The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1907-08-30
drew LINES TIGHT
More Sensational Testimony In
Harvester Case.
How Mr.. Rhinehart of Bur-
lingtOn Was Punished.
HE SOLDPRISONT TWINE
Trust Then Took Agency Away
From Him.
Details Of the Testimony
Brought Out Today.

The testimony of L B. Rhinehart of
Burlington. Kan, at the harvester trust
hearing this morning before Special
Master Henry Ganse, proved to be al
most as sensational and important as
that of w. L. Carr, which was secured
on Thursday. Mr.. Rhinehart is an i'm
plement man, and testified that the
International Harvester company took
it's agency away from him because he
handled twine made at the Kansas
penitentiary.
This action on the part of the trust
was announced to Mr.. Rhinehart by j.
H. Ritter, one of the Il asst "blockmen.' .
This is the way Mr.. hninehart told it,:
Mr.. Ritter came to me one morning
and said, 'Rhinehart, l am authorized
by the International Harvester COM
pany to take the agency for Milwaukee
machines away from you, and transfer
why do you that? asked.
Haven't 1 been selling enough ma
chinese
20 yes. he said, your sales are all
:" Isn't the paper have taken in all
right?'
Yes. the paper is first-class.'
well. what is the reason them
The trouble is you have handled
Kansas penitentiary twine at less
price than our price.
Then 1 told Ritter to get his stuff
out of my store and go to the other
dray and started to move the trust
goods to Haight's. 1 telephoned to
Haight and told him how things stood.
and when he understood all about it,
he refused to accept them. Then they
placed the Milwaukee agency with an
other firm"
What Rhinehart Said.
Rhinehart has been in the fmple-
ment business at Burlington. for over
20 years. He was examined by c. c.
Coleman.
Prior to 1902. Mr. Rhinehart testi-
fled that h, handled the Minneapolis
and Milwaukee machinery. the former
an antitrust machine. In 1902 he
made a contract with the International
Harvester company fol. the 1903 busi-
ness.~- M
What was said by the international
agent about handling Minneapolis ma
chimes 20
He said he didn't want me to han
die the Minnie machines. 1 told him
had those machines on hand and
so he said to go ahead and sell them.
sold them
This contract was offered in evil
dence. 1t was signed by E. c. McKin-
ley blockman for the International.
mckinley told me-" said Mr.. Rhine
hart. that 1 would have to cut out
handling other machines. and 1 told
him l wouldn't do it. and that If they
didn't want to give me the contract
The same sort of controversy took
place in 1904. and finally quit han
ding the Milwaukee machines"
Concerning the twine deal. Mr..
Rhinehart said:
Mr.. Ritter came in and saw the
penitentiary twine stacked up there,
and told me that he did not think the
International Harvester company
In cross examination Mr.. Evans
said:
who asked you to come up here
and testify?"
"I was called up over the long dis
tance phone yesterday by Mr.. Jack
son, and asked to come up here. I
didn't know what was wanted of me-"
That's a1l,' said Mr.. Evans.
Cross Examination of Mr.. Carr.
Mr.. Evans took up the cross ex-
animation of w. L. Carr with the evil
the details of his connection with the
harvester trust. The trust no doubt
intends to attack the credibility of
Carr's testimony. Mr.. Carr was re-
by blockmen and trust officials, give
names of those present and relate
what took place.
Mr.. Evans moved to strike out all
that part of Carr's testimony relating
to the removal of the Plano company
to the building of the trust machin-
cry at the time of the consolidation,
for the reason that both buildings are
in Missouri. The motion was over
ruled.
A motion to strike out Carr's testi- |
mony about prices on machinery was
made and overruled.
Similar motions were made with |
relation to other portions of Carr's |
testimony, but they were all over |
ruled.
'when did you take copies of those
contracts?"
'In the spring of 19o6''
"Who told you to make them ?''
Mr. Hadden. He wanted copies to
give to the blockmen."
How did you happen to take these
with you?"
ct had them in my grips
Had no Trouble With the Trust
Didn't you have trouble with Mr.. |
Hadden?"
mo, SIR
Didn't you have very serious trouble |
with the international Harvester COM |
pany?
mo, SIR
Didn't you state to them that you |
could do as you pleased; that you had |
documents and papers in your possession |
about which they did not dare let the |
facts be known?"
mo, SIR
Didn't you make that sort of state
ment to Ed Case, agent of the Acme |
at Salina?"
mo, SIR
Didn't you have a talk with Mr.. Had
den about these identical papers about
a week after you Quit?"
mo, SIR
why did you quit7"
'T wanted to go into other business |
Mr.. Evans then started of on another |
tack. He said: