The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1914-08-19

maintained, which Ii 4 money maker.
Organization Il Beneficial.
Contrary to the assertions Of ignor-
ance by previous witnesses relative to
the existence OF associations of flour
millers in Kansas Mr.. Hoffman threw
some light upon two, the meetings OF
which he has attended. One is the
membership covers Texas, Oklahoma,
Missouri and Nebraska as well as this
state, and the other is the Southern
Kansas Millers' club, whose members
the most part. 1t has few members
SO far north as Enterprise in Dickin-
son county, where he operates. That
the social influence of these societies
has a directly beneficial effect to flour
marketers without involving an actual
agreement to control flour prices he
indicated in his statement
The ringing of church bells was the
announcement to the faithful OF the
exposition Of the Holy sacrament and
owing to the danger of the pope's life.
to intercede for the Almighty to pre-
serve him.
His statement, j. part:
There exists in this territory an
organization of the millers, which is
purely social IN character, which was
organized for ne purpose of creating
good fellowship among the millers
and ironing cut any personal grew
ances or difficulties that might arise
between them. And believe that the
creation of this good fellowship has a
beneficial effect in the obtaining of
more money for the product.
LAS to abnormal prifits by Kansas
millers I will say that we have ex-
amined the statements of probably Is
or 20 mills other than those belong
ing to the Kansas Flour Mills COM
M v,v vxyifh t,o ocf fVrn ro nd n
half. as many of them have been Of
fered to US for sale, and 1 find that.
unless it possesses unusual advantages
in the purchase of raw material, cheap
cost of production or long-standing
trade due to good management and
can not pay dividends on its stock.
There are probably Is or 20 mills in
Kansas that have made good interest
on their investments"
What Happened in Kansas. =
Mr.. Hoffman came to Topeka in re-
Spouse to the request by Attorney
Robertson without formal summons.
Naftzfier of Anthony, former state
senator and attorney for the Kansas
Flour Mills company, to which the
Enterprise mill belongs. Mr.. Naftzger
assisted in his examination and elicit
ed various interesting statements re-
61l uIAS tAc 6cACIdl OuS1ICS6 COI0l-
tons of recent weeks whic affected
wheat and flour prices.
In reply to the question of Mr..
Naftzger: What elements entered
into the change of price Of Kansas
flour since the first day Of July. 1912"
Authority from Washington to ex-
tend his investigation to include other
towns Of the state has been given
Fred Robertson, United States district
attorney, in charge Of the federal in
QUESTION into food price advances
here. Mr.. Robertson expects to con-
clude taking testimony here tonight,
and intimated today that he may pro-
coed to Wichita and Garden City.
The activities of the Southwest Mil
1ers' League, which includes many
Kansas millers. and the purpose Of its
price bulletin, two copie., Of which
have come into his hands in the pres
ent inquiry, will receive further atten-
ton under the new instructions from
the attorney general.
On tQday's program are C. B. Hoff-
nan, millionaire Socialist and miller,
Of Enterprise, Kan, who Mas uues.
toned regarding the Touring business
in Kansas. and officers of the Retail
Grocers assc citation of Topeka.
Tuesday afternoon testimony was
given by D. M. Dibble, A. L. Green.
H. H. Hall, a North Topeka insurance
man. who introduced evidence relative
to purchases of sugar rom Kansas
City mail-order houses. Evidence
given by the grocerymen tended to
establish the fact that there is no
trade cooperation among the retail
ers in that trade in Topeka beyond
the inspection of trade credits. This
is the chief activity Of the Retail Gro
GERS association they believed al
though they are not members of the
organization.
Mr.. Hall submitted invoices and
samples of sugar purchased by mail
order at a price lower than the locally
quoted wholesale price on August 13
The purchase was made under a com.
bination with other articles under cir.
cumstances indicating that it was
made possible as apremium to encour
age trade. BY that arrangement hs
purchased 1875 pounds of sugar fol
$5.45 plus freight amounting to Il
cents.
The market was very varying ow.
ing to the large crop of wheat over the
southwest and brilliant prospects il
the northwest, when suddenly EurOp.
broke out in war and the Kansas Flou,
Mills company was denied credit.
which had previously been arranged
for in New York, Chicago and Kan
sas City. Insurance companies re
| fused to write war insurance excep
at prohibitive rates, and railroads o
the west placed their embargo upoI
shipments first to the Gulf and, sine,
the first of August, until yesterday
had an embargo on shipments t,
ports of the United States. The Kan
sas Flour Mills company had owe
100000 of foreign exchange which
was unstable. over $4,000 upon tn
| Enterprise mill. This made the f1nan
cial situation with US very tight as w
were doing a grain business Of abou
| a quarter million bushels day at tina
| time"
WARRANT EnR KIlFnNI