The Ward County independent. [volume] (Minot, Ward County, N.D.) 1902-1965, 1904-03-02
Reply to The Middle Man
TO the editor of the Independent.

Reply to The Middle Man
TO the editor of the Independent.
AS have noticed, your paper is Civ
ing space for the discussion of Farmer s
Store.
believe the time has come when the
farmers ought to organize themselves
against the depressure, and tho yoke
which are being coupled around their
necks.
The business men recently formed an
organization as an antidote against
fraud. l am greatly in favor Of any
thing that would spare the honest man
from paying bad debts. Ne evil is
meant, but it certainly causes the toes
to itch, when people, who reside in the
midst Of great institutions of learning,
become so blinded, that they are unable
to see who is paying the freight on goods
and articles. Items have been printed
showing how much has been expended
in freight. Not that l have figured it
out, but feel confident that no one
else but myself has paid the freight, plus
the profit. on my goods and property.
1t would be splendid thing if the
farmers organize themselves. Accord
ing to my knowledge and estimation,
there are too many who desire the posi-
ton as "Middlemen," thereby burdening
the farmer. Instead of tilling the soil,
which gives food to man and beast, they
busy themselves by scheming how the
farmer shall be ensnared when coming
to town with his money.
In days gone by when Devils Lake
was the nearest market place. | could
only go te town twice Il year, for provi-
sions, and | never remained in town
longer than absolutely necessary The
town is bad place for the farmer to
spend his money and most everyone
there seem anxious to know how the
farmer is fixed. Even man from st.
Paul, the other day was anxious that l
should subscribe for the Dispatch, but
hearing that my newspaper supply num-
bered eight. he readily concluded that
that it was sufficient.
The middle Man argues that Wallin
has not studied the problem. Mr.. Wallin
happens to be one of my countrymen.
The same sun that rises here, shines
upon my home country. We are all
equal--the day we are born.
1t is discouraging to see how people
of the same race who are privileged to
dine off the same table are compelled to
to organize against each other.
Wouldn't it have been far better for
the farmer. laborer, busidess- man and
the middleman to mould their swords
into pillow shares. If the farmer, who
must earn his bread by the sweat of his
brow, declined to sell bushel of any
l.; 49, hot To hn
man, he (middle man would soon re,
The town would also decrease in popu-
burdened with insurance and the freight
which he boasts of paying for the farmer.
How is he capable of carrying the farm
er on his shoulders from year to year.
Close inspection shows that he has a
mortgage on the farm, the horses and
cattle, etc.
1t is we'll that we are living in time
when he cannot sell our wives and child
rem.
An Instance from the time I lived on
the ranch will illustrate how the middle
man goes about it.
had butchered two oxen, together
weighing 300. Ishipped the hides to
McMillin L. Co., Minneapolis, also the
skin of fox, wolf, and few coon
skins The freight and carriage was so
great that it took the wolf skin to pay
for the transportation of the hides.
Practically it left me nothing.
Every Fourth of July we hear that
"all men are equal" Let us see. When
the assessor enters the bank, the money
is worth go per cent on the dollar. If
the farmer has money it is worth 100
per cent.
The willingness of the middleman to
assist us in paying our taxes is certain
ly manifested. know of an institution
in Minot which had capital of $4,000
previous to the assessors visit. Immedi-
.ately afterwards it had $4,000, and
statement in my possession today gives
It capital of 1881, 600. Lawmakers
take heed, or else we will all be dead
beats Oh, but the yoke is heavy for
1she middleman: II the farmer is unable
so pay his dues to the counts in due sea
son, fine of 5 per cent is affixed and
later on II per cent. The middle man
can get many thousand from the county
at 3 per cent.
Indeed they carry the farmers in their
arms. There is tender mother from
Canada who fears Wallin's organization.
Perhaps she is one who instructs her
husband and sons to run from one hole
to the other in the city until they are
useless for this and the coming world.
Hurrah for Wallin He is entrusted
n position in the community and neither
one nor several Canadian ladies can take
it away from him. And there's man
like Mr.. Black. also in the administra-
ton. He owns 2OOo head Of stock and
that means about $1,000 in taxes, [
reckon that is so cents per head as when
I was on the ranch.
A new jail is much in demand. How
many per cent of the farmers and how
many per cent of the middlemen are
confined in it? Let the Canadian lady
answer.
presume the middle man will lift up
his eye, put his spects on his nose, look
wise and say, that we will have to pay
for that also.
Here's few pointers: SO much for
freight, SO much for waste, SO much for
bad bills, so much for clerk salaries,
consequently can also enjoy myself
and,take my family out for pleasure
trip. The farmers and laborer can pay