St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1890-06-18

thing over an hour late in arriving, it
was IL o'clock before the dele
gates, headed by the DanZ band,
marched from the West hotel to the hall.
President Greenleaf lost no time in
calling the convention to order. The To-
cal committee OF arrangements had at
tended to all the details, and the Gre
dentials had all been presented and ac-
cepted before the presidents gavel fell,
and it only took the committee on Gre
dentials-which consisted of E. Fl. Nc
Gill, S. Ii. Seamans and Frank Barry
few minutes to complete their work
and present report. President Green
leaf In his opening address said that tue
membership of the association was now
larger than ever before, having been
largely increased during the past
wear. In speaking on the Mckinley
a gallant fight and had been constantly
at work endeavoring to accomplish re-
suits tending to the general g cd. We
have had long and tiresome fight to
secure the elimination of some objec-
tionable clauses from the Mckinley
tariff bill, which would have practically
cut off the drawback we are now re-
ceiving on sacks manufactured in this
country from imported jute, and in
which the principal part of our flour is
exported. We have had the drawback
increased from 80 to SO per cent, leav-'
ing only enough to pay the necessary
government expenses. We have sue
ceeded in having raw jute placed on the
free list.
Continuing he said: 1--WE feel that
the labor was we'll spent. and the sena-
tors and Representatives who assisted us
are entitled to the gratitude of our en-
tire association. We have also given
the question of foreign bills of lading
large share OF attention, and we have
arrived at point when it is necessary
for the millerS to take a positive stand
in the matter. The association has had
frequent interviews with different rail-
road officials, and at one time we had
strong hopes of success, but the result
is always the same. We are met with
the inquiry: Suppose we give you
what you ask, what are we to gain?"
The committee can only promise the
good will of of the millerS, and indirect
benefits. | firmly believe if the millers
of this country want a new bill Of lad
ing, and one that will give
fair treatment, they must sign
an agreement authorizing a com
mittee to pledge certain amount
of freight to the line first complying
with our requests; with the understand
ing that they are to have this amount of
freight, regardless of the rates offered
by competing lines. 1t is not necessary,
nor possible, to ship all freight by one
line, and the proportion each miller
would be asked to ship would be so
small that it would be no hardship.
There is no question about accomplish
ing the result, and in no other way, in
my opinion, will it be accomplished.
This question is one of the most i'm
portant our convention will have to con-
slider. 1t is of vital Importance. Every
miller in this country should be inter-
ested in increasing the export of flour,
never has, or never expects to export
barrel.
The exports of -four for the ten
months ending April 80, 1890, were TO-
142, 779 barrels. Has any one the pre-
sumption to think we could lose large
share of that trade and market the prod
uct in this country without depression
of the milling business in every section?
Does the small miller flatter himself
that the millers who have hundreds of
thousands of dollars invested are going
to shut down their mills and let them
continue to supply the local trade, no
matter in what section of this country
he is located? The railroads and steam
ship lines are throttling one of the larg
est industries of this country by the out
rageous service they are giving, and by
compelling US to accept bill of la
| ding gotten up in the interest of the
| New York produce exchange, which
| will oppose any change, hoping to COM
| pei us to ship all our flour to its men,
| berS and let them make commission.
| The foreign buyers of Glasgow held
meeting, at which it was almost unani-
mously resolved to refuse to accept the
present bill of lading. They feel we
are not giving this matter the attentio on
it deserves. They have sent represent
atives to this convention hoping to aid
US in solving this problem.
In closing Mr.. Greenleaf said that
under no circumstances would he be
| candidate for reelection, as his private
| business now demanded all of his time.
A. r. James, the chairman of the eX-
| ecutiVe committee. presented the an
| nual report of that body. In it he re-
viewed at length the history of the as
| ISOLATION. Now the output of flour rep
resented by the membership aggregates
| 141 ,241 barrels every tWenty-fOur hours.
| In 1879 there were 744 members, but in
| 1888 that number had dwindled to less
than 300. From 1883 to 1888 the affairs
of the association were at standstill,
but in the past year the association had
apparently taken new lease of life.
| During the year the state organization
of the millerS in North Dakota, Pennsyl-
vania, Indiana, Nebraska and Michigan
had applied for membership in the ma
tional organization, and were admitted.
| Now the only states not represented
were South Dakota. Iowa and Kansas.
and the committee had reason to believe
that delegates from at least one of these
states would be present. at the conven-
ton of 1890. While the association was
not in debt, the funds in the treasury
! were not such as 10 allow the executive