The Ward County independent. [volume] (Minot, Ward County, N.D.) 1902-1965, 1908-03-26
G A M BLIN C in GRAIN

Submitted by A. v. Swanson, Presl-
dent OF American Society of Equity,
Ward county, N. D.
The big daily papers are engaged in
upholding that unholy combination,
the Board of Trade. These papers
have the same old stock arguments
that the gambler regulates the price
for the benefit of everybody. They
endeavor to convince the consumer
that betting on the price Of grain low
ers the cost to him, and by the same
argument would make the producer
think that the price to him Is kept at
the maximum. Only fool could be
hypnotized into the belief that the
same operation can accomplish two
Absolutely opposite operations.
In making this argument, however,
they prove that grain gambling does
have an affect on the market price OF
grain.
VIXEN considering any question we
must take conditions and men as we
find them. It is impossible for any
sane man to suppose that these peo'
pie keep up the board of trade as
philanthropical institution. If we
could do so, we might swallow the ed
itorial doses dished up to us by the
press. AS It is, it is best to consider
that these gamblers are mere men and
that they are working for their own
interests, just as the newspapers are
which support them.
The Board of Trade is composed
largely of exporters and millers. The
business Of the exporters is to buy
grain here and sell it abroad. Can it
be possible that he tries to keep the
price paid to the farmer 80 high that
it is impossible to make profit, and
is it possible oreeven probable that he
desires to raise it above the lowest
living price to the producer. To be
sure it is to his interest to keep the
price up to point where farmers will
not refuse to raise wheat. That muc1
would be only wisdom on the part Of
business men, but to expect that these
men are working to benefit society Is
simply balderdash. They wish to keep
it at about the actual cost of produc-
tion and their method for doing so Is
exceedingly simple. All men VINO deal
in grain do so for profit just as do
men who deal in coal or in dry goods.
These men would just as soon buy the
shadow as the substance, provided
they can make as much money. and
under the methods employed by the
board of trade the buyer can, if ne is
a good guesser, make much more mon
ey with the same amount of capital in
vested than in the old way where the
actual commodity was bought and
sold The buying of any commodity
for the purpose of waiting for rise in
price even if we deal in the real ar
ticA is, at best, but a mild form OF
gan6ing Or guessing, and when to
that is added the iniquitous methods
adopted by the members of the board OF
trade we have the worst form OF
gambling Every sort of lie that
brain may conceive of or tongue can
tell is resorted to by these gamblers
to crowd the price up or force it down
and by the fuctuation in price from
day to day fortunes are made or lost;
men are ruined and people are driver
to desperation. Thousands of crimes
are committed by men who would BIZ
houast if it were not for the tempta
lions offered by this respectable CT
method OF winning other peoples mon
ey. Hundreds and probably thousand:
have committed suicide because they
have yielded to this device of the devl
to ruin souls There are few com
munities in the United States wher'
there are none who dabble in this par
tic1llar form of vice. Even churcl
members consider it within the pal
OF the church law, and win or los
money while trying to compromis
with conscience.
Thls, however, is not the worst sid
Of the business. The fact that ever
writer who tries to uphold the gam
admits that the gambling in future
regulates the price should be evidenc
enc;agn for any Investigating min
that the price is always kept belo'
the natural or supply and deman
price.
In order to carry on this schem
there must be men who desire hig
prices as we'll as those who want lov
er ones for that is the only way
keep the price fuctuating and kee
the suckers biting. One man may (
bear today and bull tomorrow. TT
mliLers and exporters may be fishes
men, as1 as handlers Of wheat, AZ
the SYSTEM must be supported. II
buyers cannot afford to play the gan
entirely alone. There must be este
sible buyers as well as sellers at :
times. Today Jones Is seller q