The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1901-08-15
FOUND AT LAST.
Grain Trust Must Soon Be on
Defense.
VIII Be Attacked Through a
Suit in Courts.
is READY
Action Under Provisions of the
Anti Trust Law.
Railroads Believed to be Inno-
cent of Wrong.

The farmers of the state who started
out last spring to fight the grain trust
are almost to the point of giving the
octopus a groggy blow between its
dozens Of eyes. They have been col
lecting evidence while carrying on the
fight against the railroads to secure
elevators, and viii very soon cite the
officers of the Kansas Grain Dealers
association into court to defend an ac-
ton under the Farrely antitrust law.
This information is vouchsafed to the
State Journal on the best authority
The intending prosecutors aIlege that
they have sufficient evidence at hand
to prove that the grain dealers are in a
pool and conspire to grind down the
farmer, prevent competition and get
ting their grain to market
There is a slightly changed tone
towards the railroads among the
farmer trust-busters. They are willing
to be shown that the railroads are as
much intimidated by the grain trust as
they, and forced to comply with the
dictates of the big shippers for fear of
losing the large and remunerative bust
ness that the big shippers have for
them, rather than willing tools in col
fusion. There IS a disposition to think
that the railroads mean to be fair and
not discriminate, but that in this par
tlcular field of business the grain trust
dominates even the railroads.
The fight to get elevator concessions
from the railroads has shown that thesl
railroads are either subsidized by the
grain trust or are a part of it, The
trend of evidence has been to the |
former view. But it is anticipated that
the proposed arraignment IN court of
the grain trust viii settle whether the
railroads are part and parcel of the /
trust aiding and abettins it, or made |
a tool of under business compulsion.
Secretary James Butler Of the |
Farmers Cooperative Live Stock and /
Grain Growers association. says the /
railroads are disposed to be fair and /
would be were II not for the interfer- /
ence of the grain trust.
7 do not consider this a fight with |
the railroad company" ha said in an |
interview today. The railroad COM /
pany and the hoard Of railroad com
missioners seem to be the arbitrators. |
The grain trust is using every influence |
II can bring 10 bear Oh the railroad |
companies to prevent the farmers from |
getting elevators or leases on the right |
Of way for elevators They do not /
want the farmers to have equal oppor-
tunity with them for handling grain.
They want the railroads to assist the
trust and discriminate against the
farmers. There has been no difficulty
in securing leases from the railroads
where the members of the grain trust
have not inteTfered.
In one case / have IN mind the rail-
road officials had given their consent
to a lease The grain trust mem bers
interfered and the granting Of the
lease was delayed. but will after due
investigation be granted The grain
trust members are parasites living off
the farmers. It is their influence and
power that prevents the railroads from
speedy action il giving the farmers
their rights Even the railroads are
imposed on by the grain trust"
The complaint recently lodged with |
rd of or In I
the interests of the farmers of Harlan
is compiled along the new line of ar
gument that has recently been agitated |
to the effect that railroads are in duty |
bound to furnish facilities for handling
and loading grain just the same as 9th
er kinds of freight. The Harlan COM
plainants ask the board to order the
railroad to build an elevator itself for
its patrons if the board cannot issue an
order to the road to compel it to give
the farmers an elevator site lease. The
question is now square up. before the
board The complaint reads as fol-
lows:
The complaint against the Missouri
Pacific railway says, that at Harlan,
Kan. said railway company has per-
mitted the erection by private party
of one elevator on it's right of way. and
now permits such party to maintain
such elevator on it's right of way for
his own exclusive use, and to receive
and store grain therein and to spout it
into cars on the respondents railroad
from such elevator. That the privilege
SO accorded such elevator enables the
proprietor thereof to handle grain at
an expense of about one cent per bushel
less than that incurred by other ship
pers of grain from said point, besides
enabling him to gather and hold guam
titles of grain to be shipped at the most
favorable time. That said railway com
pany has no elevator Of it's own al Har-
Ian and furnishes no facilities to the
public for conveniently unloading
grain from wagons for Storing the same
or for spouting it into cars: that it dis
eliminates in favor of the owner of said
elevator and against the complainant
and the public. and virtually gives a
for the purchase and ship
ment Of grain from said station to the
of said elevat tors That it
in favor of said elevator
in the matter of furnishing cars and |
virtually compels the public to submit
to monopoly and sell their grain to
the owner of said elevator. That the
ground on which said elevator is situa-
ted was acquired by said railway COM
pany under it's charter as its private |
property but for the public use. to
which all the public have equal rights
That for the safe. convenient and
economical shipment OF grain it is nee
assary that there be provided a conven-
lent place to store it where it Will be
protected from rain, a suitable dump /
for unloading wagons and appliances
for elevating and spouting it into cars
That your petitioner asks equal privi-
eges for said association and the pub
ic with those accorded the owner Of