42 THE HIGH COST OF LIVING 



group of men closely identified through interlocking 

 directors with the banks, railroads, and public utility 

 corporations. A large number of the seats in the 

 Chamber are owned by the banks of Minneapolis, the 

 railroads, public service coiporations, and other privi- 

 leged interests. Yet the producers of grain are not 

 admitted at all. It is impossible for the farmers or 

 even the co-operative grain-growers' associations to 

 be admitted to membership in the Chamber even if 

 they succeed in buying a seat. The Minnesota 

 Farmers' Exchange was excluded after it had ac- 

 quired a membership at a cost of $4,200. 



The Minneapolis Chamber of Commerce emploj^s 

 four hundred solicitors who travel throughout the 

 Northwest discrediting the farmers' organization, 

 and every^ effort on their part to organize or protect 

 themselves. The banks are apparently the most 

 powerful members of the organization and they, in 

 turn, exercise power over country banks which make 

 loans to the farmers and co-operative elevators. 

 The majority of the directorate in thirty years has 

 always been in the hands of the big millers and ele- 

 vator men, who buy the gi-ain and whose interest 

 it is to keep down the price. Competition is de- 

 stroyed by every possible means. It is a rule of the 

 Chamber, rigidly enforced, that there shall be no 

 competitive buying whatever between the members 

 bidding for grain on the track for shipment to Min- 

 neapolis. In addition, the price which is offered the 



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