The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1918-03-28
" Ant FAIR WEIGHTS
Farmers Meet in Village Hall to Dis
cuss the Question of Weighing
Their Produce Honestly.
Another Meeting to be Held in the
Court House Hall. on Saturday
Evening, April the 9Th.


Either the notice given was insult
ficient or little interest was taken in
the meeting called at the village hall
on Monday afternoon to discuss far
mers' weighing scales, as the atten-
dance was light. About 80 farmers
from the towns of Baldwin, Blue Hill,
Greenbush and Princeton were present,
also the entire village council.
The meeting was called to order by
Louis Rust Of Princeton township. On
motion Mr.. Rust was elected chairman,
and H. C. Nelson of Blue Hill was
named as secretary.
Mr.. Rust explained the object Of the
meeting. He said the farmers were
not getting square deal in weights,
either on potatoes or grain, and there
was great deal of dissatisfaction
among farmers. It was thought, he
said, that if weighing scales were in
stalled by the farmers themselves it
mig OCCCCI CO11u1C1O1lo.
Several other farmers spoke along
the same lines. One farmer said that
with the same wagon box filled with
exactly the same variety of potatoes
there would be at times difference Of
from three hundred to five hundred
pounds in the weight of the load.~ Sew
eral others related similar experiences.
Another farmer from west Of town
said the farmers in his vicinity were
hauling their grain to Foley, although
it was much further, but it paid them
to do so, as they were given a square
deal in weights at the mill there.
G. H. Gottwerth, potato dealer and
also member of the village council,
spoke briefly and called attention to
the fact that when the village had
public scales they were not patronized
by the farmers and enough was not
realized therefrom to pay more than
half the wages of the weigher.
This was admitted, but it was
claimed the dealers insisted upon buy
ing over their own scales, and be-
sides it was stated that the village
scales We're inconveniently located and
the streets were in rotten condition at
that time.
Fred Newton, and in fact all the
members Of the council, assured the
farmers that as far as the council was
concerned there would be no objection
to the erection of one or more sets Of
scales save on Main and First streets.
After further discussion it was
moved and carried that committee of
five, of which the chairman of the
meeting should be chairman, be ap-
pointed to visit several of the neigh
boring towns, ascertain how they OPP
Grated their public scales and if the
weights were generally satisfactory
to seller and buyer, and to report at
an adjourned meeting to be held at the
court house hall at 8 o'clock on the
evening of Saturday, April 9Th. The
chair appointed as such committee E..
J. Satterstrom, Alex Blair, Louis Rust,
G.. H. Gottwerth and George Ross.
Judging from the numerous COM
plants that we have heard almost
daily for months past the farmers
have cause for complaint. There can
not be so much smoke without some
fire. 1t behooves the business men of
Princeton to see to it that the farmers
get a square deal, and square deal
they should have.
Remember, it is not question of
dockage that the farmers complain of
it is admitted that some loads Of
produce should be more heavily locked
than others. Dockage must be settled
between, the buyer and seller. The
grievance is in weights. The dealer
who deliberately shortweights a far
mer is simply stealing from that far
mer.
Whether farmer-owned weighing
scales will remedy the evils complained
Of by the farmers is question. We
are inclined to believe that the scales
should be controlled by the village.
Then again we know of no law that
would compel buyer to buy on an
others weigh-bill. But there must be
some method devised to give the buyer
and seller a square deal
Mr.. Rust earnestly requests large
attendance of farmers at the meeting
in the court house hall on the evening
Of Saturday; April 9th. Remember the
date.
Nonpartisan Legislative Nominees.
The 55th senatorial district is COM