St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1892-09-24
IN THE CONSPIRACY.
Railroads Aid the Ring in Keep
ing Down Wheat Pricaz


ing Down Wheat Prices.
The first yell of every one of the
wheat ring, when interviewed on the
subject of the great expose was: There
is no combination in the state to keep
down the price of wheat"
This denial comes in the face of the
testimony taken before the legislative
committee, which proved concIusively
that Frank II. Irons made the dist"
and daily sent it out to the buyers over
the state; that independent buyers
were throttled at every. turn, and that
the railroads lent their powerful influ-
ence TO prevent the competition that
would come if the wheat grower were
able to offer his wheat in the open mar
ket.
This is the great point for the farmer
to keep in mind: That every time it
became possible for him to get little
more Tor his wheat through an inde-
pendent buyer, in stepped the ring. and
with the aid or the railroads the inde-
ence. The farmer has the right to sell
wherever he can get the highest price,
and this right has been denied him by
the giant ring that has its foot on the
neck Of the agriculturist of Minnesota.
Testimony taken before the commit
tee shows conclusively that the rail-
roads are in the conspiracy. The letter
of traffic manager to the union store at
Nelson cannot be contradicted, and.
though it was shifted upon a clerk. it is
fact that the travelling agent of the
road said the same thing in person, and
there was no possibility of laying that
upon any subordinate. The Shelby let
ter is as follows:
Great Northern Railway Line. Montana
Central Railway, Willmar & Sioux
Falls Railway, Duluth, Watertown &
Pacific Railway. 2. P. Shelby, q.
+. NJ.
NELSON UNION STORE COMPANY
Gentlemen: Complaints have reached
from Osakis and West Union that the
wheat buyers on our line at Nelson are
paying above list. Upon investigation
l find that this is SO, and following the
matter. up, learn that your company is
the cause of the disturbance The ele-
vator companies at the two points
above named threaten to meet your
prices if this is not stopped, which will
affect our Sauk Center and Northern
branch. and will cause trouble with the
800 Line'' and Northern Pacific. l
must therefore request that you reduce
your prices TO the regular market price
before the trouble spreads. l have
written the other elevator companies at
that point to the same effect. Yours
truly. =. P. SHELBY. q. I. N.
Commenting OH this, MIR. Moore says
in his report: The great facts shown
by the testimony, which compel belief,
on my part, that the railroad system OF
Minnesota and the Northwest actively
Cooperate, in the enforcement ofstfe
list price, are as follows: l find no dis
agreement or competition among the
rival systems IN rates. Railroad cor
porations distinctly seperate in their
organization and ownership. and with
Individual special interests in the
natural order or things would be found
to compete before the people for the
carrying trade. The evidence discloses
the utter destruction OF all forms of COM
petition in this state between the differ
enI railroad corporations, for the pur-
pose of securing the carrying trade of
wheat and grain. Whether the railroad
corporations have. or have not, pool or
tiers not for the purpose OF the present
inquiry. 1t is most suspicious and
convincing fact that the carriage and
transportation of wheat in the state of
Minnesota and the Northwest, is at the
same rate on all rival railroad systems.
The Excuse
put forward by the railroad corporations
in the testimony is the fear of the rate
war and disturbance in the volume of
their individual traffic. but it seems to
me that this excuse has but little weight
to remove the logical imputation that
all of the railroad systems by their
unity of action and uniform rate sheet,
transact business to a common purpose,
and with an understanding that
they will not compete, the one against
the other for the trade. In fact, the tes-
timony shows that the distinct and diff
ferent railway systems each employ on
their own account travelling men and
agents covering the entire territory, ,and
to use the words Of Mr.. Somers, chief
clerk of the traffic department of the
Great Northern Railway COMPANY:
Our travelling men cover the territory
aud move from cne line TO another
That is necessary in order to watch the
business that is moved, and solicit busi-
ness for our line. and see if we can get
a proper share of the business in the
vicinity of the line; and whenever they
| visit these places they naturally inquire
about the price of wheat as veil as
other commodities, se~as to know
whether that place has any particular