The representative. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1893-1901, 1897-06-02
1t Would Create Another MOmOpOlx

IL would create Another Monopoly
Editor Representative.
In your issue of May 18th appears an
article in regard to a speech made by
enc r. J. Hall. 1 was pleased to see the
rich brown roast given him by our Don
nelly, but would like to say few words
upon the question Mr.. Hall pretended
times is overproduction when in fact
it is undercOnsumptiOn. When we had
a sound currency of gold, silver and pa
per, the farmer received ready sale and
is overproductiOn now, there was then
Why then does he not receive a good
Price now? Because the dollar will buy
more today than it would 25 years ago.
Because thousands of men have not
enough to buy meal with. Because
many families are brought to the very
verge Of restitution. Are these not
plain reasons. Mr. Hall says license the
pass rigid scientific examination upon
other resources for livelihood, filling
our great cities with another army of
unemployed, making a greater array of
beggars, criminals, etc, placing the
source Of human existence in the hands
of trust who would sell or withhold
the product as their purse demanded.
He says he proposes to elevate the
fol- inSt hn intn =
demoraliZe, degrade, the farmer Be-
cause you license saloon you do not
ennOble the profession. Because you
place production in the hands of trust
sugar trust has raised the price, but
wherein are the people benefited? And
wherein under present conditions would
the people be benefited by raising the
wages would be raised, there would be
several million more men to work and
so the financial stringency would not be
relieved. Then he says | would take
the unemployed farmers and make them
into lawyers, doctors, etc. Now. they
are not qualified for these positions,
and who is going to educate them? Who
is going to furnish them with books,
desks. instruments. etc He proposes
to take them from the farm where they
can supply themselves with the neces-
saries Of life, and educate them, regen-
crate them, and make them into profess
sional men. But he says he will grade
all professions SO the poor farmer will
be unable to pass any examination and
will therefore be left entirely in the
cold. The only demand they can fill
will be few specimens to be preserved
in the museums as curiosities. Why
not pass law that every potato, beet,
cabbage, ETC., shall be stamped with the
stamp. scientifically grown and pro-
hibit the purchase Or use of any product
not stamped? This plan of Mr.. Halls
is on par with that Of the ancient doc
tors who applied salve and medicine to
the instrument that produced the wound
and not to the wound. Let us stop this
tomfoolery and discuss sound, logical
legislation that will relieve and not
burden the farmer. That will aim at
the root of evil and not at the innocent
result. If this plan is carried out, land
in favorable conditions would at once
rise in value, other portions would be-
come deserts. The cities would TEEN
with men unable to secure employment.
with living expenses and rent to pay
and restitution would hold greater ram
pant sway. Soon they would drift into
the country again and the landed barons
would hire them for mere pittances and
they would become slaves or Villains
as they were known in former years.
Thus would we drift toward a landed
aristocracy and full soon TO a monarchi-
cal form of government Let us unite
and educate, discussing all plans of re-
form, letting the right of reason in upon
them. Let us unite upon Populism, for
here alone is the future hope of human
lty. Laws just and equitable must be
passed to protect the toiling millions
and all efforts Of monopoly must be SUM-
pressed, but Mr.. Halls plan will form
more monopolistic tendencies.
Yours fraternally,
R. M. Roberts.