Evening journal., 1898-06-29
LETTERS FROM THE PEOPLE
THE RECENT COLLAPSE OF THE
LETTER. WHEAT CORNER"


Sir: It is difficult 10 discuss calmly
any attempt to monopolize or corner
any given product or commodity. But |
the difficulty is still further increased !
when the attempt Is made, and the vain
endeavor is periodically made, to cor
ner that absolutely indispensable com
modity-wheat. We may as well say
that we have no particular desire 10
discuss temperately any such decidedly |
shady and rascally attempts, especially
such an one as that recently INDUCED
in by Letter junior. II we but keep
within the realms OF logical reasoning,
and in the premises 1t is not at all DIFF
ficult so to do, then that is all that Is
either necessary or incumbent upon us.
We have in our vocabulary choice
collection Of expletives, but none OF
which, we fear, would be at all suffi-
clently strong to adequately anathema-
tie the speculative antics of that latest
Western product Of civilization-Mr.
"Joe" Letter. But let us state one
ldCl IlBuJ utltt lSol NC AoA b'e " HN"N~
another, namely, that any man, or any
set OF men, who attempts to tie up the
stan OF life, and, by so doing, increase
It's cost to the toiling masses OF this
country-let us state right here that
that man is from first to last and all
the meanunmitigateda ndunconscion-
able knaye. The amenities Of this
hypocritical life preclude us from ap-
plying to such man more lurid, a
more applicable, and a more just form
OF diction. We regret being so re-
strained, but so 1t Is Men OF the Letter
Junior calibre imagine that the alpha
and omega OF existence are centered
in themselves and that they possess
the prerogative OF forcing for their
own individual pecuniary benefit, the
price OF given commodity to its per-
ihelion or topmost notch, altogether
needless Of any detrimental effect It
may have upon the people. These fel-
lows throw up their speculative hats
and shout, as that late lamented phi
MISUNDERSTANDING II. Wander
bilt was won't to shout, ''The public
be damnedl" All this Is very nice;
very nice indeed. The infamy of all
such illegitimate speculation is appar-
ent so apparent that even
the fool perceives it. Neither
the strong financial status Of
the man nor the possible fact OF his be-
Ing able to control millions OF dollars
renders the infamy any the less helm
Gus. In fact, the ofrense Is all the
more aggravated by reason OF such
possible conditions. with such mer
conservatism OF method, II indeed such
quantity is known in the world o.
speculation, is flung to the winds, ant
very often their all is staked upon thl
hazard Of the die. we have in remem
brance the strenuous effort Of a specu
ator to corner wheat In England,
country which, by reason of its com
paratively small acreage and enclose'
lands, is dependent upon the importa
tions OF breadstuifs in order to suppl.
its people. Shrewd, keen, and com
prehensive as the speculative mind @
this man was, he overreached himself
The harvest In india turned out to b
an abundant one that year; Englan
drew upon her possession for wheat
the mans bnbble was pricked, and tn
man himself went down, la Barne
Barnato. to a suicides grave. That wa
Just and fitting retribution for S
consummate a scoundrel. But had VI
had our will, we would have strun
him mp TO the nearest lamppost, thel
for the fowls of the air to fatten upo
his villainous carcase. We verify b'
heye that were such men, and the
name is legion, to be eventually pc
mitted to tread the streets OF Il
heavenly Jerusalem-ot course thu
will not be permltted-their thievis
and abnormal speculative proclivitt
would encourage them to at once e
deayor to create corner" in har1
and crowns.
Letter juniors recent attempt to co
troll the wheat market has failed, IA
ed most ignominiously, as all su,
mercenary attempts ever deserve
fail. "A combination Of causes broug
about the collapse in question. The d.
position not to unload, even at an G
orbitant profit; foreign markets. up
which he or the syndicate he represei
ed depended for sales and prof
found they could purchase cheaper ell
where; a plethora Of wheat on haI
and the promise OF an abundant hi
vest here and elsewhere-alI caus
the bottom to fall out of not OF
carefully planned scheme to rob and {
press the great bodypublic. In fact, tn
is no instance on record OF so iniq
Nous a scheme ever eliminating In
appreciable success-that is, in a s.
cess acting wholly detrimental TO
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