The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1916-02-20
SISAL LOAN STOPPED
BY TRUST CHARGE
Sol ,Wcxlcr Accuses Harvester
Go. Of Threatening Bank
nj Inquiry.
SENATE SEEKS BOOKS

WAsutNcroN. Feb. ia call wac
made to-day upon the continental an"
Commercial National Bank OF chicago
to furnish TO the Senate committee q"
Agriculture. which r. ~otrductin the
.,s., investigation, a full statement
Allowing the deposits carried IN the oah"
by the International Harvester Company
for three years past.
Word came to the committee from Cm-
csro that the bank would refuse tine
Information unless directed to give II
nv court. The committee had not de-
cidcd late this afternoon Just what
course would be pursued to force COM
pliarce.
The information was desired In con-
nection with the Investigation oil inc
charge that the International Harvester
Company had withdrawn its deposits
from the bank TO discipline II for ex-
tending financial aid to the sisal grow
era Of Yucatun. The Plymouth Cofdage
Company is also involved in the m
v~atieation. one of the barge Is that
thu plymouth company combined Win
the Harvester company to m~osiopoiiAe
tha OUTPUT OF sieal and prevent ihde-
u.ndent manufacturers ~ binding Irvine
from obtaining their raw material.
Counter charges have been made that
sol Wexler. the New Orleans banker.
In Mt the head of II Sisal monopoly an"
has tried to control the prices OF binder
twire. A telegram was read to-day be-
fore the committee. which had been FOR
Warded By the Continental and CONNER
cAal Bank of Chicago. which stated that
the account carried by the l"nternationa
Harvester Company had not been de
pleted TO any extent within three years
and that the ompany still had a sub
Otantiai balance on deposit.
Mr.. Wexler. who was before the com
mittee to-day as a witness. expressed tn
opinion that tn, Harvester company ha'
cough, To prevent the National Cit!
Rank OF New York and the Chicago banl
from participating in the loan Of SO.
coo. 900 which WAS to have been made L
the Yucatan planters each year To al
them in the marketing Of their crop, tn
loan to be guaranteed by the Pan-Ameri
can Commission. of which Mr.. Wexlcr /
president. The witness said that all IN
banks of the country were willing {
take part in the loan except the Nationa
City Of New York and the Continents
and Commercial National of Chicago.
81 learned that the president and vice
president of the Harvester company ha
rome to those two banks and threaten.
to withdraw their deposits and to will
draw their representatives from III
board Of directors at each institution
the banks encouraged in any way the al
3 the Yucatan loan" said Mr.. Wexler.
He testified that prison Irvine factori'
In wisconsin and other States were Il
chief independent buyers OF sisal. h
charged that "A propaganda to arou'
the farmers against the sisal grove
VA being carried on In trade journa
BY the International Harvester Con
pany.
Senator Gronna. member of the con
mittee, expressed the opinion that q
Harvester company was behind the AZ
tation to prevent the carrying In int
state Of the products or 60
Wet labor. He said II farmers HI
been stirred up over the matter al
had been sending protests to Congres
and he believed IT was an enort ny q
International Harvester Company to q
stroy the independent competition a
forded by the convict made goods.