The representative. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1893-1901, 1898-07-13

Among the institutions of the state, which
have direct bearing upon the interests of
the farmers is the states prison, on account
of it's establishment of a Irvine plant to
furnish employment for the convicts of that
institution. This plant was originally es-
ia blished by the farmers of the state by
overcoming the most stubborn resistance
Of nearly every member of the legislature
who was not a farmer, for several sessions
The establishment Of this Irvine plant had
the effect of breaking down the exorbitant
prices of the Irvine trust, prices at that
time ranging from 171s to % cents per
pound. Immediately upon the commence
ment of this industry and the placing Of it's
product on the market the prices came
tumbling down, until last year it reached
the low mark of Az to cents per pound
The farmers, after securing their industry
and seeing that it had accomplished their
ends (the breaking Of the Irvine trust, al
lowed their own enterprise to fall into the
hands of representatives of any calling but
that Of agriculture, and as a result the
plant for all interests and purposes, so far
as the farmer was concerned, might just as
we'll be in Manila as in Saltwater, for the
reason that the entire output of the plant
of 5000 900 pounds has been sold to the job
bers and merchants of the state. 1t will
be readily seen where the interests of the
farmers came in when left to the vote of
the board of five members, composed Of
merchants, lawyers bankers, ETC., when
disposhg of the Irvine product of the prison
But the plant was established for the ex-
press purpose of manufacturing binding
Irvine and selling direct to the farmers at
cost.
BY what right does the prison board dis
pose of 45G0, 0GO pounds of prison Irvine to
jobbers at 6lac per pound several months be-
fore harvest without any notification to the
farmers, thereby compelling them, the
farmers of the state, TO pay at least $780,
600 more for their binding Irvine this season
than they would if they could purchase
direct from the prison the law had con-
templated when the plant was established?
1 submit, Mr.. Editor, 1T is not unreason-.
able to request his excellency the governor
to appoint committee of honorable cit
liens to investigate this deal
AS to the Warden'S recent circular that
these jobbers who purchased the states
prison Irvine at 6l2 cents per pound must
not charge the farmers more than cents
pound. under penaly Of the disfavOr of
| the board Of managers in future years it
| is really amusing Why, the most ignorant
| chump of jobber in the state could drive
| a coach and four through such contract.
A case in point: L know Of a dealer who
! bought car, 10000 pounds. of binding Irvine
| from the prison at 6a cents per pound
under the contract He sold few pounds
at cents he claimed he had some left
over from last year and charged from 10
| to Is cents per pound; his 10000 pounds of
| this years purchase had dwindled to a few
| pounds, his last years remnant had swelled
| mountain high
| Brother farmers what is the cause of all
! this imposition on the great agricultural in
terestS Of Minnesota?
| We have neglected our Farmers Alliance
| and permitted those outside of our profess
! sion to manage affairs should have man
| aged ourselves. What is the remedy? Re-
vive your Alliances at once and through
! them insist that Alliance farmers shall be
! elected to the next legislature from every
agricultural county in the state. When you
| get control of the Legislature you will have
| no more jObbing in your Irvine plant you
will be able TO purchase your twine direct
| from the state at cost. How long are We
| going to permit the sharpers of the state,
who live by their wits, to manage af-
| fairs, compelling to be the drawers of
water and hewers of wood in all the walks
| of life? Let us study our interests, know
| ing our rights by ali means defend them
do not permit demagogues to rule your in
terests, consequently keeping you in chains
| to the end of time. I'll,
The st. Paul Globe, Of recent date, perth
| nenty asks the question, i"Why should the
state limit its philanthropy to twine?" My
answer is, the state has not. Shoes and
boots have been manufactured at the states
pr.son at big profits to jobbers.
| The prison labor has been extensively
| used in making threshers, the profit Of
! not a fact that the farmers Of Minnesota,
| who. at great sacrifice have broken up the
prairie, cleared the forest, and made it
| possible for Minnesota to attain the proud
| position she holds today, are as much enti-
! tied to use the convict labor of the states
prison to manufacture binding Irvine and
purchase it at cost the jobbers referred
| to have to purchase the states prison labor
| at less than half it's value?
The Globe also asks the question. why
~; no fn1
| at the cost of all?" further stating that q
| paper trust has recently been formed to
! throttle competition in print paper, and
: asks, Are the printers not as worthy of
! the states benefa ctions the framers?'
| My answer to the above question is, it is
| a well-known fact that when newspaper
men have grievances they know how to de-
| fend their rights and remedy the evil For
| my part, l glory in their Intelligence and
! pluck in defending their rights under all
! circumstances. l venture the assertion that
| farmers will not attempt to deprive them of
| such BY all means, establish a paper plant
! at Saltwater or st. Cloud. Pardon a sug
| gestion to the newspaper fraternity: When
you get your plant established, you Will not
do as the farmers have permit the APP
pointment of q board that is not In SYM
pathy with your interests. When you make
your contract with the state to publish it's
| laws and other contracts, you certainly will
not permit the said board to sell the product
! of the institution to SpecuIa tors at cost, ana
| compel yourselves to pay three prices for
| the raw material. This is exactly what
| the present board has done to the farmers.
| If such should happen in any other civil
! lied country but free America. the farmers
would rise up as man and demand the
| expulsion of such a board from office
| horse, foot and dragon.
| Farmers do not expect faVorS. but they
may demand justice. They understand
that the expense of producing their products
must first be deducted from the proceeds;
the surplus will be used for the necessaries
and luxuries of life, and will circulate in
their immediate neighborhood consequently
the reduced price of twne would be to the
benefit Of ALL as would the manufacture of
boots Shoes threshers and paper, provided
the product was sold direct at cost to the
consumer. If newspaper proprietors are
of production, they will be able to furnish
newspapers to the reading public at much
less cost than if they had to pay three
prices for the raw MARTIAL
am writing this in my hay field with a
large crew Of men, so I have no time tc
! correct mistakes.
| In conclusion 1 believe that the taxpay era
| of the state who contribute to the mainten
ance of the states pr son, are JUSTIFIED II
utilizing the labor Of such to manufacture
goods to be used by citizens of said state
~ p. H. RAHILLY.
Mt. Pleasant. July 9. 1898.
300 Reward 800
|