The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1906-07-19
mo CONSPIRACY, "
SAY THE MEMBERS
Duluth Board of Trade Men Deny
Charges in States Anti
trust Case.
Special to The Journal.

Special to The Journal.
Duluth, Mimi, July 19.-In the board
OF trade case today most Of the testi-
mony was given by members who as
serted that there was no conspiracy or
agreement not to handle the farmers
exchange business. H. F. Salyards
gave some interesting testimony. He
said that in the fall Of 1904 company
In which he was interested in Montana
sent some grain to the Minnesota Farm
ers' exchange and, not getting returns,
looked the:c cars up and found them kick
ing around on the. tracks. They finally
had to accept 10 cents less. than the
agreed price. 5ssaEss 8@ 55ss55l-.
The Oooperstown speech Of President
Q. 9: Major was brought up.J. F. Nc
Carthy told Of being in the. audience
when Major called his firm thieves and
robbers and Of getting up and answer
ing him. Major even withdrew his re-.
marks as to his firm, but kept on abus-
ing the board Of trade. Attorney Gen
eral Young remarked2sto Mccarthy.
II guess what. you got hot about was
because the. crowd was with Major.'
McCarthy raised q general laugh by
blk responding guieklyc
Oh, 1'guess The crowd WASH Y with
Major, they gave me the business"
his testimony. about his &grud against
Major. The board Of trade had moth
ing to do with that, he said, but per-
sonally she was very bitter againsthim,
and had Majors application come to
a vote before the board he would have
voted and worked against his admis.
sion. as However, that feeling did not
extend to the point of trying to pre-
vent others from doing his business.
T The taking Of testimony will prob
ably be finished this afternoon.
=a Mr.. Owen Explains.
Attorney General Young closed the
state g testimony yesterday afternoon
and Charles M. Owen, representing n.
Poehler & Co., was put on the stand.
the business of the Minnesota Farmers ,
exchange, his letter to it containing
the following words was read:
eff these elevators got on to the
fact that I was handling this grain
they would boycott every sample Of
fered, andI would hardly dare to han
die any deal with you on account Of
the fear Of this boycott"
On cross examination by Mr.. Sever
ance he explained that he meant that
he was afraid the grain would be han
O1Ou uuuOA " AoCOuolA AAopOCUAOA dAu
that the elevators would not handle it.
Boards President Sworn.
George Spencer, president Of the
board, was called for the defense. He
said the competition is very keen and
that the members are always out for
business with anyone they consider re-
liable. The method Of doing business
is the same as on the Chicago Board Of
Trade and New York Produce ex-
change, Of which he is also a member
There was never any concerted action
against doing business with the Farm.
ers' exchange, nor any agreement not
to. He believed, however, that no firm
here would do business with any con.
Germ it did not consider responsible
and would turn down any business
offered by persons whose financial con.
dition Is uncertain. .... .a.tt" T..
Attorney General Young objected ia
the consideration Of financial condi.
tions and thought they did not ente,
into the matter. Judge Dibell said that
he believed any man had a. right to
refuse to do business with another
whom he did not believe to be re.
sponable.- He believed also that the
board had right to prevent any per,
son, for the same reason, from getting
a membership.
Attorney General Young responded
that he did not claim and would not
try to show that the board cannot re.
fuse to grant membership.