Omaha daily bee., 1906-11-06
BOYCOTT STILL HOLDS GOOD
Embargo Against Rock Island System
Continued BY Omaha Interests.
NO SETTLEMENT HAS EVER BEEN MADE
Commercial Club and Grain Exchange
Join in Letter TO Public Pro-
claiming Imposition Prevails
Against This City.

That the boycott in Omaha against the
Rock Island road is still in effect is made
plain by the following letter which has been
sent out by the Commercial club and the
Omaha Grain exchange to their members;
OMAHA, Oct. 81, 1sOS-To Our Members:
1t seems proper TO call your attention at
this time to the fact that the Memphis
Frisco system, put into effect July l, is
still being adhered to by those roads, to the
great detriment of the Omaha grain market.
We are also advised that the Kansas city
Board of Trade, not satisfied with the
original plan, is seeking to have its opera
tions extended to cover additional Omaha
territCry.
This being true, it is necessary that 1t be
clearly understood by every loyal citizen or
Omaha that the Rock lsland-t'risco system
has not altered it's hostile attitude toward
the Omaha grain market This hostility is
further shown by the action of the Chicago
& Alton railway, reaching from Kansas
City to Chicago and st. Louis. which was
recently taken over by the same interests
that own the Rock Island and Frisco. That
road issued a circular on October is, agree
ing TO absorb all elevator charges at KAN
sas City, assessed by any elevator against
any grain. No such concession has been
made by the Rock Island road at Omaha
and the action of the Alton road places our
dealers al "A great disadvantage on all Chi
cago and ST. Louis business.
II there is any change in the hostile attl-
tude Of the Rock Island-Frisco interests to-
ward Omaha you will be promptly advised
of IL. Respectfully
Commissioner, Commercial Club.
e J. M'VANN,
Secretary Omaha Grain Exchange.
No Settlement Made.
Yes, it is true the Rock Island Frisco
system stin maintains its hostile attitude
towards Omaha" said Secretary McVann
of the Grain exchange, we sent out the
letter mainly because there seemed to be
/ a. fvV,n Of Ol1r
people that some settlement of the con-
troversy between the commercial interests
of Omaha and the Rock Island road had
been made. This is not true and we want
all of our members to know that It 10
not true.
| Il confess I am unable to understand
why it is that the Rock Island Frisco peo-
pie maintain their position in regard TO
/ this equalization plan Their attitude
would be easier to understand IL by reason
Of the operation of the plan a large amount
OF Nebraska business was being diverted
to Kansas City and secured by the Frisco
road that would naturally move via
Omaha According to the very best infor-
nation we have been able to obtain the
/ high prices paid by Omaha dealers have
prevented Memphis business from being di-
verted to Kansas City by reason OF the
Frisco equalization As a matter of fact,
It wax clearly shown at the Interstate Com
merce commission hearings of the Peavey
case and at the investigation under the
/ LaFollette resolution that the Frisco road
was not particularly popular among the
grain men in Kansas CITY. because It is
/ the only road at Kansas City owning its
own elevator which does not give the use
of that elevator free to its patrons Fur
thermore. it was clearly shown at the same
hearings that the Rock Island system was
tied up tight with the RosenbauE. Grain
company. giving that concern the exclusive
use OF its Kansas City elevator free,
Not Likely to Help Frisco.
"since all the facts regarding that lease
were made known publicly through these
investigations, it would not seem reasonabia
that the knowledge would increase the pop
uarity of the Rock Island road among
those same grain men,
when these facts are considered and
when the further fact is remembered that
the Rock Island road is doing practically
no grain business out of Omaha, and nc
merchandise business into Omaha that Is
controlled by Omaha people, it would seem
to p man up a tree as If they were getting
decidedly the worst of It, but as long az
they are willing to do without business al
Omaha for the sake OF the very question
able amount of favor they seem to be OBJ
tanning from the Kansas City grain mer
Omaha can stand 1t.
"You ask how we know that the Rocl
Island road is doing practically no bust
ness into Omaha? Wei. we have pretty
certain channels Of information upon thi,
point, and can say positively that barring
business controlled by the trusts, the ship
ping of which is entirely in their handl
and not controlled by Omaha people, tn,
Rock Island did not receive enough Omaha
business during the first fifteen days il
October to make a respectable trainload o
merchandise This fact shows very clearly
that the people 81 Omaha are united il
their determination 10 have their JUST cor
tentions recognized by this railroad, and
failing this, 10 have nothing TO do with IT,
I
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