The Washington times., 1920-03-01
HOUSER G|VESL|E
TOGRA|N CHARGES
Grand Jury Report Political Plot
To Besmirch Him, Says
U. S. Official.

PORTLAND. ore. March 1.-Specihc
denial OF each and all the charges
contained against him In the report
made by the Federal Grand Jury at
Spokane. was made today by MAX IL.
Houser, millionaire grain operator OF
Portland. and vice president OF the
United States Grain Corporation for
Zone 10. Houser said:
This whole thing is a damnable
attempt to besmirch my integrity.
1t is prompted by political motives
and by motives of Jealousy. My
skirts are absolutely clear, and L
feel secure in the knowledge that
the investigation now being under
taken by the Federal Attorney at
Portland following my request to
Attorney General Palmer, will show
that there Is not the slightest fact
upon which to base the sweeping as
sertions made by the Spokane grand
jury.
Il have some hesitancy in speak
ing while this investigation is going
on but ! feel there are some points
that require an answer right now.
Gives Lie To Critics.
I'm the first place. the assertion
that | have pretended to have no
present connection with the Pacifc
Grain Company, or with the Portland
FIGURING Mills, or any other OF my
holdings. is lie.
When julius Barnes got me to &C
cept the vice presidency OF the Gram
Corporation IT was understood that
would maintain my organization.
which had taken years OF work TO
| build up.
Il reorganized Max f. Houser e.
Co. as the Pacific Grain Company,
4
whole chain OF the The T.. Will
cox properties. including the Portland
| FIGURING Mills and the Tacoma Ware
house Company for 100000 and
spent another $1.000.0o0 improving
| them.
II control in all nine mills and las
warehouses and elevators.
During my -incumbency Of the
| Grain Corporation vice presidency ]
have had but little time to attend 10
my own affairs, and had to depend
on others of course. But any state
ment that l did not pretend to own
! these concerns " lie. .... --
bought II ,OOO.OOO Bushels.
Il purchased 1900. 900 bushels OF
wheat Of the 1919 crop. most OF this
being soft wheat. ! borrowed be-
tween s.0eO, 900 and $4,000, 900 from
the banks.
AT the present time ! have less
than 1OO. 900 bushels on hand. All the
wheat ] bought was sold by the PACING
| Grain Company to my mills at the
price paid to farmers. plus the usua
! charges. II any one can prove tina
the grain company sold soft wheat t6
the mills at more than $3.50 bushel
or hard wheat at more than S2.4f :
bushel, I'll give everything i own t'
! charity.
Quite contrary to the statement:
made in the grand jury report.
have done everything in my power t'
see that the farmers did not get thu
worst OF it. At the same time j have
constantly tried to keep the price or
-four down. This fact has incurred
for me the enmity OF some OF the
millers.
Now the statement that grain ha:
been cornered with the idea of max
ing the Government buy it for Eu
ropean relief, at an advanced price
Is so ridiculous as hardly TO merit
denial. According to the law the GOV
eminent can buy the wheat only a
the guaranteed minimum price.
The profits OF the Pacific Grair
Company for 191T-lalS and for 1918
1919 after the deduction of income
tax, amount TO just $50, 066.9l, and
have contributed far more than this
sum to the various war activities ano
to various charities.
Not ono OF my salary voucher!
from the Grain Corporation has beer
cashed: they will all be given &c
charity, as ! agreed