Evening star., 1909-04-16
Chicago Board May Call Off
Patten Forces.
BROKERS FEAR SCOTT BILL
Believe Bread Famine Cry Would
Aid in It's Passage.
PATTEN EMPLOYS BoDYGUARD
Office Door Closely Watched by Big
Colored Man-President Bunnell
Denies There Is a Corner"
Special Disnatch to The Star.

Special Dispatch to The Star.
CHICAGO, April 16-Developments
are following each other in rapid success
sion in the wheat bull manipulation OF
the market. making this one of the most
spectacular corners that ever have been
run on the Chicago Board Of Trade. and
1t Is said there are possibilities in the
situation for serious consequences.
The introduction OF the Scott bill, re-
garded as the most significant develop
ment, has been the cause OF much local
discussion. The board of trade off.ciaIs
look upon the present as an unp~opitious
time for them to have such a bill intro
duced, and while they are chary about
saying anything for publication. there is
said to be a strong feeling that unless
the Patten forces are called or and the
behind it so much popular pressure that
Congress may be forced to pass it.
For that reason, It is argued. the drec-
tors probably will take the matter up
unoficially with Mr.. Patten to see if he
will not forego his manipulations for the
present, so the board will not have the
bread famine" cry to contend with in
the new fight against the bill. Failing to
got I6SuIIS dH IHLOTIfldt ItQuSSt SOih0
Of the directors are for formal action.
but that has been discussed only tenta-
lively.
There also is a general rumor on the
floor Of the board that secret agents from
the Department Of Commerce and Labor
have been in Chicago for several days in
vestigating the alleged corner In wheat.
every one seemed to be advised about the
same time that they were here
Patten Office Guarded.
With the wheat market soaring fol-
lowing his campaign, James A. Patten
has found it advisable to install q body
guard. The mana muscular negro
stands at the Office door Throughout ths
day, and even accompanies Mr.. Patten
when the grain man drives home in HIS
automobile. x =
Whether or not Mn fattens precau.
tion of appointing bodxsuard was re-
sultant upon the receipt sof threatening
letters from anarchistical1y inclined per-
sons he does not state, but that he has
set careful guard over himself was re-
vealed during the day when his attendant
followed at his elbow everywhere he went
and stood within easy reaching distance
whenever Mr.. Patten came to q stand
still.
Even the entrance to his Offices in the
Western Union building is guarded
carefully, and Mr.. Patten does not allow
himself to be alone or approachable by
strangers for q single instant. Whenever
he goes out Of the building extra precau-
tions are taken. His chauffeur comes up
into the Office and waits for him to 30.
When he is ready the procession starts.
fs, -Q~,<vA e-&. trvrD 1& "a
bottom of the stairs. Mr.. Patten. accom-
panied by his chauffeur and another at
tendant descends and is escorted across
the sidewalk to his waiting machine by
all three guards. Even In the macmne
he does not permit himself to be alone.
there being two men inside who accom-
pany him on his journey.
Denies There Il q "Corner."
John A. Bunnell. president Of the board
Of trade. took occasion today to disclaim
knowledge Of any. wheat corner.
Have the directors Of the board OF
trade taken any action regarding the
Patten wheat corner? he was asked
Absolutely none." he replied There
is not scrap Of evidence to show there
is any corner in May wheat. nor that
there has been any manipulation. The
matter has not been brought to our at
tention and do not think that 1t will be.
nor that there is any cause for the direct
ors to act in that matter.
Regarding the Scott bill. while have
not seen 1t, 1 presume it is like the one
introduced in the last Congress. Inc
hoard of trade welcomes publicity in this
matter We have absolutely nothing to
conceal and we want intelligent criticism.
We have a mass Of evidence which shows
that exchanges Of this kind are absolute
u, rooosSary and I will be only too glad
to show this to any one who Is really In
feroStod's