Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1878-10-23
THE SWINDLING KETTLE
An EFFORT TO DITERT ATTENTION
FROM THE MAIN ISSUE.
1t Is Not the Accuracy of tho Kettle, but
the Way it is Handled-A Put Up Job
on the Farmers by the Washburn Ring.

The Hennepin county grangers last week ap-
pointed committee to investigate the
swindling brass kettles and report.
The committee made one test and reported
showing difference Of from one to two and
half pounds per bushel between the brass ket-
ties and the half bushel. The same committee
now makes another test and reports as follows:
To the Farmers Convention of Hem epin
County:
The undersigned, members Of the committee
appointed by your convention on Monday. the
14th inst, to compare the brass tester used by
the Millers' association with the sealed half
bushel in the possession of the county, respect
fully beg leave to report that in accordance
with their instructions they provided them
selves with pair of scales verified by the
county treasurer, and the sealed half bushel
belonging to the county, and made tests as fol-
lows:
FIRST TEST.
The wheat by the first test weighed fifty
eight pounds and thirteen ounces by the sealed
half-bushel. By the tester, ffty-eight pounds
and twelve ounces.
SECOND TEST.
Weight by half-bushel fifty-four pounds and
one ounce; tester, the same.
THIRD TRsT.
By the half-bushel, ffty-fve pounds and
twelve ounces; tester, the same.
FOURTH TEST.
BY the half bushel, ffty-fve pounds and ten
ounces; TESTER ffty-ive pounds.
FIFTH TEST.
By the sealed half-bushel, fifty-six pounds
and three ounces; tester, the same.
Whenever difference existed between the
tester. and the half bushel, we found that it
,Lzax Il
fered with the filling of the tester. But in all
cases of clean wheat. the half bushel and tester
being filled uniformly, the results were the
same, and vindicated the correctness Of the
tester. We are therefore of the opinion that in
the case Of clean grain the tester used by the
millers is correct. giving the exact weight of
the grain in accordance with the sealed half
bushel in possession of the county.
We also examined the inspectors books, and
found that in grading the wheat he has given
No. grade to wheat weighing 55I pounds to,
the bushel, substituting only from two to
three pounds to the bushel for the deficiency
in weight. Thus by throwing in two or three
pounds to the bushel, the farmers have re-
ceived No. 2 grade for wheat which under the
rules would be graded as No. 8.
Respectfully, JAS. HAMILTON,
J. D. ScHoFIELD,
A. II. BENSON.
There is undoubtedly a history relative to
this test and the report in question. The test
appears to have been secret affair and manip-
ulated by the ring, but even then
they could not secure a report which
makes the little brass swindler accurate as out
of five tests the committee certify that the
brass kettle was twice fraud.
As the GLoBE has already explained, such q
test proves nothing. The brass kettles can
bol No T., !, ~
tble of manipulation. If committee should
meet and solemnly announce that the kettles
are made of brass, would that
help the ring thieves? The swindle is in the
handling of the kettle, and the small size
enables the expert to cheat on the grade. as it
would be impossible to do with half bushel,
or by the pound. We have given repeated in
stances where the Same wheat went different
grades in different testers, and even in the
same tester at different times, proving that the
trick is in the manipulation. Take this instance:
Levi Bailey wished to ascertain the grade and
the best market for his wheat. He accordingly
took a sack and went to Langdon, on the o.,
NJ. & st. P railroad. Here it was put in the
accurate brass kettle and went SIS lbs., which
would make it No. g. Then he took the
same wheat to a warehouse at Newport and
dpPliCu JIG DidSS hSlGlt, duu'lb ~eutOf
giving him No. 2. Then he went to the New
port elevator and again that infallible brass
kettle was applied and it went So pounds, but
the agent explained that his tester showed
pound too much and that So pounds was all he
could allow him. This gave him No. l grade.
Here were three of these accurate little jokers
giving different weights.
We could continue such illustrations almost
indefinitely, but it is unnecessary. The peo-
pie understand the game of the Washburn
gang of swindlers and robbers, and cannot
have dust thrown in their eyes by the howl of
the ring organs over this report. No committee
can or will report that an expert cannot steal
grade by the use of the swindling brass kettle.
That is notorious and has been conclusively
proved.
The swindlinsy brass kettle, and Washburn,
must go.