Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1908-04-23
a FARMER RECALLS HISTORY.

! The following communication is
| from the pen of Henry Parsons, pres
| ident of the Farmers Elevator Co.,
of Rockwell City, and owner or a
splendid farm in Center township,
but who at the present time resides
in Rockwell City. Every statement
that he makes in his communication
is the truth, and cannot but have its
weight with Mr.. Parsons brother
farmers turnout the country. The Jour-
nal is pleased to give these letters
space, because they come from men
who are active and practical farmers
and know from experience what Gov
| ernor Cummins has done for them in
| the past:
Rockwell City, Ia. April 10, 1908.
Editors of the Manson Journal:
1t is with much surprise hear some
of my farmer friends opposing Govern
or Cummins for the U. S. senate. Is 1T
possible they have forgotten the
great fight the farmers Of Iowa had
with the barb wire monopoly in 1881!
| At which time the attorneys employed
nv the farmers were false to their
trust. / sometimes think they have.
| So thought it might be we'll to have
YOU give them bit of Iowa history
that may not be familiar to the
Youngest men. About q years ago,
the federal court in Chicago decided
that a syndicate had a monopoly OF the
manufacture of barbed wire. About
this time barbed wire was advanced IN
price nearly fifty per cent. me
prairie counties of our state were
then being settled up by young peo-
pie who were endeavoring to make a
home for themselves and subdue the
wilderness for future generations.
Their trials were many and their
means small; they were compelled to
stake the few COWS they owned, out on
/ the grass with a rope, because Ihe
price of wire was from twelve to sew
enteen cents per pound. 1t was no
uncommon thing at that time for the
men of Webster, Calhoun and Greene
counties to meet at the coal banks on
/ the Des Moines river, or at the mill
on the Coon river, and discuss the
wire monopoly all night. The situa-
ton had become so oppressive that
some prominent agriculturalists met IN
Des Moines at about this time
Among whom were James Wilson
now secretary of agriculture, Col
John Scott, Lieut.. Gov. Cue, L. s
Coffin. Henry Wallace and Father
Clarkson. The result of this meeting
was the formation of the farmers
protective association" to fight the
trust by manufacturing barbed WIRE on
orr own hook Every farmer Of the
state was asked for one dollar to Gre
ate fighting fund, but it is needless
to say that but a small per cent con-
tributed to that fund. They bought
plant and started in. Then the wal
began. Fast and furious was the
fight. Trckery and corrupt methods
were resorted to, to harrass ina
band of fighting farmers. AT mrs.
treachery succeeded They Wer'
sold out. Those they first employed
plaved them false, but they kept vi
the fight They then employed
new attorney to look after their law
suit. That attorney was Albert Is
Cummins He was then a young MAI
Of such we'll known integrity and hig!
sense of honor that no man that knew
him dared approach him with a bride
He threw his whole soul into thu
work and defended the farmers TO
e six long years. Not only in tn
courts but before the Legislature
> And altho the odds We're heavil
e against him he got the upper han'
t of the trusts and we got our wire
e a reasonable price. 1t is we'll know
o by some that had hand in tina
n struggle that Attorney Cummins, ii
order to prepare himself for thi
n great legal struggle. which he kne'
meant millions for the America.