The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1913-03-20
Grain PROBE IS
GIGANTIC FARCE
Oegenerates Into Fight Between
Rival Exchanges.
SENATE INQUIRY NO BETTER
Chairman Works Is Not Backed Up
by Committee and Is Ready
to Quit.
Especial Correspondence.)

Especial correspondence
st. Paul, March 17.-That rip-roar-
ing, screaming farce entitled "An In
vestigation of the State Inspection of
Grain, or Who Gets the Money!" may
be withdrawn by it's promoters. The
introduction of vaudeville stunts has
spoiled the theme and the legislature
is expected to pull the production at
any time. To date the show has cost
in the neighborhood of ,OOO-enough
to build monument of Alexander
Ramsey, Minnesota's war governor
and the net results are many folios
OF testimony, quite a few strained re-
latlons and a clamoring horde of law
yers who want the big show continued
for the per diem that it brings. Born
in lniquity, and Graded in an atmos-
phere of bias, spite and animosity,
the investigation of grain inspection
in the state and it's relation to the
terminal markets in the state has
reached a point that makes the whole
thing an insult to the intelligence of
the commonwealth and a practical
raid on the state treasury, with a few
lawyers as the benefciaries. The in
vestigation has degenerated into a
fight between trading exchanges, with
the machinery of the state being used
to paint the other the blacklist. Out
of it all the grain grower has got moth
ing beyond the knowledge that fools
are born every minute and that the
legislature is the biggest sucker of
them ALL
+ !. :.
The grain inspection investigation
began with the house, the chief pro-
moter being G. M. Bendixen of Red
wood county. James A. Manahan,
lately elected congressman at large,
was named as the man to do the prob
ing. Jim started all right, but his
temper was uncomfortable and ever
since there has been trouble He
simply could not keep his hands off
the Minneapolis and Duluth chambers
OF commerce and any witness having
such a connection was grilled to a
finish. Then some one claimed to
have found that Jim was connected
with the LOftus-Hubbard company of
Minneapolis, which in turn had bust
ness relations with the Equity Coop
erative exchange in a legal way, and
a cry OF bias went up. AS an offset
S. D. Works of the senate conceived
a rival probe, but he fell down in his
calculations, as Lieutenant Governor
Burnquist failed to name a committee
agreeable to Mr. Works. While act
ing as chairman his rulings have
been Invariably turned down by the
other members Of the committee and
Saturday he announced that he was
almost ready to quit. AS far as the
house committee is concerned it is
ready to continue, hut finds itself
hampered by a lack II funds. Both
are still at it, presuming that the two
legislative bodies will come across
with the needed wherewithal, but
they will hardly get it. A resolution
is now being drafted bringing the
whole thing to close.
:. <
"Prevaricator,'' you're another"
"Step outside and we will settle this
matter" and "Rotten' were the pas
sages at arms that characterized
the senate hearing of the grain in
quiry last week. A crowd more in
terested in a possible mix between
the rival attorneys and witnesses
than in finding out about state in
spection of grain filled the senate
chamber and laughed uproarously
whenever one attorney more bold and
aggressive than the other hurled a
crusher at the head of his rival. It
was case of the Minneapolis cham
per OF commerce trying to smear the
Equity exchange and vice versa, with
the state paying the bill. The Mime
apohs chamber had an array of legal
talent the best to be obtained. while
few unknowns espoused the cause
of the Equity. Perhaps it was an un-
equal division of strength, but it had
to be said that what the MINNEAPOLIS
end lacked in the way of invectives
the Equity bunch made up in come
backs. Naturally as far as the Twin
City publications are concerned the
Minneapolis chamber is getting the
best of it, but that does not detract
from the fact that even they are tired
of the whole thing and are calling
for a halt.
!. j. !.
Another probe is now contemplated,
that of vice in the state and it's rela-
ton to poverty and unwholesome sur
roundings. This investigation was
proposed last week by Representa-
tives Kneeland Of Minneapolis, Orr of
st. Paul and Pfaender of New Ulm.
The chances are excellent that it will
be authorized by both houses. It is
to continue during the next two years
and a report made to the 1915 legis-
lature. Minnesota is too new state
to have the vice conditions which
have been brought to light as the re.
suit of similar investigation now on
In Illinois, but there is one thing sure,
will ,4% m &