Rensselaer Republican, Volume 22, Number 8, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 31 October 1889 — FREE TRADE SENTIMENTS. [ARTICLE]

FREE TRADE SENTIMENTS.

Interesting Discussion of Economic Principles by'Wheat Growers 4 The interstate Wheat Growers continued in session at St. Louis Thursday afternoon. Robert Lindblom, the Chicago wheat speculator, made a speech, in which he gave the speculator’s side of the wheat question. He said the monopolists had taught society a lesson which would, in time, make monopoly an impossibility. The lesson was co-operation. It was intended as a blessing to monopoly. It will end in being a blessing to humanity. He believed that at fairly high prices more grain could be sold than at low prices. There was no foundation for theory of over production, in five years, while the production of wheat decreased X P Ol- cent, the price decreased 28 per cent. The speaker then went on to show that there had been no over-prouuction in other countries. The event of the session was the address ofPresident Colman from a free trade stand point. He denounced the way the farmers are used by the present administration and the protection policy, and said that the only way to protect their interest was to adopt free trade. He assailed elevator combines, pools, commission men and speculators as robbers of the fanners, and said that between these factions the farmer was crushed. The free trade element then offered the following resolutions, which were passed after a long debate: Resolved, By the farmers of the States lying in the Mississippi and Missouri Riv er Valleys, and of the States of Oregon, Washington and California, in national convention assembled, that we hereby memoralize our National' Congress and the President of the United States,

and most seriously petition them U make such reciprocity treaties with thoM foreign nations tp whom we ship our surplus farffi -products, as will cause such foreign nations to remove the customs duties from our farm ‘products shipped abroad, thereby, causing us to receive a higher price for our foreign farm surplus, and thereby fixing a higher price upon all that we sell at home. Resolved, That we ask that such steps be taken by our National Congress as will destroy the present existing monopolies and trusts and prevent the formation of others. Resolved, And to the end that we may get our farming implements at a less price that the present laws be repealed that place a duty upon farming implements or the raw materials used in their manufacture. ■ Resolved that we are more deeply interested in the carrying out of the above resolutions than we are in the success of any political party. A permanent organization, to be known as the Interstate Wheat Growers’ Association, was formed. Permanent officers were then elected as follows: President, Hon.. Norman J. Colman, of Missouri, with the privilege of naming his own secretary. Executive Board—W. L. Scott and A. D. Noe, of Kentucky; N. J. Colman and U. S. Hall, of Missouri; E. H. Murphy and P. A. Odell, of : Minnesota; D. B. Green and J. S. McCaffrey, of Illinois; Calvin Cole and George Gibson, of Oregon; Walter N. Allen and Governor Charles Robinson, of Kansas; J. A. Coates and D. A. Eppeson, of Indiana; N. O. Walker, of Tennessee, and H. W. Sargent, of Ohio. Among other resolutions adopted was one requesting Superintendent of Census Porter to collect data to show in the next census what percentage of the people in this country occupy their own farms and homes and what percentage are tenants