Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1903-01-04
NERGETlC MEN TAKE INITIAL STEPS
Adopt Businesslike Methods to Attain
the End in View.
RECOGNIZE OPPOSITION OF RAILROADS
Committee Of Five Meu Appointed to
Assemble Figures and Facts,
OBJECT is TO PROVE DISCRIMINATION
Furthermore Committee IL Expected
to Convince Railroad Companies
that Grain Market would
he TO Their Advantage.

NC 10 AuNuntnRcs
The campaign for the establishment Of a
grain market in Omaha is now under way.
1t was formally LAUGHED at the meeting OF
those citizens in any way interested held
In the exchange room at the Board of Trade
building Saturday afternoon. Some two
score men appeared to take open and active
part in the initial event OF this crusade
started in behalf OF the commercial interests
OF this city against the railroads which op-
pose the market.
As consequence Of this meeting a sys-
tematic movement toward securing the mar
ket is already on foot. Businesslike meth
ods were adopted from the FIRST. 1t was
recognized Immediately and frankly by the
conference that the plan depended for sue
cess upon the help OF the railways which
now oppose it, and steps we're taken to
alter this attitude. 1t was admitted that
without such change in the sentiments
of the roads the market could not hope to
thrive and It was agreed that the FIRST thing
in order was to show the railroads that Il
would be to their own interests to aid the
scheme.
To this end, after much deliberation and
open discussion, a committee of flve men
was appointed to assemble figures and facts
to show the railroads that they were dis
eliminating against Omaha, and also to
prove to them that they would gain by not
doing so, that the grain market would be to
their benefit. At the close of the meeting
Chairman e. p. Peck appointed p. &c. Her,
n. Merriam, w. c. Sunderland. James
Walsh and L. r. Cottrell on this committee.
Mr.. Peck stated that he had endeavored to
give due consideration to the interests OF
both grain men and the Board OF Trade In
his selection. recess was then taken for
two weeks, after which interval the body
will again meet in the same place to hear
and act upon the report of the committee.
Men at the Meeting.
The sole disappointing feature Of the
meeting was the dearth Of grain men pres
ent. Less than a score OF the forty or more
in the city were there to show an open
front in the fight. This fact was the sub
tect OF considerable comment on the part
of those citizens who spoke to the matter
OF the grain market.
The grain men we're: n. Merriam, ]. II.
Hamilton J. H. Conrad, P. Il. Iler, 8. A.
McWhorter, E. p. Peck, F. C. Hollinger, w.
C. Sunderland, Thomas Baker, James
Walsh. j. Comstock L. r. Cottrell, f. ].
Campbell, John e. Won Dorm, r. A. Gritz-
ner, F. Falkner OF Schuyler, Neb., and N. A.
Dun of Nebraska City.
The directorate Of the Board OF Trade
was represented by two members, James
Walsh and S. A. McWhorter. Two railroad
men only were present. They we're George
Entrikin, division freight agent Of the Wa
bash railroad, and w. Laing, contracting
freight agent for the same road.
One question that has been much agitated
during the last week was decislvely settled.
That was that the market is to be under
the auspices of the Omaha Board OF Trade.
1t was decided that no ether pi@n would
carry behind 1t the stability and backing
that the Board OF Trade can lend TO the
project. There was some sentiment to the
contrary expressed by a few men present,
but the majority was insistent that no
other plan should be considered for a mo-
ment. To that end the immediate organ
| ization was left absolutely temporary in
order that everything may be swung in to
the Board of Trade directorate as soon as
the preliminary steps are completed.
Proceedings in Detail
The session continued little more than
| an hour, commencing at 80 Mr.. Peck
was at once installed as temporary chair
man and F. G. Hollinger as secretary The
object of the meeting was stated and those
present called upon for expressions on
the matter. p. e. Her was first called
| He said
I'VE can get this thing II the railroads
will help us. 1t will be OF the greatest
benefit to the city in every way. with
that grain market here and the railroads
all favorable to it there is hardly limit to
what the town can become. But It all de-
| pends on these railways"
James Walsh followed: Outsiders who
look at This city and note it's location say
| that there is something wrong. And there
is something wrong. II can be righted only
by agitation. The grain men can do It IL
they will all stand together. The question
before US is how 20 reach the corporations
| that are opposing this market. Not nearly
all the grain men are present. The absent
ones are here in the spirit, but not in per-
son. They are afraid that some OF the ia
Vors they are enjoying at the hands OF these
railroads in question will be cut on. Those
that are here are the independent ones
who are going In this thing from the nrst
for all there Is in it. Omaha should be one
OF the biggest grain markets. It's location
warrants 1t. All we want is justice from
the railroads and we will become that. In
order to get justice the grain men must say
what they know concerning the discrimina-
tion that is practiced against this city by
the roads"
Mr.. Merriam Speaks.
N. Merriam was called upon TO tell what
he knew Of this discrimination. 81 am not
prepared 10 say whether Omaha has the
recognition due Il from the railroads or
not" said he. III not, the people OF the
city are to blame They can compel II.
understand that Kansas City was IN that
condition a few years ago. II broke its
bonds and IL we unite Omaha can do the
same, II there are any bonds l shall not
say there are. II we are being discriml-
mated against we must have the figures to
show that we are. l believe that II the
railroads are shown in facts and figures
that they are discriminating against this
city they will help eliminate the evil We
must have the figures"
Upon this Mr.. McWhorter moved that a
| cnmniitnn be annninfnd 10 got Nm fhnsn