The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1902-07-09
WHO'LL GET IT :?
Struggle For the Kansas Grain
Trade Is On.
Killers Receive q Proposition
From ssLine'' Elevators.
ARE RATHER CAUTIOUS.
Say That They Don't Want to
Antag0nize Farmers.
Chas. v. Brinkman Made Presi-
dent Of Millers' Association.

Today probably marks the real begin
ming Of what will be big fight for con-
troll of the wheat business in Kansas.
There are four factions that will play
prominent parts in the contest. They
are the owners of the large mills; what
are known as the line elevators, the
farmers elevators and the VroOman CO.
operative syndicate.
At recent meeting of the Southern
Kansas Millers' club it is reported that
the line elevators offered a proposition
to the millers to furnish wheat to the
mills on export price basis which is
about IL cents lower than the Kansas
City market, in the wheat belt, provided
the millers would agree to take their
entire product from these same line ele-
vators. This proposition has been talk
ed of more less among the members
o fthe Kansas State MillerS' association
who are in Topeka today, but the MEM
bers deny StrenuouSly that the PROPOSE
ton has ever had consideration by the
millers as an association. The millers
deny that the association is formed for
such a purpose and that they do not
want to be antagonistic to the farmers.
1t is difficult at this time to forecast
what combination of influences will be
made. The millers and the line elevat-
Ors may combine; the millers and the
farmers elevators may combine, or the
farmers elevators and the Vrooman
syndicate of elevators may combine
with the millers. 1t is generally con-
coded that the CON pany of which f. J.
Smiley is secretary, that has commonly
been known as the grain trust company
and the Farmers Cooperative COM
pany, of which James Butler is at the
head. are practically out of the question
as a faction in the coming contest for
the control of Kansas wheat.
The farmers elevators are understood
as the 10 independent elevators which
refused to go into the Farmers CO.
operative scheme: They are situated in
Barton, Rush, Ellsworth, Saline and
Dickinson counties and are known as
the Farmers Industrial federation.
The line elevators are the Peavy sys-
tenn on the Union Pacific, the Richard
son system on the Santa Fe, the Coun-
selman system on the Rock Island and
the Hall and Robinson system on the
Missouri Pacific.
A conference was held this morning
at the parlors of the National hotel be-
tween Walter vrooman and the farm
ers' elevator men. Vrooman, it is said,
is trying to form combination by
Which the elevator prOprietorS will take
out stock in a company that will be
practically trust, to the value of the
elevator which they own. The eleva-
tor will be guaranteed to return an in
come of per cent on the investment,
and perhaps more. 1t is said Vrooman
has now an option on eight elevators. 1t
is also said that the eight elevators are
considered as poor properties.
AT the meeting this morning of the
millers at the council chamber, it is
Sd1Q an assessment OF ~ cents per par
rel was made to create fund for fur
thering the interests of the Kansas
millers in respect to foreign trade rela-
lions.
A resolution was passed approving
the Cuban reciprocity bill and urging
congress to pass the same. Reciprocity
treaties with as many foreign coun-
tries as is possible is desired by the
millers.
The election of officers in the millers' as
ISOLATION resulted as follows:
President-Charles v. Brinkman, Great
Bend.
Vice President-J H Kline, Concordia
Secretary-George M. Randall, Wichita.
Treasurer-David Bowie, Topeka.
George Randall and George Hackney of
Topeka were elected delegates to the
meeting of the National Millers' Fedora
ton at Chicago that is called for some
time this fall.
The meeting this forenoon was an exec
utive session and it is said only routine
business was transacted.
The meeting this afternoon was open to
the public. H. 8. Kennedy made an adj
dress on the association, its aims and OBJ
jects. and Charles Roos, the manager for
the Kansas Milling and Expert association
of Kansas, talked of the necessity of es-
tablishing uniform grades of Kansas flour.