The representative. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1893-1901, 1899-02-08

In the opinion Of &C. oldDrnnittae .oun,
public policy might dictate.
In the fulfllment Of tn mission, the oosn-
mittee at once visited the railroad md
warehouse commission nd asked that body
to secure to farmers their rights In freight
and passenger rates on railroads. The
commission seemed to believe that they had
no power under the present law. Hnvine
become satisfied from the conduct and gen.
eral demeanor Of its members throuehout
that tho railroad and warehouse commits
sion was even worse than worthless FOR
all public uses. we directed our attention
edial measures were prepared and intro.
duced In the house.
The bills referred to were placed In the
hands OF the different members OF the
house. They were In time referred to the
committee on railroads Of that body ]
made five trips to St. Paul and succeeded
in making arrangements to have a public
hearing on those measures. Accordingly !
appeared before the committee on railroads.
and after listening uaka ~ clock In the
morning to the arguments Of the railroad
attorneys gathered to 4ppose the so-cared
Douglas bill. I was compelled to withdraw
unheard. The next meetang I was rein
forced by Mr. Costello We We're informed
by the chairman that thai body was busy,
and could only allot q very short time
to alliance measures.
ALLOWED HALF AN HOUR.
A half hour was assigned in which to
present the merits of the five measures
above outlined. The time was fully utilized,
as its brevity and the nature Of the task
before the committee admitted Of. But
from the outset. indeed, before a word had
been spoken. it was plain that the expert
ence of the committee before the railroad
and warehouse commission was to be du-
plicated, and that the measure would re-
ceive Like treatment. It was apparent
throughout that there was not q shadow
OF possibility that the measure advocated
would receive any serious consideration
Whatever On the following morning the
bills were reported to the house adversely
by the committee on railroads Mr.. Dom
nelly made a gallant, fight in favor of the
bills. He pleaded that they sould be placed
on general orders, and be discussed and
amended according as the Judgment of the
mousse might dictate but he pleaded in
vain. The measures were doomed from the
outset to speedy and violent death.
Another case desire to call your atten-
ZION to. The establishment of the twine
plant at Saltwater had thu effect of break
ing down the exhorbitant price, of the ,w,ne
trust. whose prices at that time ranged
from 177a cents to q cents por pound I'm
medtately upon the commencement of this
industry and the placing Of it's product upon
tne market. the prices came tumblj.lE down
until last year 1t reached the low price of
4te to 6B cents per pound. The farmers
AFTER securing their industry and seeing that
1t accomplished their ends Che brrakrg of
the twine tlusD, allowed their .own enter
prise to fall into 'he hands o. lep. esenta-
t1ves of any calling but that o. asr.culture,
and as result the PLANT for ali inte1 ests
and purposes as far as inter ISIS Of the farm
ers Is concerned. might as we'll be in Menila
as In Saltwater. for The reason that the
entire output Of 5oo.ooo pounds have been
sold to the tobbers ard merchants ct the
state. 1t will be readily sean where the In
terests of the farmers come IN when left
to the vote OF board OF five memlelr, COM
posed Of merchants, lawyers. bankers, ETC.,
when deciding what policy they should rur-
sue when disposing Of the Irvine product of
the prison. But the pla.,t WAS established
Tor the express purpose u lnufactv1:rg
binding twine and selling direct to the
farmers at cost.
PRISON BOARDS WORK
BY what right has this prison board to
dispose of 100000 pounds of Irvine to jobbers
at 612 cents per pound months belo1e har-
vest without any notification to the finn
ers! Thereby compelling them. the farmers
OF the state. to pay s. 20. 40 more n their
p1nd1ng Irvine this season than they would
II they could purchase direct from the
prison. as the law had Contemplated when
the plant was established? submit. It is
not unreasonable to request l.is excelency.
the governor. to appoint Il COMMITTEES of
honorable citizens to Investigate this Geal.
Let us consider at this time whether we
may not wisely invoke the whole body OF
those who thrive by The pow to organize
for effective action in every state and ter
rltory throughout the rnion, in behalf Of
such reforms as seem to be deman led ly
the necessities Of the agricultural situation.
we cannot shut our eyes to the lact that
the depression of our business is terrible
From every rural hamlet and home
throughout the land the outlook is sh1 GUIDED
IN darkness and gloom. Ita is becau:e the
domestic and foreign 'olicies of our govern
ment, both state and national Lave been
SNAPPED by the mOnied interests 10 the ut
ter neglect and ruin Of the IN e~ests Of the
soil. Hence, we find the products Of Ameri-
can agriculture barred from equal compet1-
ton in every great market Of the world,
where we are placed at disadvantage
with every nation Of the earth, from Africa
to Greenland. The home market Is left us
only because 1T is not worth the cultivating
by foreign glut under the fnalign influence
OF bad laws and naladministration.
This same pernicious policy Of working all
the forces of government in the service Of
the monopolsts and monied men has so
oppressed and degraded American labor that
it is today everywhere in a state of angry
irritation and revolt against the conditions
imposed upon 1t by arrogant irresponsible,
such q situation the hesitancy, the vacilla-
ton and inadequate attitude of the govern
ment. with the petty wranglings Of poll
tfcians, snarling like hyenas over the offaI
OF office. neither party identified with any
public policy which commands public con-
fdcnce. presents to view q spectacle II
paralleled in human history, is paralleled
only by the british tyrant and buffoon who
fddled by the Light Of the confagration OF
ancient Rome.
In my opinion. gentlemen, unless the gov
eminent. state and federal, speedily remodel
existing policy and use their future efforts
to promote national and state prosperity
and progress upon the industrial and bust
ness interests Of the people, and above all
and before all upon the interests Of the
nations domain and homestead, the soil
itself and those that dig in 1t, a crisis and
q catastrophe cannot long be deferred. The
nature and extent Of that catastrophe none
can foretell until 1t bursts upon US.
/ recommend to you that we do now,
with added emphasis reaf1irm each and
every one Of your former resolutions, and
PRESENT THEM AGAIN
to the consideration of the government, and
respectfully, but earnestly, insist upon their
fair and full consideration and discussion In
q manner satisfactory to an INTEL gent peo-
pie. Let it be remembered that In war 1t Is
the ia mer who comes to the support Of the
government with shou,Gered musket and
necessary supplies to do real battle for the
safety Of the country. In peace it Is he who
bears the main burden of taxation. while the
products Of his industry are the lifeblood
of the nation He cannot hide from the tax
gathcrer If he would his cows sheep, hogs,
and lands, while the monopolist may return
only his plant the remainder Of his immense
estate being in his pocket out OF sight.
To-, ~