The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1900-06-24
Who ARE IN IT..
Millers, Elevators and a Few
Farmers Said to Combined
TOCONTR0L KANSAS WHEAT
Air Full of Rumors of Similar
Propositions.

Yesterday while the wheat market was
climbing to the stars. three hundred men
in Wichita and probably three thousand
in southern Kansas and Oklahoma were
individually struck with the thought that
this small section of the great nation has
it in lis power to form a wheat trust and
control the market Of the world.
Having been struck with this thought,
several hundred men came to the conclu-
sion simultaneously that some one is
forming such trust.
All yesterday afternoon where the price
Of wheat was the subject of conversation,
the rumor was insiStent that trust for
the possession of all the good wheat in
the United States, which Is practically
confined TO Kansas, Oklahoma and north
ern Texas, was forming
Yesterday afternoon when the wheat
market closed, wheat had gained cents.
Immediately after on the curb it went up
6 contS more. Most Of the grain men
here believe that wheat will open up at
q dollar in Chicago Monday morning.
The failure in the north is devastation.
Forage, everything, is gone.
Kansas and Oklahoma held the key TO
the situation The air last evening
among those Of a speculative turn Of
mind was full of wheat trust schemes.
Back Of it all and under # all was one
rumor which seemed to be something
more than a shadow; and that one thing
/ had for its import that there was al
1ad ~,
Oklahoma a combination Of elevator men
and millers including few of the farm
ers OF the section who have immense
acreages.
+ When the men who were reported to be
interested in such a movement were ask
ed about it, they pooh-poohed It. How
ever, one man was seen who, after ex-
acting promise that his name should
not be mentioned, said: There is no such
combination in existence. Tt has been
talked over and by some is considered
practical. Others OF US are from Mis-
souri,. 1t Is not now formed, and IL it
were forming publicity would not aid IT,
In some circles a possible farmers
trust in wheat was preached, but this
was ridiculed by men who are interested
Beyond pinching off the supply by the
creation of a ''hold your wheat" senti-
ment individually among the farmers, any
attempt to get the farmers into a COM
biBation is considered the merest moon
shine
Others believe that big spectators of
the east will see the opportunity afforded
in Kansas and Oklahoma and will at
once combine for the control IF the pro
duct in this section, if necessary crush
ing out any similar organization local to
this territory.
A careful weighing of all the rumors
abroad indicates that there is. within the
territory which has produced. almost
alone the export wheat and export -four
wheat of the country that is, the terri
tory of Kansas and Oklahoma, a eombin-
alton forming for partial control of the
visible product, and that extreme secrecy
has been enjoiued on all those who are
participating. and that only men with
known talent for keeping ciose-mouthed
were asked 70 join. The combination is
not yet contaminated.
No one who is supposed TO know any
thing about the matter will talk Men
who are thought to have something to do
with the plan, when asked about It laugh
at the idea
In the meanwhile every man Of a spec
ulative disposition IS turning over in his
mind the dream that If he only possessed
the talent Of masterful combination and
organization he would, In very short or
der. be a millionaire.
In the last few days many individuals
in Wichita have taken OUT neat sums
from options in wheat. Their names are
not given out. as It is not regarded az
speculative etiquette in Wichita to make
than r1uhIFc