St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1892-02-02
THE HOTEL CORRAL.

last evening. He was the recipient of Gen.
gratuations and good wishes from host of
friends. both in and out of the city. who had
heard OF the verdict in the United States
court in a suit against the Pillsbury syndicate
for royalty on u cookie machine used in their
Touring mills, which was invented by him
nearly twenty years ago. Mr.. Lee is a man
not given to expressing his emotions and
feelings in public. but he could not help
feeling little elated over his hard-rought
victory. He made a contest against tre-
mendous odds and won, and the victory
means a fortune tohim.
The history of this invocation and Mr.. Lees
struggles to secure his rewards make up q
story that is as interesting as any that can be
found in the records of the patent office at
Washington. Few people who have known
the Long Prairie man as the banker and leg
islator are aware of the facts OF his early
life He was born in Alton, ILL.,. forty years
ago, and came to this state in 1857. His father
was mllwright and first located at Little
Falls, building mills in the adjacent counties.
His son was taught his fathers trade, and
worked with him for a number of years. In
1873 the two were engaged in building -four
| ing mill at Sank Center when the younger
man devised the now famous cookie mill.
The invention was utilized in the well known
Kellogg mill at Sank Center and proved to
be a great success. 1t was patented in 1874
ana some backing was secured to manufaet-
ure the machines. The backing failed that
was promised, and. the young inventor hav-
lug no means to push it, the invention was
laid aside. and Mr.. Lee went to Long Prairie
and commenced clerking in store. Later
he commenced business for himself and sue
ceeded in securing good start In 1879 he
was chosen register of deeds of Todd county.
and was later reelected. In 1881 he organ
lied the Bank of Long Prairie, which he has
managed ever since. In 1856 he. was
elected member of the lower house
of the state legislature and at once entered
the field as candidate for speaker. He was
defeated in the Republican caucus by GOV.
Merriam who, recognizing the strength and
ability of the Long Prairie man, appointed
him chairman of the committee on banks and
banking. as well as a member of the finance
committee. In 1890 he was a candidate for
his party's nomination for state senator i'll
his district and came near securing the
honor. He is one of the few inventors who
have been practical business NELL and his
successes only emphasize his qualities
man. His account OF his invention and his
struggles to secure his rights is interesting.
Il
'At the time 1 was helping to build the
mill at Sank Center" said Mr.. Lee, milling
was being revOlutionized by new machinery.
The object was to bring spring wheat up to
winter wheat Up to that period it was not
as good and brought less i'll the market. Now
1t is better than winter wheat and brings a
higher price. and the cookie machine which
l invented, claim. has been largely respon-
sible for this change. The machine as now
used is the result of duzen inventions. but
the principle involved in my patent is
found in all of them. aud the decis
ion i'll this case will enable me to
bring all manufacturers to recognize
my claims for royalty. put the machine in
operation i'll the kellogg mill and secured
backing to push the manufacture of it. but
this failed me, and was obliged to drop it.
About 1872 however. learned how exten
sively the machine was being used through
out the spring wheat section Of the country.
and at once opened communications with
the Milwaukee Cookie Manufacturing COM
pany which was making nearly all of the ma
chimes used in this state. called on this
firm later; but they pafleyed for a time, and
finally refused to recognize my claims. FL
nslly. about three years ago,I commenced suit
against the Pillsourys, and the Milwaukee
firm, being the makers CT the machines.
stepped IN and defended. The suil resulted
in verdict in my favor for $780, The Mil
waukee firm later secured new trial on the
ground that they had found new evidence.
They took two years and secured England,
France and Germany, bringing here for this
trial models, pictures and documents with
ont number to show that the machine had
been invented i'll Europe before had de-
! vised it. After a fair and learned charge by
Judge Nelson the jury retired and brought
in O verdict for $1,000, all / asked. They
were out not over fifteen minutes, am told"
i
I The Milwaukee manufacturers fought hard,
and were represented by the celebrated legal
firm of Winkler, Flanders, Smith. Bottom &
Villas, of Milwaukee. while Mr.. Lees inter-
ests were taken care of by Davis, Kellogg &
Severance of st. Paul. and Keith, Evans,
Thompson & Falrchild, of Minneapolis. I he
Millers' association rallied to the aid of the
defendants, and did all III its power to pre-
vent Mr.. Lee securing the evidence and wit
nesses he needed at the trial. He was denied
admission to the Touring mills, and could
not even secure entry into those where he
supposed himself unknown.
i
This is n test case, and was so regarded"
said MIR. Lee, land it affects every machine
of the kind In use. The number of them can
be estimated when tell you that every flour
ing mill i'll the wheat country uses the ma
have as many as thirty. l sued the Pills
burys TOR $50 on each machine of the MiIwau-
kee manufacture they had in use. and the
verdict is for that amount. They had sew
eral others made by Buffalo firm, which
settled with me some time ago. Between these
two suits l have settled with many firms.
1 have met with opposition from the Millers'
association which seems to be organized to
fight inventors. 1 have been refused aomis-
sion to mills where desired to see the work
ing of the cookie machines In this connec-
ton wish to state that the improvements
which have made spring wheat profitable
are all owed to inventors. not over two or
three of whom have ever got anything out
of their inventions. The millers have tried
to throw discredit on every man who has
tried to get the benefit of his work. l am
glad to state that in the city of ST. Paul
l found one miller who was disposed
to be fair. This man is Kingsand
Smith, of the st. Paul roller mills. He al
lowed me to inspect his mill, and one of his
men testified in my first suit"
Mr.. Lee has not vet decided how he will
proceed to collect his royalties-at least. he
was not prepared to state this last evening
The Milwaukee company may appeal. but
this Mr.. Lee thinks will only mean delay.
The decisions of Judge Nelson's court are not
reversed very frequently. When the whole
affair is settled up Mr.. Lee will have fort
une of no small dimensions, and those who
know his makeup and plain. sturdy char
acter will fee. glad to hear of his good luck
II
Maj. A. W. Edwards, the portly editor of
the Fargo Forum. passed through ST. Paul
yesterday on his way to Washington, where
he will take hand in the Fargo postoffiee
fight.
"The term Of our postmaster expired in
December" remarked the major" and as the
president does not seem to be able to settle
the matter, thought 1 would go down and
help him out. Congressman johnson is fight
ing the two senators, Hansbrough and Casey,
and 1 think he has laid both of
them out They are backing Jor-
dan, but the fact that the latter
supported the Democ ratio nominee for con
gress in 1899 has ended his chances. Con-