The Duluth rip-saw., 1918-10-19

To a layman, hungry outsider, it
wheels in the food commission busi-
ness in Duluth.
Michigan street is the home of a
big majority of the dealers in fruit,
produce and provisions.
The Duluth Produce Exchange,
Inc, seems to be sort of clearing
house for the men who buy and sell
food stuffs or handle them on COM
mission.
This corporation does not live On
the same street as what a suspicious
public commonly calls the Food
Hogs" It's home is at No. 505 Sell
wood building. The officers are:
President, George E. Lytle; vice
president, B. j. Culbertson; secre-
tary-treasurer and, apparently, chief
executive, A. w. Worley. Among
other things, the Duluth Produce Ex-
change, Inc, fixes a mans credit, If
not prices of food products, and cuts
It off when he flunks. Duluth retail
ers have to settle every week. Iron
range retailers get a credit of 80
days.
The Famous big Four"
Although there are at least a
dozen or fifteen firms eligible for
f.ie = ohsy nv I'D Ssss aESas ~
long. These are commonly called the
"Big Four" by the retailers. They
are: - - .... .......
Fitzsimmons-Palme company, No.
1924 West Michigan street.
Knudson Fruit company, No. 21s
West Michigan street.
Culbertson Brothers company, No.
12S West Michigan street.
Stacy-Merrill Fruit company, 210-
IL West Michigan street.
The officers of the respective men,
bers of the "Big Four" the firms
nate the Duluth Produce Exchange,
Inc, according to the city directory,
are as follows, viz:
Fitzsimmons-Palmer company -
President, w. Gage Baldwin; vice.
president, S. G.. Palmer; secretary
treasurer, Charles M. Ten Brook.
Knudson Fruit company-Presi-
dent, John J. Dunlop; secretary
treasurer, George Esson.
Culbertson Brothers company
President, v. R. Culbertson; secre-
tary, 3. j. Culbertson; treasurer, A.
T. Cox.
Stacy-Merrill Fruit company -
George E. Lytle, manager. This firm
is represented as being interested in
the Twin Cities and, possibly, else
where.
Other Firms Unwelcome.
Some years ago, there was an ef-
fort made to get in other firms.
Some of the outsiders declare that
there has been no effort made by
the Duluth Produce Exchange to in
crease its membership in recent
years. One independent is firmly
convinced that he was not wanted
when he was a member. Still an
other declares that he is we'll salts
fed that an application for member
ship by him would not be as welcome
as the roses in June to. say the least.
In criticising Michigan street COM
mission merchants, the so-called
Food Hogs" there are many things
to be taken into consideration. In
the first place, it is not always easy
to get true and disinterested infOr-
nation. If firm or member of
firm acts like Food Hog" natur-
ally, there is strong hesitancy in
acknowledging the corn.
Many man, Individually, is a
prince of good fellows and q splendid
citizen in private life, but gets
hooked up with corporation that
uses discreditable methods and does
despicable things in daily trade.
Then good firm, taken as a whole
or individually, may be compelled to
see and even share in wrongful pro-
cedure, against its inclination.
Baldwin the big Noise.'
The previous issue of the Rip-saw
stated that it is alleged that W. Gage
Baldwin controls Michigan street
houses with one exception and that
be is credited with owning stock in
that one. This great family journal
Is credibly assured that, up to a
year or so ago, M. Baldwin nor his
frm did not own stock in Culbertson
Brother company in the sum of $5,-
600 or any other sum. Well posted
business men also doubt any Bald
win control in the Stacy-Merrill Frui.
company. Any domination of that
firm is credited with coming indi-
rectly, through the deliberations of
the Duluth Produce Exchange, Inc.
Some Of the most obnoxious "Food