St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1890-06-20
They Will Control the Output
and Then Advance the
Prices.
Ben Butterworth's Anti-Op-
ton Bill Gets Unanimous
Endorsement.
The Conven ton Winds Up It's
Minneapolis Meeting With
a Big Banquet.

The most important action taken by
the millers' convention at Harmonic
hall was left for the closing hours yes,
terday. Just before the final adjourn
ment Delegate Freeman presented a
resolution which, If carried out, will
have an effect not only upon the flour
trade, but its results will also be felt
by every consumer. The resolution.
which was adopted by vote of IL yeas
to nays, is as follows:
Whereas There is in this country an i'm
mense overproduction of flour and q conse-
quent pressing necessity for a reasonable cur
tailment of output by united action; there
fore be it
Resolved. By the Mllers, National asso-
citation that the executive committee be au-
thorized to take action in the matter by way
of signature consents to limit production to
the extent of one -fourth or one-tbird for the
crop year beginning Sept 1, 1850; nothing
to be binding unless the largest firms or cor
poratlonS join III the movement, and not TO
become operative until not less than 80 per
cent of the capacity OF merchant millers re-
presented by members of the association
should be signed.
Resolved further, That the basis of cur
failing production shall be shutting down
of each mill of not less than one-half the
time suggested during the first half of the
crop year. or the whole of such period of
shutdown TO be during the first half. the
same to be at the option of the proprietor.
Heavy bonds to be given in all cases for
faithful performance of the agreement.
In support of his resolution Mr.. Free
man said the Hungarian millers had
adopted such plan and the results had
been most gratifying. Such an agree
ment could be made in this country, and
it could be carried out, provided the
bond was made heavy enough to secure
a faithful performance of the contract.
He thought the bond should be placed
at IS per barrel capacity for every mill.
The larger millers would go into such
an agreement If they were sure of their
position. While he did not believe in
trusts. he thought the output should be
controlled in an intelligent, businesslike
way. He declared that the milling ca
pacity of the United States was now
large enough to grind every bushel of
wheat that could be raised
in a year in ninety days.
advanced against such an agreement
would be that the smaller millers would
not sign such an agreement, but it was
almost certain that all the mills of 500
barrels or more would be glad to go
into it. When this agreement would be
put into operation Mr.. Freeman was
satisfied the condition of the trade
would be improved 100 per cent. Sooner
or later something of this kind would
have to be done, and there was no
reason why the national association
shouldn't take hold of it at once.
Mr.. McGill was opposed to the reSOlu
ton. He thought it would be inoperat-
i've and placed entirely too much re.
SpOnSibility upon tine executive commit
tee.
In Favor of Exporting.
Mr.. Baldwin said he had no amend
ment to make to the resolution, but he
had different remedy which he was
satisfied would DE more effective than
any attempt at controlling the time
which the mills should run. Grind all
the wheat you can" he exclaimed, "but
let us make an agreement to export say
20 per cent of our product. Let us APP
point one big exporter and let us send
our flour to him for export. Of course
don't send it all to one foreign country,
but send it to the place we can
get the most money for it. On
the -four exported we will lose
money, but we will more than
make it up in the so per cent we will
keep at home tosupply the demand. In
this way we prevent the overstocking of
the home market" When the question
of adopting the resolution was put to a
vote only sixteen delegates voted,
twelve in the affirmative and four in the
negative.