St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1892-06-30
ROTH TO THE PUBLIC.
He Wants 1t Understood that Min
neapOIis Has a Flour Trust.

To the Editor of the Globe.
Public mention has been recently made in
some of our daily papers, in reporting last
Monday nights meeting of the retail grocer
association. that thefiour / am selling is of
an inferior grade, made from second and
third class wheat. In answer to this false
hood challenge disproof OF the fact that
the flour am handling is of the very best
flour manufactured in the city of Minneap-
oils.
In this connection, wish to call public at
tention to the manner in which the Minneap-
oils flour trust has been and is controlling
the price of -four in this city. This flour
trust is composed of nearly all the To-
cal millers and grocers and other re-
tail dealers in flour. 1t once had a
written agreement (now an under
standing }, with its retailers and with the
grocers association. This understanding
is that each retailer will sell only such flour
as is manufactured and controlled by the
members of the trust: and he agrees to buy
and sell at the prices dictated by the trust. If
a grocer violates this understanding, and
buys flour from miller who is not member
of the trust he is told at once that 1t is not
allowed, and that they will no longer sell
him the leading brands of the City. The
grocer. knowing that he must have the lead
ing brands. must and does comply.
In this way, nearly every one OF the 250 to
300 grocers in this city is controlled aud made
party to this monstrOus flour trust.
On the other hand, if a miller or jobber in
flour sells to grocer not party to the trust,
or who violates any of its rules, the retail
members of the trust refuse to buy from hims
The price is raised or lowered at will to any
degree, regardless of the price of wheat.
Mills not in this trust must seek a market
elsewhere, for they can sell almost no flour
to the dealers i'll Minneapolis. The bakers
here have the advantage of an open market.
and buy flour at what it is worth; as a rule
from 10 to 40 cents per 100 pounds cheaper
than the grocer. ,
The bread trust was an affair of the same
kind. / would have nothing to do with it,
but fought it, and the bread war was the re-.
suit.
Mayo 1 resigned from the grocers' assoc
ciafion, and withdrew from all agreements.
and have ever since had the grocerS, jObbers,
bakers ana millers on my back. Not satisfied
with deDriving me of the brands of -four
which my trade demanded, they are now
attempting. by cutting prices, to destroy the
demand for the flour | am now handling
Ever since the 10TH of May thew have refused
to sell me flour, because would not give up
the -four / am now selling. This -four is
made in this city by the Minneapolis Flour
Manufacturing company, of which Dorilus
Morrison is PRESIDENT; Samuel Morse, vice
president ana manager; L. y. Sammls, sec
rotary, and II. 3. Whitmore treasurer. These
men are honorable business men and leading
citizens and their -four is of the very best quail
ity, and as such it is known the world over
wherever it has been sold. But this COM
pany is not a member of the trust
The present sudden drop i'll flour was or
dered by the trust to drive me into its ranks
or out of Its way, thereby strengtheng its
cause. 1t was further agreed to drop the
price of flour for one week 60 or ~ cents per
hundred to accomplish this purpose.
How long the people of this city will put
up with this outrage it is hard to say. L
challenge any of the rich and popular men
of this CITY, who are steering the course of
this unjust flour trust, TO step forward in the
light of day and disprove my assertions if
they can. ii. G. Roth.
Minneapolis June 90, 1902.