Grand Forks daily herald and the evening times., 1914-08-08
HEARING EVIDENCE
IN EQUITY CASE
!. E. Greenfield, Plaintiff
Takes Stand at Yester-
days Proceedings.

Fargo; N; D.. Aug. Sin the case
OF the Equity Cooperative Exchange
now being tried before Judge Pollock
IN the district court, the introduction
OF evidence began when the counsel
Tor the defense called J. E. Green
field one Of the plaintiffs to the wit
ness stand. Judge Pollock ruled that
the defense who claim that the plain
tiHs desire an examination Of the ex-
changes books for unlawful purposes
Greenfield Testifies.
Mr.. Greenfield in his testimony sd-
mitted that as a member of the firm
OF Greenfield and Crumpton, he has
Sold grain for the Equity Cooperative
exchange prior to the opening of their
once In Duluth. Oct. Is. 1913. When
asked II on a recent visit to Minne-
apolis, shortly before suit was begun,
ne had called upon Secretary McHugh
OF the Minneapolis Chamber of Com
nerse' M &C. ne said that he had. but that
ne had there discussed nothing but
the methods of the equity in doing
business with him in Duluth. and that
the suit had not been mentioned.
LOTUS on Stand.
George s. Lotus was the next wit.
ness called. and his examination was
the principal business of the rest OF
the day. He testified that the eouitv
exchange had done most of its seilinr
through the Minneapolis Chamber OF
commerce before he took charge OF
the oHice there, and that the fact that
since then, the selling had not been
gone through them had given rise to
bitter rivalry between the two con-
Germs. o
Root of Trouble.
fh4
tlme was given over to an attempt to
prove that much ill feeling did exist
between the exchange and the Cham.
Der OF Commerce. and various in
stances were cited by the witness r.
snow this. Methods Of the chambeT
py which immense profits are made b,
mixing hrst grade and no-grade wheat
so mat 1t passes state inspection as
tm ,Ise grace We're quoted. and Mr.. Lof-
tus tiro ttated that the equity's opposi-
tino TO this sort of thing was the roo.
OF the trouble. Mr.. Lotus fu-ther
stated that If the equity were nut
OUT OF business it would leave a clear
track FOR the chamber. and was the
oo'ect they wished to attain.
Rather Deal With Farmers
secretary McHugh was quoted az
saying that the plan Of co-operat;Ve
se!ins farmers grain on the market
could not work out. that it was i'm /.
possipIe and that it was not posi-
t1 ple Ior II to succeed. He said further
a thau II tney We're determined to as
ta tsonsn an agency in Minneapolis, le,
mem send down three green. honest
farmers and the Chamber of Cor,
nerce would welcome them with onan
arms: McHugh, however, was forced
70 admit Immediately that the ru1e.
OF tne chamber would not permit co-
operative selling on the marker
oss-Exanline LOTUS.
rollowing the above testimony. the
counsel for the plaintiffs examined
Mr. LOTUS with a view to este hiist,
ing his relationship and interest il
me equity exchange which would az.
reet ms value as a witness. The de-
tiS tsnq OF the attorneys for the plain
III that the books of the Minnea noiie
o,nce o snouid be produced. to verify
Mr.. Lotus statement Of his stains
was objected to by. the defenss u.h :
We're so far sustained bv the coTnt
that the demand was rcstated for a
showing of the gross earnings ana
gross disbursements. ahu
Southe on Stand.
AL the request Of the attornevs ror
ene oe1ense. permission was pranfad
lot the ummontng of Frank Southa
peIore the examination Of Mr.. Ioftne
pS tne plaintiffs was complete His
connection with the equity was rone
INTO at some length. as we'll as his CON
nectlon with the firm Of Greenf1eld
ana Crumpton, by which 1t was shown
smat Crumpton while handling the
business OF the equity exchange had
aiSo sohcited grain on his own ac-
exchange. Win 'ne