The Evening statesman. [volume] (Walla Walla, Wash.) 1903-1910, 1909-03-17
COM BINATION AND lNDEpENnENr
CONCERNS LOWER PRICES
IN FIGHT.
Two Factions Ar Teryina to Wrest
the Whole of the Peanut Trade
From Each Other.

NORfOLk, Va, March 17-Tha'
the fight which is now being waged
between the so-called peanut combi-
nation and the independent con.
Germs is having a telling effect in the
local market as we'll as in all other
, peanut centers is believed to be OBJ
vious from the fact THAI despite the
| shortage of farmers production the
cleaned goods continue to sell at q
steady price and on a dull market.
The fight is said to be one of the
bitterest in the history of competitive
enterprise in Virginia, the reported
combination tussling with the under
taking of forcing the price down.
while the. independents are struggling
to boost il.
With these opposite purposes in
view the two factions of the peanut
market are said to be wrestling with
each other to a death finish.
According to statements of those
, who have followed the situation init
mately, the independent market is
working to the end Of advancing the
{ price of the product in order to make
all the money it can; while, with the
combination the object now is not so
much to derive a profit, but to avoid
| losses so far as possible
What Started Fight.
| The situation is reported to be this
way.
| Early in the beginning of the pres
ent season the peanut trust or combi-
nation set out with the intention of
controlling the market on farmers
stock, and in endeavoring to do So it
| is claimed, they sold a great many
more peanuts at very low price than
they were able to buy when the pro-
duct was ready for the market, APP
parently trusting 10 the belief that
! there would be a large crop and to the
| supposed necessity of the farmer
| sooner or later accepting tHt price VI
fered.
The farmers, however, protested
vigorously against the price set. They
claimed hat it was below the cost of
production The result was that those
/ Of the producers who could decided
to hold at least a part of their pea
nuts.
Now it is said the buyers from the
peanut combinations are growing
clamorous for deliveries according to
agreement and it is claimed the COM
! bination is unable to fill the orders on
account of the lack of stock.
On the other hand it appears that
the independent concerns held dill
ferent view as to the magnitude OF
the crop and believing the production
would be short went ahead and
bought a few more peanuts than tney
sold. thereby protecting themselves
against losses in the event prices ao-
vanced, which they thought likely to
occur.
The crop. il is said, did not turn
| out to be as large as first represented
| byi peanut men. The supply or pest
grades is said to be short even OF last
wear when the market went one 10 one
and one-half cents per pound hlgher
than it is now.
It is reported, TOO, that the peanut
I trade has bought more largely IMAM
ever before for the reason that peanuts
were considered good property at the
nrices quoted by the combinations
which was lower than the independent
dealers could offer to sell.
| At this time the independent 1ac
| tories claim to have the best OF tile
fight. as they are able to fill orders
without losses whereas the report -
! tba4 tho so-called combination cailiio'
do co as result of lack of stock.