davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The representative. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1893-1901, 1897-04-21

crossing, for here is a bill formulated
to revive the guilds of the middle ages.
Chambers Encyclopedia says of the me-
dieval ages: There was the guild of
goldsmiths, of weavers, of cordwa;ners,
of patternmakers, of spectacle makers,
ETC., the names of which are preserved
to the present day. Every trade had it's
separate guild, of which it was neces-
sary that man should be a member
before he was allowed to practice the
particular craft. The power of
the guilds increased, until the united
guilds claimed from the sovereign spe-
cial rights and privileges. The
exclusive privileges of English and
Scottish guilds or corporations are now
abolished, as being contrary to public
policy"
Yet here and now, in the Legislature
of the great state of Minnesota, in the
year Of grace 1897, is bill to create
about sixty corporations or combines,
framed, it is said. by able lawyers, and
to be advocated to passage by able law
yers. to revive what the effete mon
arches of Europe have cast Off as eff
fetc and contrary to public policy. And
on the Fourth of July We boast of our
progress over the effete monarchies of
Europe. vet the Britisher in Europe, or
the citizen Of our effete East, can 90 to
CfnrO Of CT
the pious John Wanamaker's) and pur-
chase bill OF goods in competition with
all the world, while the Minnesotan, if
the Theden bill passes, will have to
tramp around to sixty monopoly stores
to do the same thing, and then tramp
home reciing with faintness because of
the emptiness of his pOcketboOl1. for he
would not have a nickel left to pay for
the men who are asking for law to
bring about this state of things? The
press reports of the Theden investiga-
ton says: Every retailer and small
business man called before the commit
tee testified to the bad effect OF depart
ment stores on general trade" This
class of men, with the exception of a
discharged employee AMI a few politi-
clans talking for votes, were the sole
witnesses called, and all these of course
gave ex parte testimony, as was expect
ed. Now eX parte testimony would hang
an honest man and save a thief. Did
the committee call any of the mail Gus
toners of these stores, (for their trade
is largely by maiD, for evidence, or any
of their city customers? Certainly not.
for it was not that kind of evidence
they wanted. The committee evidently
carried on the investigation for the ben
The representative. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1893-1901, 1897-04-21

Stltutional. l wonder if either of them
ever read the national or state consti-
tutions. Now what Is monopoly ?
Webster says: "Thei sole power of vend-
ing any species Of goods, obtained either
by engrossing the articles in market by
purchase, or by a license from the gov
eminent confirming the privilege" Now
what does the Theden bill propose TO do?
1t divides all retail trade into about six
ty lines, and any person who runs one,
pays license fee of two dollars, and
the tax is increased for each added line;
until at the twentieth line he is com
PEELED to pay ten thousand dollars, with
the obvious intention of preventing any
person from engaging in more than one
or two lines, thus establishing about
sixty mOnOpolies by law The grocers'
combine is at the bottom of this, as
they formed their association, as re-
ported in our dailies of Feb II, for the
avowed purpose of breaking down de-
partment and farmers supply stores,
and their pettifogging lawyers have
drafted this bill for the purpose of aid
ing their combine. Now what is there
monopolistic about the supply stores ?
They buy on the open market and sell
on the open market, and only exercise
the privilege of American citizens. They.
by low, competitive prices. benefit the
general public; they advertise largely,
and keenly compete with each other;
they make money and they save public
money. If few sickly affairs go under
it cannot be helped in competitive trade.
1t is the natural result Of the system
and it is no doubt cheaper to keep these
fellows in the poor house, than by law
to put them into a monopoly store and
let them fleece the public at will The
farmers of this country have to compete
with the world, and have to bear it,
with no rainbow of hope at present
These men, who are now crying at the
door of the legislature for help, are only
reaping that which they have sowed
They voted gold-buggism onto the coun-
try and killed the power of the consum-
ers to purchase, they should therefore
be the last to complain. But ! wish to
notice one point more in this bill, viz:
Taxation. Art TX, sec. 1, state cen.
says: "All taxes to be raised in this
state shall be as nearly equal as may be,
and all property on which taxes are to
be levied shall have a cash valuation;
and be equalized and uniform through
out the state" of course the assessor
can assess only on the basis of the con-
stitution. But what does the Theden
bill propose? Why, after assessing a
merchant constitutionally, he is to pull
The representative. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1893-1901, 1897-04-21
NAT. F. A. AND !. u. DEPT.
Edited by j. &. Harley. State Secre-
tary.

Again we are pleased to call the at
tention of our readers to the fact that
we have been the means of saving
couple Of creameries who took adyan-
tage of our offer to put them in CORE
spondence with an antitrust creamery
supply house, in saving over 80 per
cent on their outfit. The combine is
red hot after the anti-combine house,
and have bid SO low that in some cases
they have actually gave below cost in
their desperation to knock out the an
THRUST combine house
1t is needless to say that the house
ought to be encouraged, as with it in
the field as an active competitor against
the combine" it will be the means Of
saving many thousands of dollars to
the farmers and creamery men of the
state and the Northwest. 1t would be
well to concede this house a preference
over other competitors, as, if they could
be induced to enter the combine the
people would be at the mercy of the
combine, and they would soon make
up the loss they now sustain by charg-
ing exhOrbitant prices for their goods.
We still hold the offer good which we
formerly made, that we will .be pleased
to place any creamery o. dairy who
are thinking of putting in a plant, or
an outfit of machinery or supplies in
correspondence with this firm.
We are sorry that we cannot point
to some national advantage which the
+. A. and |. Z. has accomplished for
the benefit Of the farmers and working
classes Of the state We did have hopes
that the non-partisan character of our
great organization would appeal to the
conscience, patriotism and sense of JUS
IRE Of relief would be forthcoming by
the enactment of such laws as would
make the burden now borne by the
farmers of the state more bearable.
But we can say with some pride that
1t was not the fault Of the organization
in trying to remedy some of the evils,
nor was it the fault of the committee
who had this matter in charge In the
complete and exhaustive report of the
legislative committee of the Farmers
Alliance and Industrial Union in last
weeks Representative. the thanks of
the Alliance and farmers Of the state
are due 10 Hon. P. H. Rahilly and Hon
M. ]. CASTILLO, the chairman and secre-
The representative. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1893-1901, 1897-04-21
THE DEPARTMENT STORES,
Farmers Opinions Concerning
Them.

Farmers Opinions Concerning
Editor of The Representative.
l have no doubt it will be thought
very presumptuous in James Arnold
farmer, to crticise the work of men
considered able lawyers in the Theden
bill. but l make bold to assert that law
yers are among the poorest fitted of all
men to make laws, and I point to the
laws on our statute books, both national
and state in proof. Lawyers have been
in the majority in our legislation Tor
many years, and I hope they don't feel
proud of the present condition. of our
country as result of their work, for a
country'S condition is the result of its
laws, as in civilization law is supreme.
The reason for this is, that man is the
creature of education and desire, and he
works his trade or profession for the
profit there is in it, till he comes to look
on everything in his line, not on the
broad basis of the general good, but for
the good Of number one. Hence our
laws are made for the most powerful
classes, as there is more profit in this
kind of legislation for the lawmakers.
No one class, therefore, should have
sway in legislation, and the initiative
and referendum should Obtain so that
the whole people should control legisla-
ton, and thus the benefit of the maj Dr.
ity would be brought about The larger
share of a lawyers work is in trying
to prevent justice Eat least in criminal
practice,) and a lawyer is sworn to do
the best he can for his clients. Now
this Theden bill is the result of an in
vestigation carried on by advocates for
their clients and it is intended on be-
half of their clients (the grocer's COM
bine), to tax their opponents in business
(the supply stores), out of existence,
and prevent the farmers from forming
general cooperative stores to take their
places, as there is a movement among
the farmers now to that effect. / have
for many years labored under the im-
preston that I lived in an age of pro-
gress, and that an open market was for
the general good, but it seems that
have been deluded, and we are retro
The representative. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1893-1901, 1897-04-21

How long, o Lord. how long are our
patient farmers going to stand this
treatment. Our heart grows sick and
our mead dizzy as we think of the
amount we have given these corporate
monsters. Almost one-third the great
state Of Minnesota in land grants. Then
there is the bonuses from nearly every
town In the state. But this is not all.
The roads are bonded for four times
what they will cost to build them to-
day. We, the farmers and laborers.
are to pay twice the freight and pas
senger fare that we ought in order that
these giant corporations may draw div
ldends on that that never existed. Yes.
MI. Rahilly, that Republican railroad
committee may Snub your committee.
They may even make it appear that
your labors were in vain. But they are
not, no man has ever labored for the
right, that his efforts were thrown
away. It becomes part of history.
Fast history shows oppression brings
on revolution. Let us hope that the
one that is coming will be bloodless.
To the farmers of the state, have a
word to say: What are your plans for
the future? Are you going to organ
ize and place your representatives in
our legislative halls, OF are you going
to stay unorganized and let corporate
power represent you, as it does now?
VIII Wrifo Nv
pledging them meeting in your coun-
ty? Will you do more? Will you go
among your friends and try to start an
interest? Do more. Write the leading
man in your county that you will stand
your share of the expense of a few
meetings in your county. 1 hope every
one that reads this in Olmsted county
will drop me card saying that they
are III for few meetings, then [ will
know what to say to our honored presi-
dent, L. c. Long. If we can organize
our state in the F. A. and l. L. as Kan
sas has been, the problem of TRANSPORT
tatioa and or cooperative buying and
selling will have been solved, for, as
we become bonded together, we will
work for our own interests and the
corporations will be shorn Of much of
their political power. To the officers of
the State Alliance, 1 want to say, be of
good cheer, 1.-The race is not always to
the swift, as the battle to the strong"
Hold fast the helm. The gale will not
always be against YOU The secretary
has done Il noble work The F. A. and
l. U. column in the Representative has
been well handled, and is preparing our
people for organization. I also wish to
tee for the fearless and upright man
The representative. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1893-1901, 1897-04-21
THE Representative"
642 BOSTON BLOCK.
REFORM BOOKS AT GOLD STANDARD
PRICES

We have arranged with Charles II. Kerr
& Co., Of Chicago. 10 send any of our read
ers large package CT excellent reform
books, all different, for only 50 cents. The
package contains the following books:
Warrens Money Chart, new and I'M
portant work. 1876 pages
The People VS.. ths GocDugs, Ivy A. D.
Warner, 14t pages.
The New Democracy and Bryan Its
Prophet, by G. K. futile. sc pages.
How to Govern Chicago, by &. K. futile.
lis pages.
A story from Pulimantown oy Nico
Bech- Meyer, ITO pages.
Tho White Slave. Or THE Cross o: Gold"
by Helen l.. Sumner. 50 pages.
The People OF the Politician, a handbook
Of Direct Legislation, by r. L. Taylor, 60
pages.
Shall We Change Our Money standard?
by Jesse T. Orion. 81 pages
illustrated First Reader III Socia, Econ
onlics, IL pages.
Sound Money from a Business Stand
point. D. L. A. Gle. Gland, Phi. H.. 81 pages.
These ter books together contain IT'S
pages. Every one 0: them Is we'll worth
reading, and will EeiD make votes If given
or lent to those e;hc have thus far voted
with The piatoeyr:s through Ignorance
rhey worta So: II regular prices and
INC supply VIII not asst !ong. Send 80 cents
10 ttiis office ,coay a3d they are yours.
The representative. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1893-1901, 1897-04-21

eft of the grocers' combine ct AL, with
out regard to justice or the welfare of
the general public. The askers for this
law manifestIy believe that the world
owes them a living, and as they have
failed to get what they think they ought
to have in an open, competitive mar
ket, these harpies now ask the state to
pass law to hold up consumers while
the beneflciaries pick their pockets. The
press reports say that able lawyers will
speak on behalf of this bill. Well, let
me say that if there are any members
of the profession which Abraham Lin
coin ennobled, who will advocate the
passage of such nefarious laws by our
legislature, they are unworthy members
of the profession, and deserve the cpl
tibet pettifogger applied to them. Please
don't think that because 1 make this
statement, l have general grudge
against lawyers, Such is not the case,
fer l am acquainted with some excellent
men in the profession, and am proud TO
number them among my friends. It is
merely the "cussedness'' that condemn,
and l back myself up with the language
of the United States supreme court,
| which said: ITO lay with one hand
the power of the government on the
property of the citizen, and with the
other to bestOw it on favored individ-
uals to aid private enterprise to build
up private fortunes, is none the ess rob-
berry because it is done under the forms
of law, and called taxation" Where is
the justice of cOnstitutionality of the
Theden bill, for it is designed to hold
up the general public for the benefit of
few individuals. Art. w., Sec L.,
sub. 1, Nat. Con. says: "The citizens Of
| each state shall be entitled to all the
privileges and immunities of citizens Of
the several states" Now is it not cit
liens privilege to buy or sell any num-
Der of articles in the open markets Of
the United States? Since when was it
unconstitutional to do so? And if an
individual may so trade in other states,
who shall prevent him doing so in the
State of Minnesota when the National
Constitution insures him the privilege?
Our state constitution, Art. w., Sec. 50,
says: ANY combination of persons =
Il to monopolize the markets for
food products in this state, or to inter-
fere with, or restrict the freedom of such
market is hereby declared to ne n Grim
inal conspiracy, and shall be punished
in such manner as the legislature may
prescribe" Good Lord! And here are
eminent lawyers who have framed bill
and are about to advocate law to do
! this very thing and they say it is con-
The representative. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1893-1901, 1897-04-21
CATARRH CANNOT BE CURED.

CATARRH CANNOT BE CURED.
With local applications, as they cannot
reach the seat of the disease. Ca
tarrh is blood or constitutional dis
ease, and in order TO cure it you must
take internal remedies. Halls Catarrh
Cure is taken internally, and acts direct
ly on the blood and mucous surfaces.
Halls Catarrh Cure is not quack med
icine. 1t was prescribed by one Of the
best physicians in this country for
years. and is a regular prescription. 1t
is composed of the best tonics known.
combined with the best blood purifiers,
acting directly on the mucous surfaces.
The perfect combination Of the two in
gradients is what produces such Won
derful results in curing Catarrh. Send
for testimonials free.
F. J. CHENEY Il CO., Toledo, o.
Sold by druggists, Use.
The representative. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1893-1901, 1897-04-21
Inaugural ball, Ell!
Seventy thousand dollars!

Seventy thousand dollars!
Nice pile that!
'Twould pay for square meal fol-
100000 hungry children!
'TwOuld shoe thousand barefooted
girls!
'Twould hide the nai1edness Of a
thousand ragged workingmen!
Yet it was wasted!
Squandered on dudes and dudines,
Nobility's nabobs and national pets!
Yes, paid for fiddlers and funkiss to
amuse the pampered parasites OF plu-
tocracy!
Catch another hitch i'll your belts, you
craven cattle who must FOOT the bills.
You ought to live on pot-liquor and
peas and work 10 hours day if you
submit to such robbery.-Southern MGR
curry.
The representative. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1893-1901, 1897-04-21
IMPORTANT-TAKE NOTICE!

Editor Representative.
The calls for Mrs Diggs are coming
being throughout the First, Second,
Third and Seventh congressional dis
tricts, in some cases over one hundred
miles apart.
We must have these meetings not
in order to lessen expenses.
Send in your applications ut once, so
that We can lay out the route and do
the advertising during the month of
May. No application can be acted on
after the 10th of May.
Il. G. Long.
Magnolia, Mimi.
The representative. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1893-1901, 1897-04-21
TWENTY-FIVE CENTS A DAY I'm
GOLD"

TWENTY-FIVE CENTS A DAY I'm
GOLD"
In Minneapolis there are two court,
houses; the old one which did service
while the city was growing in wealth
and population; the new one which alb
sorbed the first and is rapidly driving
away the last.
By patient and laborious hunting
there can be discovered during a small
part of each working day in the majestic
halls of the majestic new court house
in addition to a score or more of spit
toons--as many public servants, pa
triots who, for a paltry sum Of few
thousand per annum, have agreed to
sacrifice their liberty; lay aside their
dignity, and who have allowed their
fellow citizens to put the letters of serf-
dom around their souls and bodies; the
old courthouse has lately been trans
ferred into palace" place where
royalty is housed. 1t is full to the
rafters with princes" the equals of
potentates." not all clad in royal pur-
pie, but sovereigns, american sover-
eigns," all the same.
Ten scores and more of them are there
entertained at the expense of the city,
eating the contemptuous bread of char
ity.
Deacon Hoblitt has taken it upon HIM
self, the not enviable task of providing
for the victims of the ravages which
were brought upon this once so pros
porous country through the curse of
'overproduction," and those wards of
the city, brawny giants, are housed
there until that glorious day of prosper
ity which "dawned" last fourth of No.
vember, shall have become visible.
1t was hoped, supposed and thought
that the place would be self-sustaining;
that odd jobs would be looking for those
to do them, so that the inmates could
take care of themselves; but employ
need of it is still far, far away
1t seems that the deacon has become
desperate. In the Minneapolis Tines
of March II, he is quoted as saying
that he can furnish more than one hun
dred able bodied men who are willing
to work for twenty-fi cents a day and
board themselves.
This amount is to be paid them of
course lin honest money" good the
world over. twenty-five cents redeem
able in gold. --"Leal
The representative. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1893-1901, 1897-04-21
PROF. FRANK PARSON IS AUTHOR
ITY

Government Ownership Would Save
the People 8G2 Million Annually.
Editor Representative
Since my article CT the government
ownership Of railroads I have received
% letters asking me for my authority
for the figures given, one coming all
the way from Florida. My authority is
an article in the April Arena for 1896
by Prof Frank Parsons. l believe that
Prof. Parsons Is one of the best. il not
the best authority on economic statis-
t.cs in America. Every one who is in
terested in the railroad question should
The representative. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1893-1901, 1897-04-21

ner in which they have performed
their duty. The address they have is
sued ought to be read by every voter
forward statement of facts, that must
have its effect on the minds of our
monopoly cursed people.
Yours fraternally.
j. l. Vermilya.
The representative. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1893-1901, 1897-04-21
A Strong Appeal for Organiza ton.

Editor Representative
This winter has demonstrated one
fact, and that is that the people are
never to get relief from corporate on
preston as long as they stay unorgan-
lied. And if we succeed we shall have
to be SO thoroughly organized that we
Will vote together. The committee that
was appointed at the State Farmers
Alliance last January were OF our best
men, and they have done their duty
nobly, and Mr.. Donnelly has been a.
bulwark of strength with the other few
Popullst members who have stood with
him. But what could they do with the
overwhelming odds that were against
them-ten old party hacks for every
one OF our representatives. But our
one man has been too much for them
IN debate, in truth, in everything ex-
cept voting. That is where the ten
sit squarely down on the one and smile
their satanic smile, while our people
groan under the load that corporate
power places ON their backs. Let us
take the bills that our Alliance commit
tee framed Is there any one that will
dispute the justice of these measures :?
l think not. Everything has fallen one
half in price since passenger fare was
fixed at three cents per mile, iron, labor
and all and still the Republican legis-
lature is bound to leave the old rates.
The representative. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1893-1901, 1897-04-21
SIGNIFICANT.

war Costs More Than Education.
A French Socialist paper recently
published the following interesting fig
ures, giving the sum paid per head in
the "civilized" countries OF Europe on
war and education respectively:
The representative. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1893-1901, 1897-04-21

tary respectively OF the committee for
fight in securing or trying to secure
some of the rights and benefits which
they were entitled to-
The representative. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1893-1901, 1897-04-21

Dou you want Bryan's Book, 'The
First Great Battle?" Get us five yearly
subscribers. and we will send you the
book free.
The representative. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1893-1901, 1897-04-21

Do you want Bryan's Book, "1'he
First Great Battle?" Give us five yearly
subscribers and we will send you the
book free.
The representative. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1893-1901, 1897-04-21

Send us a club of five annual sub
scribers, all at one time, and get free
copy of The Representative for your
self for one year.
The representative. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1893-1901, 1897-04-21
Doing Well.

How long have you been pa,1onining that
new laundry. Moley?'
Cant be month. I've only lad ia
buy three new outfits Of linen. detroit Frss
Press.
The representative. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1893-1901, 1897-04-21
TEN MEN OF MONEY ISLAND ~

TEN MEN OF MONEY IsLAND.-A
primer Of finance; by S. f. Nor
ton; l2mo, l42 pages. New edi-
tion, enameled covers........... Zoe
This book gives the principles Of
Money in the form Of a story SO inter
esting and In such simple language
that even child can read 1t with un-
rstanding.
The representative. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1893-1901, 1897-04-21

THE SCIENCE OF LEGAL ROBBERY,
Miscalled the Science OF Finance,
by Percy Kinnaird; l2mo, 15Jp.. 25o
To the people OF the United States.
whether borrowers or lenders OF
money, 1t Is instructive; to the high
school lad studying political economy
it is q libe raj cd ucation.