The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1899-01-15
WEDGE IS DRIVEN
Into the Missouri Combine
Against Wichita.
IMPLEMENT TRUST BEATEN
Van Zandt Company Secures
Independent Agency

spent among the large manufacturers Of
agricultural implements, with a view 10
securing a general agency Of some well
known and reliable threshing machine.
1t may seem strange to many who do not
know the inside workings Of the strong
combination control &C general agencies
that have headquarters in Kansas City,
No, and which have been in exclusive con-
troll of the territory known as the Wichita
territory, and way through to the south
ern extreme boundary Of Oklahoma, COM
polling all the jobbing and retail imple-
ment houses in this city, Hutchinson.
Wellington and every other city in Kan
sas and Oklahoma to buy from the general
agents in Kansas City or go out Of bust
ness. 1t has been the source Of a great
deal OF figuring on the part Of the many
dealers in the great grain belt 70 devise
some means whereby Wichita and sOutE-
ern Kansas might bring about some ar
rangement that would break up the strong
combination which has existed against
them for good many years. But moth
ing seemed to be able TO be done by CORE
spondence that would help to break down
the ironclad contract cinch that Kansas
City, No, agncies had on the territory. So
Mr.. Van Zandt and Mr.. DelanO, of the
firms Hutchinson branch, concluded 10
fortify themselves with credentials state
ments and letters from the best sources
obtalnable, such as banks and bankers
wholesale houses, and those the firm had
been doing business with for twenty years
and over. Some Of the letters were as
good as bank paper, so far as credit is
worth, If the firm had any to ask, and with
books showing the firms business for
years and evidences Of the most conserva.
tive kind that had been The policy Of the
Van Zandt Implement company, so far as
their Judgment mad been in the Acceptance
of farmers paper-armed TO the teeth with
all the ammunition necessary 70 bring
about some kind of an arrangement that
would break down the strength of the cctc-
pus at the Missouri river Albert Van
Zandt and Mr. Delano left Wichita Decem-
Der y last and went from city to city
calling up the officers and general mana
gers of many Of the large manufactures
Of agricultural implements and when the
question of a general agency was ap-
preached for Kansas and the southwest.
the gentlemen were informed that Kansas
under an agreement that they Shouid do
ell the distributing from that point and
control the business The two gentlemen
went their way, going farther east as they
would jump from one city to another,
meeting with the same results as before,
and concluding that there was small hopes
left though some of the eastern manu-
facturers who had not sold goods in the
IL
and Delano concluded TO go on until they
had gotten outside of the circle of manu-
facturers (thirty in alp who had gone into |
a deal not to make q general agency for |
their goods in Kansas, though many have !
distributing depots in the state and have
travelling men who may live here but re-
port all their business finally to Kansas |
City, Mo. At Port Huron, Michigan, the |
two gentlemen called on the Port HUI |
ron Engine and Thresher company, one /
Of the largest concerns in the business Of |
manufacturing farming implements, and |
after spending several days with the COM
pany's officers and directors, some Of /
whom were sent for from other cities /
around. the proposition of the Van Zandt |
company was ably presented, the books /
showing the large and extensive business |
done by the firm were opened for inspec- /
ton, credentials and financial reports Of !
both mercantile agencies were carefully /
scrutinized by the officers of the Port HUI /
ron concern. and matters were taken I'M
der Amusement by both parties concerned, |
concerning the proposition of all interested, |
and Messrs. Van Zandt and Delano came /
back home, reaching here a few days ago.
Yesterday the climax came in the form |
Of an agreement and contract. making the /
Van Zandt Implement company the sole 1
general agents for Kansas and Oklahoma
for the sale of the manufactured goods,
such as threshers and everything in the
line Of agricultural implements made by !
the firm.
Mr.. Albert Van Zandt was seen yester-
day and when asked what would be the
results derived from a deal of such i'm
porJauce. he said: I'VE have been work
ing for a long time contemplating a trip
such as we have just made, in the hope
Of making some kind of a deal that would
relieve us from the hands of the Kansas
City. No, agencies, who have stood be-
tween the manufacturers and ourselves
and the farmers for years. controlling ana
debating as they chose. We had just such
a job to perform about two years ago
when the combination controlled the Kan
sas dealers on pCoo,r corn shelters. We
worked hard on that deal which. Of course
Is not of such magnitude and OF such i'm
portance SO far as the aggregate amounts
TO. but of equal Importance in the fact
that Kansas must get herseL oCT Of the
hands OF discriminating business control
If she ever expects TO compete with the
markets Of the world and keep stride with
other states. We have felt that we must /
make some move in the direction that
would be Of some advantage to our line /
OF business and though we appreciate the
fact that a strong competition VIII arise,
through the fact that We have at last /
driven a wedge into the Kansas City. No. |
combine and viii be an open opponent IN
the feld Of Kansas and northern Okla
homa this season, we feel that We shall be
able 20 get our share of business and win |
be in a position to place our line OF agri-
cultural implements along side Of any
other manufacture or agent. free from
the rule and necessity of dic-a-ion OF the
agents. Kansas IS the main SUP
port OF all the Kansas City. No. asen-
cies. They occupy and employ hundreds
OF men and teams and drays in the man
agement and transfer OF the thousands q
cars Of Implements shat are sold through
out the state. when the same could be
handled more advantsgeously right here.
and the business belongs 20 the people
Of Kansas and not 10 the people JUST
across the line"
Mr.. Van Zandt said his concern would
probably handle about fifty cars of thresh-
ers alone. and the fact Of their securing