Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1892-09-20
RING
HOW FARMERS OF THE NORTHWEST ARB
SWINDLED.
Are Given No Show e. All With Whsat-Minne-
sofa Elevator lien Run the Republican
Party-The immense Profits Of
the ConbHe

cause the Republicans some trouble, es-
pecially in tbc States OF Minnesota ana
Dakota, Washington Gad Oregon. The
book contains fac-simile letters, tele-
grams and other documents written aud
sent by what the Democrats properly
term "a gigantic conspiracy and eomol-
nation OF the elevators, mills and rail-
road companies of the entire North
west"
The book asserts that for many yesrs
there has existed In Minnesota ring
or combination which has controlled
the output OF wheat and has fixed price
to be paid TO the farmer for that cereal,
and by its association has maintained
such prices and prevented Others from
paving higher ones. Italleges that the
members OF the combination are Sena-
tor Washburn, Charles A. Plllsbury,
the flour king" aud other elevator
and milling men and representatives, OF
the great railroad interests. The docu-
ment is Endorsed by the Minnesota Dem
ocratic central committee and the Min
nesota Democratic State Association,
and is 20 be used by those associations
and the national committee in the North
western States aud In Illinois, Ohio.
wisconsin, Michigan and in whatever
other States the national committee
may decide 10 disseminate IT,
SQUEEZING TIE FARMER.
The book fully explains the anxiety
of PillSbury aud EiS preventative,
Senator WashbUrn, 20 pass an anti
option bill" ami eco. vlucr the farmers OF
the Northwe>t tpa- the low prices
which they rece.v 'ur their wheat are
due TO some u'Irr c.u-e than the real
one. The ,Xio-urr shows PillSbury
and his syndicate 200 the double role OF
"bearS" on tnc wheat they intend TO
buy direct FROM tue farmer and "bulls"
on that they have bought already.
That is, they force the price Of wheat
as low as they can drive il in the terri
tory west and northwest OF Minneapolis,
while at the same time they are trying
TO ret the highest possible prices in the
Eastern markets.
IL is charged that H. L. LouckS,
formerly president of the Dakota Farm
ers' Alliance, and now president OF the
Farmers Alliance of the United states,
with headquarters in Washington, was
bought up by Charles A. Piilsbury so
that he practically wrecked the Farm
ers' Alliance Elevator Company, which
was a corporation organized by the
farmers Of Dakota, To which they sold
their wheat and from which they got a
price larger then that paid by the al
legged trust, aud that Charles A. Pills
bury wrote a letter to q farmer by the
name Of Arnold, informing him
that there was no money in the elevator
business aud that the elevator COM
Dauies had for years been losing money,
while he, at substantially the same
time, wrote q letter of an entirely diff
ereEt character TO the manager Of the
American department of the Credit
Lyonuais bank OF Paris, France, liz
which ne gave that gentleman reliable
information 20 the effect that the eleva-
tors had always paid well, and that the
average OF one of his companies for five
years had been 30 per cent, and the pro-
fits OF other companies has been ia some
cases 40 and in other cases so per cent
in dividends.
FAT FOR THE REPUBLICANS.
The book shows that not only does
this combination exist between the ele-
yatOr men and the railroads, but that it
includes the millerS aud the Republican
party of Minnesota, the DakOtaS and
Washington, and the statement is boldly
made that the wheat combination con-
trolls not only the political machinery as
q whole, but individual members from
the Governor TO the railroad and ware
house commissioners, and from those
officials TO the State weighmasterS and
inspectors and other smaller function
aries.
10 does not assume that the trust ex-
lists and then seek 10 show how 10 can
be wiped out, but it begins with the
proof of the actual existence Of the COM
binatiOn, and such proof Is by letters
written by members of the alleged COM
bine themselves, This is It's force and
IL will necessarily have some effect on
this campaign. 1t has even been said
that 10 will stir up the farmers OF the
Northwest to such an extent that there
may be scenes enacted in Minnesota
and its neighbOring sister States paral-
leled by the dOingS of the farmers sew
eral years ago, when they burned eleva-
tors on the mere suspicion that the
elevator companies were rObOing them
OF living price for their grain.
THE METHODS OF RoBBEY.
The evidence begins with a descrip-
tion of the Minneapolis Millers' Associ-
alton, which is said 20 have been In the
combine up 10 1856, when its charter
expired. Then 10 is shown that there
ara four methods by which the farmer
is robbed Of his wheat. These four
robberieS arc committed 1T the country
elevators aud are, in addition 10 other
systematic methods Of robbery, prac-
ticed &: the terminal elevators, and are
said 20 be by the orders aud under the
direction OF the officers Of the elevator
companies. The four principal syS-
TENS OF robbery practiced at the cOun-
try elevators are taken up and described
seriatim.
IL is alleged that through all the ele-
vatorS being banded together and re-
fusing to pay more than the fixed price,
which is the list price, for grain, the
farmer IS prevented necessarily from
gOiag 10 any other elevator and get
ting a higher price for his wheat. 1t is
claimed that the railroad companies CO.
operate with the elevator companies
and refuse him cars so that he cannot
ship the wheat 10 terminal points him
self and Is obliged therefore 10 sell it 10
the country elevators. Numbers Of in
dependent buyers have gone TO cOun-
try towns where combine elevators
are paying this low or list price for
wheat and have paid the farmers a
higher price, but they have not been
permitted to continue paying a good
price for wheat. The trust is alleged TO
have gotten rid Of them by one means
or another. In some cases Ii Is said