The Hope pioneer. [volume] (Hope, N.D.) 1882-1964, 1885-10-30
THE MILLERs, ASSOCIATION.

THE MILLERS' ASSOCIATION,
How the Wheat Market IL Manipu.
lated.
DULUTH, Minn., Oct. a. 1855.
Editor HorE PIONEER:
Through your public-spirited and valuable
paper wish to sy a few things on the wheat
question to the farmers of Steele county. It 10
my opinion that wheat will 20 much higher
than 1t is now. Just when that will bs it is
impossible to tell. That there is an immense
shortage in the crop, taking the country ever,
is beyond question. That there is large ag-
gregate crop in Northwestern Minnesota and
in most Of Dakota is equally certain, But that
the crop Of tho whole country is from 15O, ,OO0,-
600 10 aOO. .OOO, 900 bushels short is conclusion
arrived at from the most reliable information.
What then, 1t may be asked, caused the recent
heavy decline in prices? Why, manipulation
OF the market by bears-chiefost ameng whom
are the Minneapolis millers. 1t has hesu their
settled policy to get the ialauers' wheat at as
ileW prlQea aa possible. They are organized
and act as one man. In their relation to the
wheat growers Of the Northwest they are
giant corporation acting as unit. The wheat
which they purchase is bought through sin
gle agency and divided up among the Members
OF tho "Millera' AsaoclNtlap." This assoeia-
ton is sfMceIy loss powsrful than the Stand
ard Oil Company. They control, very largely,
the VIII at markets Of the whole country. They
are accused by tho Chicago people of appearing
upon that market which had been stimulated
by their reports of slim faymsyt deliveries and
high pglsas ip ile country, and then unloading
upon them huge blocks Of wheat for future
delivery. Then, when they have unloadsd, they
forthwith become bears. WHAT'S the evidence
OF thisP Here it ia. They, having caused the
wheat to be held In the country elevators until
thoro was large accumulation, suddenly load
ed 1t into cars and threw it upon the Ainneap-
oils market with the startling effect Of thun-
derbolt from cloudless sky; aud it is forth
with proclaimed that Minneapolis has received
in one day seventeen hundred ears Of wheat
about $50, 900 0bushelS-and that tAore Ia wheat
blockade, What effect had this on the wheat
markets OF the country? The conclusion would
be reached that il Minneapolis was in receipt Of
SO much wheat in single day that there must
be inexhpuatlble supplies Of wheat in the
Northwestr-that the prairies are covered with
it foot deep. simultaneously with this little
lnaneuver they appear on the fosr Of tue Du-
luth Board Of Trade and attempt to utterly
| break down the market by heavy offerings Of
wheat. The result Of this scheme is the recent
| hoauv 1rnr, IN nrSNoo Cho GklFiltoruS ACan
tion'' is power, and its members have piled
up eollosal fortunes by grinding the hard wheat
OF the Northwest. 1t was pretended by thu
Northwestern Miller''-the organ Of thu
"MilIers' AysOciatien''-all through the pas
year that business in the milling line was OK
tremely dull and that the profits Of the miller
were very small, and yet, Notwithstanding thi
pretence, one Of the leading milling firms o
Minneapolis felt so happy at the close of th'
year over tho years business th at it distributed
gratuitously among its empleyees-after pay
ing them their contract wages and sala
ries-the handsome little sum Of $4,000. Thi
was stated in one Of tho leading Minneapolis
newspapers as illustrating the libsrality Of th
firm; and it docs illustrate it. But it show
something else incidentally which was net in
tended. It shows the extent to which tn
farmers Of the Northwest have been bl<d b.
these soulleIs vampires in the hard year Of 1854
But the Millers' Association Is entitled to SOM
credit, and we must give even the s--, we'll, tn
nillers their due. They have demonstrated to tn
world the superiority Of the hard spring whea
Of the far Northwest over any other wheat il
this country, or even in the werld, with th
possible exception OF limited districts In Hun
gary and Russia But just how much better
is, or how much more flour it will make pc
bushel, cannot be aseertained by person out
side the milling interest by the most ingeniou
and persistent inquiry. They are as dumb a
CLAIMS on this question. They will tell you tha
they don't know, but in general way will dc
clare that the No. hard wheat is worth te
cents per bushel more than any other, il 1t
strictly pure and unmixed with the soft yaris
ties.
But as this letter Is already long enough, an
as will probably DO here for some little tim
yet, I will close by promising to write 70
another, IL you desire it, in which may di
euss Duluth as wheat market, and give yor
readers some idea Of tue methsds and worl
ings Of the system Of State grading under th
new law. II. CAvANAUGH.
| k-&Ak