The anti-monopolist. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1874-1878, 1875-09-27
THE MINNEAPOLIS WHEAT RING
And JOHN S. PILLSBURT.


The Minneapolis Tribune said the
other day:
1t is a pleasure to us to award commentator
to any citizen when merited. We think the
course of our millers has uniformly been such
as to merit such commentator and more es-
pecially ut this time. There is a general dull
ness in the wheat markets of the world and
prices are constantly declining. The large
wheat buyers of the State have made proposals
to the millers to form combinations and put
the price Of wheat down at all points to the
standard of a shipping margin to Milw
All these overturs 5 they hare refused, claiming
the right of buying their grain when and where
they chose, and paying to the producer the
highest price the flour market would warrant,
expressing their determination to keep the
Minneapolis wheat market independent, gov
erned only by the actual value OF wheat for
milling purposes.
This is beautiful; and if true it reflects
the highest credit upon u common hui
man nature, which, as the Bible assures
us, is prone to evil as the sparks fly up
ward. But it seems the average Mime
apolis miller gives the lie to the whole
doctrine OF total depravity. After he has
driven all competitors out of the market
he continues to pay the highest possible
price for wheat andin fact he goes 10
the trouble and expe nse OF forming his
Ring on purpose to SO pay that highest
price. In fact the Ring was gotten up
by the millcrs with no other object than
to impoverish themselves and enrich tie
farmers! Was such disinterested gener-
nrIfv- ayar hafnr0 ha,.1 - =, &Hn h.~tzrr-
of the human family? Who will say
that the race grows more selfish as the
world grows older. after that exhibitions:
Unfortunately there is a paper, and a
very able ore too, called the Register.
published ut Glencoe, by one Liberty
Hall. which takes the liberty to haul this
Millers Ring over the Goals in the iol-
lowing distressing fashion. As we read
it u old doubts about the Unborn virtue
of the race. return and we begin to think
the Holy Book may be right after all:
We have been having a season of unwonted
excitement in our grain market, during tbs
last week. and the Minneapolis sswheaf ring
has been thoroughly discussed and cursed
Ten days ago Messrs. Van Auken 4 LanSe
Messrs A. II. Reed i Co., and Mr.. John c
Riebe We're ali IN the market as buyers. To.
ads Van anhcI " LaliKS UScupF Tie uctt
alone, Reed &Co, having shut up their eleva
tor, and Riete having closed his warehouse.
Now we hope that our farmers all un
derstand that the lever competing whea
buyers there are in a place, the bette
price they will get for their grain: TO
the dealer who is left alone will have d,
one to prevent him from just pourin:
out his money into the farmers pockets
And that is what the Farmers Union tell
US is the real object of the Minneapoli
Ailler's Ring. But we quote again:
Messr. A. h. Reed L Co, have been pun
chashing wheat ON their own account, sellin
in any market where they could do the bess
Mr.. Riebe, at the Grange Warehouse had be
, purchasing tor the Minneapolis Mill Comran,
: Some two or three weeks ago, Aessrs. Reed
Co, undeTtookto ship, and did ship, wheat
Minneapolis. consigned to other parties tina
the purchasing agent Of the Minneapolis Mi
Ring, w~here-upon tha station agent at tl
{ place was instructed by the superintendent
the railroad to charge = cts per hsadyed on a
U graia shipped to aay parties outside ofshr Nil
!. aeopolis RiHg, aza Is IT'S per haadred o. graf
/ shipped to TIE millevs- We understand Til
: the is cts arespecial rates Tor the benefit Of ii
millex. We do not think it at all reasonab