The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1901-05-23
GRAIN GROWERS PLAN.
Text Of the Letter Presented at the
Salina Meeting.

Salina Meeting.
As noted in the State Journal of Sat
urday the Kansas Grain Growers at
their Salina meeting decided to estab-
lish a central station at Topeka as
headquarters for the transaction OF DuS-
mess and handling of grain with sub
stations at numerous points
The plan looking to this end was Of
fered to the SaIina meeting In a letter
from NJ T. Hawley of Chicago.
Speaking Of Mr.. Hawley's suggestion
James Butler, secretary of the Farmer 3
Federation, said:
views I believe that the farmers can
be organized with Topeka as principal
Office or business point, and, with other
points as feeders. can bring millers and
exporters who want Kansas and Okla
homa wheat to our central office to buy
It would bring men who wanted our
honest grade of wheat to US and give
our wheat the name and fame it richly
deserves. 1t would make Kansas fam
Gus as a wheat market and be a great
boon to the growth of industry and
mercantile business within our own
state.
kansas City dealers first boycotted
our farmers and independent dealers re-
fused to handle grain unless it came to
them through the trust. Is it not posi-
BILE for Kansas farmers to get along
without the Kansas City dealers2 It
seems to me practical for them to trans
act their own business through their
own commercial organization with
headquarters in Kansas
The text of Mr.. Hawley's letter is as
follows:
Dear Sir:-I learn from various
sources, that the farmers Of Kansas are
organizing for mutual probation
against the extOrtionate methods of the
grain trusts.
Nothing that Kansas farmers can do
will benefit themselves as much as will
the marketing and exporting of their
surplus produce, without assistance or
Kansas City, and Kansas mem bers of
the grain trust, whose selfish methods
are always directed to debase and re-
duce in value the farmers products
never gave the serious side of this
condition much thought-althOugh
knowing of its existence-untl 1 had
the pleasure of making the acquaint-
ance of a. gentleman representing
large European grain importing firm in
Chicago a few days ago. The gentle
man asked me this question: why is 1t
that we in Europe can not buy the mag
nificent Kansas hard wheat, of which
see so many samples, and of which
read so much? 1t is true that the Kan
sas flour that we buy direct from Kan
sas mills is absolutely perfect, and gives
splendid satisfaction. But the so-called
No. Kansas hard wheat which Europe
receives through Kansas City. and other
sources, is an inferior article that the
is evident to my mind that this So
called Kansas hard wheat is not the
virgin wheat raised and delivered by
Kansas farmers. but an inferior mixed
and doctOred article almost valueless
for flour. Who is to blame for this?
Why do not the farmers market and ex =
port their own wheat? Europe wants
this splendid Kansas wheat in its virgin
purity the same as your millers buy it.
There is g. mystery connected with this
that I do not understand.
Having for years been familiar with
the practice of the Kansas City eleva
tors, 1 had no difficulty in acquainting
this gentleman with the condition that
prevents the wheat buyers on the other
side getting Kansas wheat in its virgin
purity, and 1 explained to my friend
that the grade established in Kansas
City known as No. 2 Kansas hard
wheat had absolutely no other quali1ca-
ton for loading out purposes except a
test of SO pounds to the bushel.
Under this easy rule millions of
bushels of light musty, sprouted and
damaged wheat are secured and polish
ed by improved machinery, and mixed
with Kansas hard wheat simply bring
ing the weight of this doctored stuff UP
to the SO pounds test. An enormous
amount of rejected spring wheat was
brought to Kansas City from the north
since harvest, and undergoing the poll
ishing process mixed and used in adul-
gentleman happened to know a certain
elevator company which during a sin
gle season, bought over one hundred
cars of rye and mixed every kernal Of 1t
out, with wheat. at an enormous profit
to themselves.
It is this practice that has placed
Kansas wheat under the ban and
consequently reduced it's price in Eur
ope And the price abroad governs the
price at home. Does it not2 I asked the
gentleman to which he replies7 in the
Affirmative, but said that he had been
under the impression the inspection of
Kansas grain was a function of state
government.
I explained to him that the Kansas
state law provided that the chief inspec-
tor prescribed the rules for the insDec-
ton of grain, and that Chief Inspector
w w. Culver made an honest effort to
inspect grain on its merits. Culver re-
duced the test for No. wheat to IS
pounds and directed that No. 2 wheat
should be Of uniform color and sound
ness. claiming that virgin wheat from
the farm. of uniform color and sound
ness, even at 81 pounds test. was better
than the doctored stuff of 50 pounds
test turned out by the elevators And
he was right. Every miller in the state
agrees to this. But this action of Chief
Inspector Culver caused a declaration of
war On him by the SINNERS. and Cui +
ver'S successor in Office Immediately put
the grade back to where the SINNERS
wanted it. ''Well,' says the gentleman
7 now understand the condition. it
seems to me the wheat growers them
selves should Eemedy this evil. If we in
Europe could get the virgin wheat a.
nature grows it, from Kansas farmers
direct, we would prefer to buy it from
them without the dishonest dealer as an
1 intermediates Tt seems to me your farm
ers would organize build elevators and
sell the wheat in one to ave hundred car
a..