St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1896-02-19
FIGHTING FOR THEIR LIVES.

FIGHTING FOR THEIR LIVES.
| While the letters from our special
correspondent investigating the wrongs
of the farmers throughout Minnesota
which we publish this morning show
better condition Of affairs than at
other points previously visited, they
also disclose the fact that this improve
ment has come about only as a conse-
| quence Of the rise Of competition. The
farmers and the business men at all
points in the Northwest where there is
not active competition and an open
market have discovered that they must
make a fight for their lives. If they
do not, the whole surplus Of the labor
of the people would be swept into the
treasures of the elevator companies,
and the tillers of the soil remain for
ever in condition Of hopeless serf-
dom. So these men have banded to-
gether and are today following the
same policy in scores Of places through
out Minnesota, to secure Independent
wheat buying and shipment at all
the elevator combine. They are in
viting Independent buyers to come in,
and guaranteeing them expenses.
They are clubbing together and form
ing small associations with little cash
capital, and erecting flat houses or ele-
vators through which to handle their
| own wheat without the intervention Of
the elevator people. Thus, by their
own eXertions and the scanty capital
which they can command, they are
| hghting a valorous and desperate, but
surely successful, war against the OBJ
pressor.
The managers of the elevator COM
panies have killed the goose that laid
for them so many golden eggs. They
would probably be surprised if they
knew in how many places prepara-
lions are now being made to put up
small elevators, fiat houses, storage bins
and loading platforms to be ready by
the next season Of wheat shipments.
In all the large cities, in st. Paul, Min
neapolis and Duluth, applications are
being received by those known to be
in sympathy with the rebellion of the
farmers against their tyrants for small
advances of cash to be used for this
purpose. No better policy could be fol-
lowed for the present Every bushel
OF wheat thus taken care Of is another
step toward independence of the ele-
VatOr mODoDolv EIvorxy b,,c1o,
wheat thus handled through others
than its agents is SO much subtracted
from its business and it's profits. The
farmers who are taking measures to
store and handle their own wheat are
striking the elevator companies in their
weakest spot, and with the most eff
fective weapon. Before another season
is over the elevator companies will feel,
in the decline of their volume of bust
ness, the effect of the ruinous policy
which they have so long followed to
the detriment Of the farmers, and which
is now bound to react upon themselves.
We do not consider that the final and
sufficient remedy is to be found in this
transfer of the wheat handling bust
ness to the farmers or their direct
agents. Something more than that is
necessary. The law must step in and
do its share to provide an open market.
But in the meantime, with another
season Of wheat shipment to come
around before the next legislature
meets, the wheat producers are doing
the best possible thing, and the mer-
chants Of the country towns are wise
to help them in encouraging and in
creasing Independent buying, track
shipments and the construction every
where of local facilities for storing and
handling without recourse to the eIe-
vator companies. The farmers of Min
nesota are fighting for their lives
Heretofore it has been against ter
rible odds and on a doubtful ISSUE
Henceforth it will wear different as
pect. They deserve to win, and win
they will.