Omaha daily bee., 1905-06-18
business with the worrall Grain company
Methods of CroydinH out

Methods of CrowdinE out.
''The methods OF putting independent
buyers out OF the market where they made
any headway at all were various. A
quarter of a cent advance at some par
ticular point would do the business in
some cases, but II II would not, then there
were other means, particularly the scheme
of rendering It impossible for the irregular
buyer to find market for his grain.
There was absolutely no competition at
hundreds Of stations in Nebraska. An un-
derstanding that was in reality a pool was
established. l have in mind one instance
where a farmers elevator was run by a
good and popular man, who was getting
most OF the grain. He was forced to agree
to a division with two other buyers who
were regular They allowed him 81 per
cent Of all grain bought by the three: the
second got 80 per cent and the third 30
per cent Soon this man sold out and his
successor had to agree to an equal divvy.
II he bought 1900 bushels, say, and the
other two but GOO, he still had to divide
equally
in many instances that know of one
house would shut up, IL there we're two
in a town, or the buyer would get sick, or
his machinery would break down. This
left but one buyer, paying the trust price,
and the farmers could take that or haul
their grain home.
This combination has as charged in our
petition, constituted absolutely the market
for grain in Nebraska. In 1904 they con-
troled without possibility of interference.
the handling of the Nebraska crop. so far
as 1t was shipped. This control extended
to 100000 bushels of wheat, 10000 .OOJ
bushels of corn, 900 bushels OF rye, 25,-
| OOoO 900 bushels of oats and 100000 bushels
of barley. This was practically all that
was not consumed or sold locally for con-
sumption in the state.
Cites an Instance.
II have in mind a transaction on the
| Omaha exchange on June 8, 1905. Corn was
worth on the open market ~ cents. A
farmer shipped to one of the banks foui
cars of good corn. The bank turned II
| over to the Westbrook- Gibbons company
who sold 1t to Twamley & Son for IS cents
That was taking from that farmer $l2O just
as surely as II the money had been ex.
| tracted from his wallet. He heard of the
deal, however, and / believe a settlement
was made
IF members Of the exchange are no
| regular they are not on earth, so far al
grain buying in Nebraska is concerned
promising to be good. l said l had sim
enough to answer for, after seeing tn,
other end OF the combination, of which
had been a part, out along the line in th
country. Members are under duress Of th'
most oppressive kind and they must d.
business the trusts way or not at all.
THE Nebraska Grain Dealers association
is not a member of the National associa
ton, are most of the associations o
the other grain-producing states. They ar
too wise for that. We can control tn
grain business of this state they have SAT-
in my presence at a meeting in the ofic
of one of the elevator companies, but W
cannot control the grain business of tn
nation; we will just hoe our own row an
not attempt to spread out too much
I'VE have proofs OF our allegation tina
will astonish the natives when they ar
presented This suit is just beginning"