The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1892-04-07

folly Of such = course Il sbundantly
evidenced BY the record. Fam unable
to find that any other wheat than such
average was ever shipped in q clandes-
tine manner and believe that you may
properly sosfind. IS
- THE GREAT COMBINE.
When the attention of the committee
was first called to the existence of q
combination or conspiracy designed to
control the wheat markets of the state,
it was represented that certain testi-
mony was producible tending to show
that such markets were governed by
prices arbitrarily established by some
person or persons, associations or cor
porations. and. evidenced by the tele-
grams and other communications sent
to numerous correspondents by Mr..
Frank H. Irons of Minneapolis. The
committee entered upon that field of
investigation with no Indifferent pur-
pose. Candor, however, compels me to
say that whatever suspicious may have
arisen as the result of such inquiry,
there is not the slightest proof of the
existence in fact of any such combina,
ton or conspiracy, nor was there any
thing which initiates against the good
name of Mr.. Irons. In developing this
branch of the investigation number of
witnesses we're sworn, most of whom
were subjected to most critical and
searching examinations.
Evidence was introduced for the pur-
pose of showing that combination ex-
listed between the elevator and railroad
companies of the state for the sole pur
pose of maintaining a uniform system
of prices; and it is doubtless true that
some parts of such testimony unex-
planned, tends to establish that fact.
The strongest evidence of this charac-
ter is, in my opinion. the letter written
by the clerk, Somers, over the signature
of Mr.. Shelby, the general traffic man
ager of the Great Northern railway
company, and the other communication
testified to by Mr.. Kellogg, of the firm
of Davis, Kellogg & Severance. The
committee will recollect the testimony
upon these points. 1t was insisted that
the Shelby letter was wholly unauthor-
lied and written during the absence of
Mr.. Shelby, and promptly repudiated as
soon as hisa ttention had been called to
it's existence. Whatever may be the
real fact as to the influence of these
corporations in maintaining what is
termed list prices, it cannot be said, in
view of the record, that the fact has
has been established by such weight of
evidence as would warrant this commit
tee in reporting it as one of its findings
THE REMEDY.
There is no doubt that the producing
interests of the state are at this time,
as they have been for a long time in
the past, the victims of grain manipula-
tors thro aghout the country. The tes-
timony OF Mr.. Pillsbury has placed the
question beyond controversy. Well
devised and ably executed manipula-
tons on the part of Chicago SPECTATORS
has undoubtedly resulted in greatly de-
pressed prices. This implies finan.
cial loss to the farmers of this state OF
many millions. We here come face to
face with a combination of such I'M
measured power and influence as to
merit the gravest apprehensions and
call for such correct measures as the
genius of our institutions will supply.
And if the information which you may
have derived from this investigation
leads you to such reflections in your de-
alterations as will enable you to sug-
gest appropriate legislation to meet the
evil, then your labor will have been
fraught with excellent results. The
suggestions of Gen. Barrett in this con-
nection are timely. Beyond question,
the producers of wheat should be I'M
trammeled in placing their crops upon
the markets of the world. They should
stand on an equal footing with the
most powerful in this regard. AS they
cannot in justice ask for other than
reasonable facilities, they should at all
times enjoy nothing less. The state is
in duty bound to protect them thus far;
but whether it shall go further, and as
Gen. Barrett asks, but not without diff
fidence, provide, contiguous to deep
water, at public expense, warehouses
so spacious as to afford storage, with
out mixing grain of different individu-
ais, while awaiting sale in the markets
of the world, for the vast crops of the
state, is step which will no doubt be
taken by you, if taken ut all, with
great hesitation. Before adopting
such a view it were well to consider
what effect, if any, the exposure of so
vast a volume of wheat would have up
on the markets of the world. AS the
daily prices of grain are presumed to
be dependent upon the visible supply
at given times, might not such scheme
rebound to the injury Of the very inter
ests it was designed to protect?
merely suggest this for your considera-
ton in case you feel disposed to make
quested by Gen. Barrett.
THE OLD SCHEDULES
The committee will remember that
certain exhibits known as the ''Olson
schedules" were admitted, unread as
evidence before this committee. That
they are replete with inaccuracies fully
appears from the record; nor is this
fact at all surprising, for the reasons
already suggested. Having been pre-
pared by persons inexperienced in ac-
counts and the methods of bookkeep-
ing, their many errors are scarcely in
excess of what might reasonably be
expected.
CONCLUSION.
On account of the pressure Of numer-
Gus duties upon my attention, 1 have
been unable to devote such time to the
preparation of this communication as
the Importance of the subject matter
requires. 1 trust, however, that my
views may be of some service in guild
ing the committee to a wise and speedy
conclusion of its labor. Deeply sensible
of the uniform consideration shown me
by the committee during the whole pc.
Rod of its work, and regretting my ina.
bility to make an earlier response to