Rock Island daily Argus., 1888-12-18
Domestic Economy.
American MilIers Put Their
Heads Together
ON AKN0TTY HOUSEHOLD PROBLEM.

How to Make Bread Rise-They Seem To
Be Looking for an InfaliibIe Recipe and
Appearances Indicate That Its Name
Will BE 'Trust"-Propositions Made
Looking To General Shut Down of the
Mills Next Year.
MILWAUKEE, Wis, Dec. ia very i'm
portant meeting Of the millers Of the country
opened yesterday at the Plankinton House.
1t was called ostensibly to talk over the sit
nation, but from the drift of argument
shown at yesterdays session it was clear that
majority OF those present contemplated
something very like a trust. There is
large attendance, all the millers associa-
tions of the country being represented.
There are present by proxy Minnesota. Mis-
souri,, Illinois, Kentucky, Ono, New York,
Nebraska, Wisconsin and Dakota territory.
The Minnesota delegation is the largest, iu-
cluding large contingent from the Minne-
apolis millers, who are in the lead in the de-
mand for a -four trust From the tenor of
conversation heard among individual dele
gates there is likely to be considerable oppo.
sition to the combine by the smaller millers,
but the friends of the combine have two
thirds Of the convention. Delegates say by
far the greater amount Of capital is invested
in the smaller mills.
The convention was called to order at 9
o'cock by Frank l. Greenleaf, of Mime
apolis Edward Sanderson, of Milwaukee,
was chosen chairman, and J. NJ. Turner, Of
Minneapolis. secretary.
A. A. Freeman, of Lacrosse, said he be :
iieved that some arrangement to curtaii the
output Of -four must be entered into If the
milling industry was to be kept cut OF
bankruptcy. He said there was not 10 ex-
coed 700 mills with a capacity of 200 barrels
OF -four day, while the mills Of lesser ca
pacity numbered l2,001 One hundred mills
in the spring wheat section and 2J0 in the
winter wheat section practically controlled
the output Mr. Freeman brought in the
sugar trust TO show the advantages Of coop
Grafton Even those outside the trust kept
up the price after the trust was formed, as
they found it to be to their benefit. Mr..
Freeman recommended a stoppage of mills
for two weeks in January, one week each in
February. March and April, and "lheu 20
as you please"
Edward Sanderson, of Milwaukee, took
the floor for a sarcastic speech bearing
rather heavily on the Minnesota and Dakota
miilers who finding a shortage of IS, ,000, ,0JC
bushels of wheat IN the northwest had bid
the price up and now wanted help If the
| price OF -four went too high people would
not buy it There was plenty of corn, rye
| and potatoes which would take its place
Wheat in New York could be purchased for
| 81 t5 per bushel, and barrel Of -four be
| manufactured for IS good enough for any
| body. In the northwest millers had to pay
| 81 % or account of the action of tie Mime
apoIs miliers.
Lewis Hughes of St Louis, said the
| Southwestern MIler's association had com.
bned to cnrtall the output The grangers
of the south west had got the idea that a fiour
trust had been formed and agreed among
themselves not TO use -four, but had taker
| corn instead. Still since Nov. ~ the mill
had not been run over half time, aud the
speaker thought this would contiuus until
the relations between the demand aud sup
ply are reg ulated.
President G. H. Seibt, of the Nationa
Millers' association, said that il it could b,
| proved that the home consumption woulc
eventually use up all the -four, delegate
would vote to curtaii the output; but If, OF
the other hand, there was..shown 10 be sur
plus that would eventually have to be ex
ported, as now suspected, it is doubtful il
millers would enter into such combination
as the export governed the price.
A. 4. Freeman offered resolution to tht
effect that it was the sense OF the meeting
that the mills should shut down for twt
weeks in January, one week in February
| and opa in March