the farmers wanted Repub-
lican business mems legislature"
| Would not this business mems legisla
ture be as big fools as the farmers who
voted them in if they neglected to re-
move laws obnoxious to their inter-
ests? If we loose sight of the fact
| that our organization is strong enough
to establish plant Of that kind IL
kept up, would be strong enough to
keep the plant there if they saw fit to
do so. who shall be to blame but our
selves, if after this year we are obliged
to pay 20 cents per pound for twine.
Let us be cheerful and feel a thrill Of
JOY in knowing our loss is the ''busi-
ness mems gain"
Let us see: Twelve million pounds
of twine used annually in this state;
the difference between 7 cents and 20
cents on that number of pounds is only
the insignificant sum OF one million
! five hundred and sixty thousand dol
lars. If the business mems legislature
so shape the law, to save to themselves
the above amount, at the farmers ex-
pense, it will be quite a good business
stroke. Still there are plenty Of wise(0
farmers who say the alliance has
amounted to nothing: it does not pay
to keep up an expense of 20 cents per
year, what pound Of twine cost be-
fore that fool farmers legislature
passed law. the result of which has
forced down the price of twine.
Our condition is similar to that Of
the two darlies who were boasting Of
the number of slaves their masters
owned the one whose master owned
IS slaves silenced the one whose mas
ter only owned 80. SO we farmers may
boast over farmers of other states~on
the score Of being cOnsumate asses
in allowing our alliance or
ganiZation to die out to the extent Of
it's being possible to elect business
mems legislature" who have the
power. and will no doubt use it, to vote
out of our pockets annually on one ar
ticle of purchase alone, over one mill :
ion dollars. There is no doubt in my
mind but this 'busincss mems legis-
lature'' considers their election a
practical Endorsement Of the pine land
steal and coal combine. The poor can
feel thankful that so far this winter
the winds have been "tcmpered to the
shOrn lambs"
Excuse the wry face am making;
it goes hard with me to swallow such
bitter medicine. when think OF my
S efforts the past five years. 1t is moi
5 even sweet to the mouth.
HAMLIN V. PooRE.
BIRD Island, Mimi, Dec. "a.