The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1897-07-09
THE WHEAT TRUST.
Judge Anderson, Of Nashville, De.
liverS Special Charge
To the Grand Jury in Regard to the
Alleged Combination of the
Nashville Millers.

clded stand in this matter, and true
to all principles of Democracy and
good government has determined to
ferret out the complaints made
against such infamous combina-
tions.
The agitation of the ice trust has
brought to light some interesting
facts, and it would not be surprising
If the investigations now being made
by the grand jury would show that
the ice men are not the only ones
who have taken advantage of wealth
and concerted action to gouge the
public.
The latest target at which the bat
teries of the grand jury have been
directed is the wheat combine,
which is said to exist among the
mills of this city. The millers deny
that such combine exists, but
strong evidence has been produced
to the contrary, and the grand jury
will thoroughly ventilate the mat
ter if it takes them till September.
Judge Anderson charged the Jury
yesterday in reference to trusts in
general and especially as regards the
combine. He does not mince words
in dealing with the matter, but
strikes out straight from the should
er, and impresses upon the jury the
Importance of breaking up such in
famous combinations.
He instructs the jury to remain in
session until September, if neces-
sary, to fully investigate the trusts.
The charge of the Judge is as fol-
lows:
Gentlemen of the Jury: A few
days ago had occasion to charge
you generally with reference to the
law against the formation oftrusts
and other combinations and agree
ments by which the supply of the
necessities of life were undertaken
to be controlled, and also the prices
at which they should be sold, and
charged you then with reference
particularly to the alleged ice trust.
/ have called you before me this
morning to charge you with special
reference to another trust. 1t is UNI
necessary that l should repeat the
general provisions of that law, for
am sure that you bear that in mind.
I have been reliably informed, gen.
tlemen of the jury, that we have in
this community what is known as
the wheat trust. 1t seems that these
trusts, combinations and agreements
are not content to operate in manu-
featured articles and articles that
affect more particularly and direct
ly the city population, but they
reach out to agricultural products,
the very foundation and basic stone
of our country and the prosperity of
our people, and their baneful effects
are Immediately felt by the whole
people. Now, | am told, | don't
know how true it is, that this wheat
trust, these wheat dealers here in
Nashville have a common agent to
go through the country buying
wheat; if he does not offer the pro
ducer what he thinks his wheat is
worth the producer will go to the
dealer or miller that this agent rep.
resents and he gets an offer, and he
is offered, one cent under what this
agent offered, and he may go back
to the agent and has to sell to the
agent, and he is the only man he
can sell to and get as much az the
wheat brings on the market; anC
when that wheat is all bought by
, the agent it is prorated and distribu
T ted among the different wheat deal
ers of Nashville.
Now, if that is true, | say it Is
the most infamous conspiracy thai
ever cursed free people; if that is
true and the power of the law is no
sufficient to break it up, then We
might as well bow our heads il
slavery to such combinations for
ever.
/ II had expected, gentlemen of the
. Jury, to discharge you all within the
= next few days, as l will have ther
completed the trying of my docket
and would have discharged you a
the same time. | DO not now pro
pose to do it until you have com
pleted your investigation in these
matters, if it takes until the first day
of September, when court mus
necessarily adjourn until the ueX
; term. / do not propose to dictate tC
, you to find an indictment agains
anybody, but until you have eithel
ascertained to your satisfaction tina
there is no trust, or if you find there
is trust and indict, until that hat
been done, l propose to hold you to
|: gether.
There are some other trusts,
; understand. 1t seems that thi
agitation of the trust question ha
brought to light several, that is,
; am so informed, and 1 get this in
formation from reliable sources
Later on we will give them on
, attention. The Judge is in no sens
, a prosecutor, and l am not here t
prosecute anyone or dictate the in
dictment of anyone.
II am here for this purpose; If tn
law is being flagrantly and Openl!
, violated, or if seemingly well found
ed complaints are made that Their
! is an open and fragrant violation O
! the law, then it is my duty to cal
: your attention to it, and ask you t
investigate and see whether thes
complaints are true or false, and
propose to do il, and keep doing 5,
\ until complaints are proved false o
! their cause removed.
II want further to add that tn
existence of these trusts can be a
we'll proven by circumstantial evi
dence as by direct and pOsitiv
> proof. Conspiracies are general
. hatcbad in tho dark and mora Ofte