The Minneapolis journal., 1902-07-22
OUT TO BEAT
The SPEAKER
Millers of the Country Are
Interested in Hender-
sons Defeat.
His Attitude on the London
Dock Clause Gives Them
.... Omense.

Speaker David b. f1eHuelSoA, VI SAo
house of representatives, has got hlmsel1
into trouble with the milling interests,
and advtces from Iowa say that MS return
thereby The feeling against him Is SO
strong that the millers Of his own dis
trict have organized to fight him. The
district has been flooded with campaign
literature; a campaign fund has been
raised and, In fact, the opposition to the
speaker Is so strong that he has decide
to take the stump in his own behalf for
the first time in many years.
HIS S. Kennedy of this city, secretary or
the Millers' club, and secretary or the
National Federation of Mllers, leaves for
Des Moines tonight to attend meeting
at which measures for defeating Hender-
son will be discussed. Mr.. Kennedy says
that millers generally all over the coun-
try are interested in the fight being waged
against the speaker. and adds that Mime
apolis millers in particular would be glad
to see him defeated. He says, however,
that no money has been solicited for cam
paign purposes outside of Iowa and inti-
mates that enough can easily be raised
life. .......
Due to London. Dock Clause.
The speaker insured the enmity of the
millers BY. refusing to call up what is
known as the London dock clause" an
amendment to the Harter bill, designed
= to do away with what the millers consider
unjust discrimination against American
flour in unloading charges at London.
This amendment passed the senate, but
was hung up in the, house, and for this
Henderson Is held responsible. To the
millers, whose export business is large,
this amendment was a matter of great
Importance. AS it's failure to pass the
house hurts every miller in the country
who sells any part Of his product abroad,
the feeling of resentment against Hen
derson is strong all through the milling
trade, and is especially strong here.
The whole matter takes it's rise from
that obnoxious London dock charge which
has been a thorn in the flesh of ths
American miller for~years. -
/. nItllers Begun Fight. -,-l.. +
) For years the miHers stood this dis
eliminating tax against American Hour
without a niufmur. At last the worm
turned and a protest was made at which
the London dock &companle s laughed
Stung by this and by the manifest injus-
Ftice OF the whole thing, the millers began
an earnest and vigorous campaign for the
abolition of this tax. They were able to
show that II amounted to discrimination
against American flour, that 1t was un-
3ust in every way and that the steamship
companies should be made to eliminate
the Objectionable clause from their bills
of .lading.
So important was this matter consid-
cred that Representative Fletcher gave
Ire of In C,chir ~,
and finally Joseph A. Choate, the Amer
lean ambassador, took the matt er up and
carried his investigation to the finish
point His report was made to Washing
ton and received there with interest. Di-
rect correspondence passed between the
ambassador and the Washburn Crosby
company of this city, leaders in the fight.
The final analysis Of the question made
it evident that the steamship companies
could force the London dock companies
to throw Off this tax If they were dis
posed to keep the American millers in
their fight.
Harter Bill Amendment.
The way to get at the matter was by
means Of an amendment to the Harter
shipping bill. This was secured. The
amendment passed the senate. Every
thing looked favorable. But the millers
reckoned without the speaker of the
house
The Clause Must Go.
All the local milers express themselves
freely as very much disappointed over the
failureof the amendment to meet with
favorable action in the house.. Henry
Little of the Pillsbury- -Washburn com
pany, said to-day: =
We asked Loren Fletcher to help US in this
matter and we are satisfied he did every
thing in his power We had reason to be
iatyo h;u ir, hah OLE
favorably and it is especially. discouragin,
and annoying to think that all this effort ha
been without. result. But the obnoxious doc]
charge in London will have to go sooner O.
later II we are to continue competing sue
cessfulIy for foreign flour trade. The actor
of the house may kill the matter for tn
present, but it will come up again.,
Delay Charged to Speaker.
John Washburn of the Washbur1
Crosby company says the disappointment il
general in milling circles, the countr!
over and especially here in Minneapolis
where the export. trade means so mucl
to the millers. Said Mr. Washburn thi,
morning: ...ts =
we had every hope that Mr.. Fletcher
efforts in our behalf would result in a knock
out blow for this Objectionable London docl
clause, and had not reckoned on any action o
the speaker of the house that would defea
us that our cause Is just and the i'm
position Of the tax such discriminate
that we could reasonably hope for success Il
our fight upon it: And the milling industr
Is SO important to our country and SO espec
tally important to Minneapolis that it woul
seem as If anything calculated to injure ou
industry or handicap us in our business ough
not to be hard to defeat But this Londo
charge of the dock companies has been
hard nut for US. 1t had at, last begun
look like something of success, but the hold
ing UP of the bill by the speaker leaves u
still at the mercy of the tax. Naturally "
are disappointed and dspleased.
James MarshnIPs Idea ~
James Marshall, Consolidated Millin
The passage of any billy or Ian,endmer
aimed at the annihilaton of this London ia
Of the dock companies, which is nothing bu
hold-up' game at the best, would be {
benefit to the milling industry. Minneapoli
feels il more because we turn out so niue
more -four here than anywhere else, and ou
exports are much heavier. But ever
miller in the country who does any foreig
business will be surprised and disappointe
IN this matter Our own representative hs
done very we'll. think this is the sentimen
But suppose he cannot do 1t all.