Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1882-05-18
THE MILLER'S MONOPOLY.
Time for the Farmers 20 Wahe Up.

Time for the Farmers 60 Wake Up.
Fargo Republican.
There is not the shadow OF a doubt
that the "Millers' Association of Mime
apolis" is making move to get the abso-
lutte control of the wheat product of Min
nesota and Dakota. They are endevor-
ing to do the same thing to the vast
wheat producing region of the great
Northwest that the Standard Oil COM
panv has done for the oil region Of
Pennsylvania. If they can accomplish
their purpose they can fix the price Of
every bushel of wheat raised in this
region. In his review Of the millers'
monopoly, Gen. Baker, after showing up
the attempt to get the duty off Manitoba
wheat, says that this tariff problem is
fairly to be considered IN connection
with other projects of the great millers.
He then gives the following bit
of history: "On the 10Th of
December last the large millers, shippers
apolis and formed an association whose
objects were uniform system of grading
and of buying wheat throughout this
state and Dakota. The plan was new and
arbitrary. Its evident purpose or practi-
cal result was to shut out competition.
Under its operation wheat brought lese
than its real value. Arbitrary grades
were established and arbitrary prices
maintained The millers took the good
wheat at their prices, and the shippers in
the combination got the balance at 8
figure lower than the true market
value. Wheat which was graded
here as No. 3, was sent to
Milwaukee and received as No. 2.
The grades, it is alleged, are not legiti-
mate nor the prices fair. 1t was COM
bination for profit against parties farm.
ers) who do not seem to have the faculty
of combining for their interests. AS we
examine this movement and organization,
it is not referable to wet weather and
damp. 1t does not propose to disband
when the wheat is dry or the crops bet
ter. 1t is system which has probably
come to stay. 1t is SO much of a real
grievance in Its operation and history
that it has excited prejudice on the part
of farmers towards the millers' associa-
ton. We can but regard this step as
slngularly unfortunate, for the combi-
nation swept away all healthy competi-
| tion."
The next step of this monopoly, which
| is Tightening its control over the wheat
production of the northwest, was the pur-
chase Of the elevators. Nearly all the
elevators on the Manitoba and Northern
Pacific lines, and on the lines OF their
| feeders are in the hands and under the
control of the millers' combination. In
speaking of this, Gen. Baker says: "One
purchase after another has been made
| until they have absorbed them all. Where
none existed they are now building.
Practically the millers' association have
got control of the elevators, which are
the great instrumentalities for handling
and shipping the grain of the country.
The millers' association to-day own
and control more than 140 Of these
elevators in the best wheat
regions of the northwest and are rapidly
building more. The system Is gigantic
and far reaching. 1t is buying the inde-
pendent elevators and crushing out all
competition. 1t Is laying its powerful
hand upon every bushel of wheat to be
grown in the Northwest. In that they
afford facilities for storing and shipping
grain, they are blessing 1t is the inev-
table abuse which follows power in great
corporations which is to be dreaded.
This association has just completed the
purchase of thirty more elevators of
Barnes s. Magill on the line of the North
ern Pacific. When they have extinguish.
ed all rivalry they can lay tribute
upon the chief production of the North
| west A manipulation of five cents q
bushel would amount to 81, 600, 900 on the
| next crop. We do not impute to the gen.
tlemen controlling these great agencies
| an evil purpose, but with such concentra-
ton Of power they are in possession Of
great temptation. And now, swift upon
the heels of these devices, comes plan
for abolishing the tariff upon foreign
wheat, SO that untold thousands of
bushels of Manitoba grain may come to
compete with the Minnesota farmer at
his own door, We must take these
separate links as constituent parts of q
"stupendous whole There Is in it all
either purpose or possibility OF the
great flour manufacturers obtaining abso-
lutte control of the wheat markets OF the
Northwest"
In view of these startling facts and de-
| velopments, it is high time the wheat
producers OF Minnesota and Dakota woke
up to realizing sense OF the danger that
threatens them.