New-York tribune., 1907-11-03
IT'S MALT TRUST NOW
APPEAL TO BONAPARTE.
Poor Bre7Cers Tell attorney General
Combine Is Squeezing Them.

The latest alleged combination to be brought
to public attention is the Malt Trust and Adolph
Keitel, of No 40 New street has submitted evil
dence regarding 1t 10 Attorney General Bona
parte. Mr.. Keitel said yesterday that he could
not give details to his campaign against the
sixty large matsters who he asserted had a
working agreement TO keep up the price of malt
without regard to the price of the barley from
which 1t made.
II have turned over what think is conclusive
evidence to the Department of Justice" said Mr..
Keitel. "and believe I shall be able to break up
this trust. which controls nearly all the
malt in the country. I have been working for
several months now, and have sent circular let
ters to every consumer of malt in this country,
telling them to insist that the contracts made
with them by the matsters year ago be full
filled at Also l have written to banks
pointing out to them that it is dangerous to loan
money to maltsters at present because the price
of malt is bound to fall and some of the malt
concerns will go under.
MY letters have had an effect, and to-day
malt is quoted at 81 10 a bushel whereas it was
81 S5 two weeks ago. This price the highest
since the early 70's. The best barley costs 80
cents bushe so 1t is proved easily that malt,
including labor. costs the maltster only "A cents
a bushel to produce. Thus the malt combine has
bushel,
The. reason for this squeezing of the brew
cries, distiIleries and vinegar factories is that
the maItsters last year lost hundreds of thou
sands of dollars. Most of them had made con-
tracts to supply malt at so cents a bushel Then
barley went up to 6S cents and they We're
obliged to fill their contracts at a loss of so
cents or so a bushel I have what think is
proof that this year most Of the large maltsters
got together and agreed TO boost the price of
malt to an almost unprecedented figure so that
they could recoup last years losses"
Mr.. Keitel is a malt broker but he explained
that he is doing little business at present Il
think it best" he said. mot TO seek business just
now because It would injure my cause in that
some persons might think l looking for
Advertising I am making this fight on my own
responsibility and with my Checkbook. /
have received many letters of congratulation
from brewers all over the country. who are glad
that somebody has come forward 10 fight a
combination that threatens, II unchecked, TO
seize all the profits OF beer whiskey and pickle
makers unless those commodities are advanced
in price"
At the office Of the American Malt Company,
63d street and East River, Mr.. Keiters remarks
were contradicted by expert malt buyer. This
company is one Of the largest in the country,
and the buyer said that any such combination
as Mr Keitel alleges is out Of the question.
why" he said. 1T IA most natural that #
maltsters lost great deal Of money last year
in filing contracts this in connection with the
tight money market would cause an advance
That malt has gone down in price the last few
weeks is not due to Mr.. Kciters prophecies, but
10 the general business slump. Barley is low
because with money and interest high
there hasn't been so much OF IL bought for ad-
vance orders of malt AS to a trust. there Is
nothing in it"
Inquiries at Ruppcrts and Ehrets breweries
brought the assurance that there IS no chance
of beer going up.