St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1893-04-13

given by several former witnesses. In
this conjunction it is fair to state that the
committee does not feel like Furnishing
the witnesses who have given evidence
of some vestige of memory, and who
know that the combine thralldom has
held them in subsection. Ii is the wit
neSSeS who have positively sworn that
they have been free 10 sell coal at any
price they chose 10 nominate, and who
emphasized the declaration that neither
Rhodes nor any other member of the
combine ever demanded, upon any pen
atty whatever, that stipulated prices
should be maintained.
Perhaps the most important testimony
given at last nights sitting of the COM
mittee was that of the redou0table JOHN
GOOdnOw. of Minneapolis. He eXempli
fed the fact that he is not only con-
sciOuS of the supreme power OF the COM
mittee. but that there is nothing to be
gained by defying the law. In only one
particular was he reserved, and that
was when he was personally connected
with peculiar methods, and because
OF his frankneSs in other respects
the committee did not feel like
applying the Imprisonment remedy that
is in the power of the legislature. MIR.
GOOdnOw is really the only dealer who
came forward with the Rhodes CORE
spOndence as cited by the committee to
do, and this very correspondence is an
imputatiOn, by inference at least, upon
other dealers who have under oath
denied having received similar letters
from Rhodes. Again. these letters seem
to prove beyond possible conformation
that Rhodes placed himself
In Rather Bad Box
when he repeatedly swOre that he had
DO knowledge of the existence of coal
association prior 10 the organization of
the statistical bureau, about which so
much has been said, for these letters to
GOodnow were signed by him, as will be
related in the recital of the proceedings
had last evening.
j. II. Sylvester, Minneapolis dealer,
who had been crowded out of the bust
ness by the Rhodes regime, also teSti-
fed without apparent reservation. lie
had held out against the Rhodes bureau
until he could not buy coal except at
retail rates, although he had belonged
to the anthracite coal combine prior to
the organization of the SO-Styled bu-
reau. Il. Bergman, of st. Paul, testified
that lie could get no coal TO sell unless
he followed Rhodes dictum, and also
that there was talk of entirely freezing
out all the retailers. so that the whole
business would be i'll the hands of the
wholesalers.
Tie first business the committee con-
sidered was a letter from Maj. Reeve,
who explained that The reason he had
not appeared before the committee in
answer to the subpoena was because he
had been unavOidably absent from the
city. The committee felt disposed to
excuse him, inasmuch as he promises
TO appear at any time fixed by the COM
mittee.
Then T. Bergman. of st. Paul, testi-
fed to the methods of the combine. He
had been compelled to join the Rhodes
institution, else he could get no coal to
sell and would be forced out of bust
ness. Again, he must follow the Rhodes
rules or his supply would be shut off.
He testified that he had been told by
the ST. Paul q Western company that
if all the retailers could be shut out by
the bureau 1t would satisfy them.
He Was COerced.
Andrew T. Eckholm, coal dealer of
St Paul, next testified he was men,
Der of the famous Anthracite aSSocia-
ton, and he fancied he paid some SIS
lliG llISl veal dliQ Cd lllC OCCOllu 1CdI.
He testified that he was cOerced into
Joining the Rhodes bureau.
Rhodes came to my Office several
times and told me l must join. l
thought | could keep out, and did as
long as | could" said he. He said he
bought from the Northwestern Fuel
company, and this concern also repeat
eddy advised him to join. He could see
no benefits accruing from belonging to
the bureau, and thought if he could
have saved the fee he was compelled to
pay it would have been just that much
better for him, provided he could get
coal. That was the point.
John GOOdnow, the Minneapolis
wholesaler, next took the witness stand
to again testify. He reiterated the his
tory of the old Anthracite company in
straightforward and frank way. Dealers
had been punished by the association
for cutting prices and violating the IRON
clad rules of the association. Interyen-
ing the life of these associations there
was year that no association was had,
and during that year two new coal
dealers had embarked in the business in
Minneapolis. One sold out, and the
other went into bankruptcy. When the
Reeve regime ceased, the members
signed another agreement, and owing to
the Lockwood act. the association
was little afraid TO punish
for violations. Then the Rhodes
bureau was organized. and it
was mutually understood that it was
somewhat dangerous to send written
communications. The work was then
done orally. Very few letters were
written. The witness presented the
committee with resolutions and orders
| adopted by the Rhodes association at
different times and also by the parent
associations. These were supplemented
| by several very important letters written
to GoOdnOw IL Lather by Rhodes,
and they place Rhodes III a
mighty unenviable position, and
also seriously reflect upon other
| wholesale dealers who must have re-
| ceived like letters, but who have testi-
| fed that toe association had nothing
whatever to do with fixed prices. Mr..
| GoodnoW testified concerning his secur-
ing the contract for supplying the city
of Minneapolis with coal and of the NJ.
q. Gill bid referred to in the letters.
He testified that
Gill Did Not Get the Contract
The association agreed not to supply
| Mr.. Gill.
Il wanted TO get the coctract,'' said
4 fha I -