Omaha daily bee., 1906-10-23
GRAIN MEN FIGHT IN SECRET
Majority 0vsrrideI These Who Want Pro-
tests to Railroads. Policy Public.
MOUTHsAYs LINES ARE KILLING MARKET
Not only Rock islands hut other
Railways Are Doing Their Best
To Crush Out Local
Industry,

After debating twenty minutes on the
advisability OF allowing reporters to attend
their deliberations, the Omaha grain men,
who met yesterday afternoon in an anti
railroad demonstration, invited the reporter
for The Bee 20 withdraw giving him the
assurance he would be told after the meot-
ing as much as was good for the public to
know. Similar invitations and promises
we're there for other reporters. After the
meeting he saw E. c. Twamley, who acted
as secretary on the occasion and who said
/ TO him
Il am authorized TO say to the press that
a number Of active grain dealers Of the
Omaha Grain exchange, believing some Of
the charges enforced by the railroads are
discriminatory and detrimental to the vel
fare OF the local market, met this after
noon and outlined action calculated to in
duce tho railroads 10 abolish these evils
This was all the information offered Of
fcially, but the reporter heard some inter-
esting things brought up casually in the
debate caused by his presence. George G.
Thompson called the meeting to order, say
I ing he did so at the request Of number
/ OF those present. After he had stated the
object of the meeting he was elected chair
man and Mr.. Twamley was chosen secre-
tary.
Jaquith Recites the Case.
( A. b. Jaquith was ready with set of
resolutions, which he read. They reclted
the wrongs OF the grain men, especially
the commission men, at the hands Of the
railroads. They suggested committee be
appointed TO call on the directors Of the
exchange and enumerate their grievances,
asking the exchange to take action for re-
dress. They provided, in case the exchange
! failed to do anything, for the permanent
/ organization of the men present for the
purpose Of taking up the fight against the
railroads.
4 Mr Jaquith said the railroads were
slowly but surely killing the grain business
in Omaha. They had promised at the in
ception Of the market to stop grain in
Omaha free of charge, seeking TO conciliate
the exchange, which they feared would be-
gin fight for lower freight rates in Ne
braska He said that to their discrimina-
tory rates the roads had added switching
/ charges OF 81 to 81 car, rsconsigning
charges Of s. a car and were attempting to
enforce unreasonable demurrage regula-
tions.
He said his company had received notice
at noon Monday Of the arrival Of car,
with the announcement that it would be
charged s. for switching II orders for the
disposition of the car were not given by :
clock.
Another Gross Injustice.
] He cited another case where the railroads
had charged $50 for hauling car Of grain
ffrom Genoa Neb. to Omaha. had assessed
81 Switching charges on the car the day 1t
arrived and the next day attempted to
collect demurraEe The same car could go
from Genoa 20 Chicago, he said, fore one
half less money and no charges would be
made fer switching or demurrage.
THE Rock Island is not the only road
trying to injure Omaha, but the North
western and others are declared Mr. ia
quith.
It was about this time that John Kuhn
of the Updike Grain company raised an
objection to the presence of the reporter.
Then the discussion waxed warm, Mr. ia
qulth and ]. II. Hamilton leading the fight
for publicity and Mr. Kuhn and Nathan
Merriam declaring against it.
In support Of his position Mr.. Kuhn said
the railroads would be more disposed to
grant reforms II waited on quietly, while
in cases where fight is taken up in the
newspapers the officials often grind their
teeth in defiance. Mr.. Kuhn was a freight
agent of the Northwestern for years until
recently The other side remarked that
times have changed in the last few months,
especially since the passage OF the inter
state commerce law and the railroads are
being forced gradually to come down OF
of their high horse and yield to public
opinion and public demands. As long as
the roads had ignored their individual com
plants said the advocates Of publicity
their attitude ought to be published. and
public opinion would then help the grain
dealers.
The anu-publieity men won their point
Grain Men at vhe Meeting.
Those present at the meeting were: n
Merriam, A. b. Jaduilh, ]. II. Hamilton
c.. Vincent. James Walsh, E. f. Huntley
T. c. Twamley, G. c. Thompson, Johr
Kuhn, c. T. Babeock, c. F. Davis, s. f
McYVhorter, c. c. Crowell. 4. X. Thresher
Cookie and W. B. Burns. K. j. McVanr
was present as secretary OF the Grain ex
. change.
Another meeting is scheduled for an earl,
date.