THE WHEEL OF FORTUNE 



trol and divide all the grain that came into 

 their town and to pay for it the price fixed 

 by a secret conclave in Minneapolis. And 

 these prices were the prices made by the 

 gambling bet on the future or option plus 

 a margin for profit determined in advance 

 by the conclave of the Chamber of Com- 

 merce. Contemplating these astounding rev- 

 elations, the wonder seems not that farmers 

 found farming unprofitable, but that any- 

 body remained on the farms. 



The light thus thrown upon the grain busi- 

 ness as it really was gives to the following 

 letter a piquant interest: 



MONTEVIDEO, MINN., 



October 15, 1906. 

 NATIONAL MILLING COMPANY, 

 MINNEAPOLIS, MINN. 



GENTLEMEN, We have your letter of October Hth 

 and note that you have sent your superintendent of 

 this line to Clinton to get the grain-buyers to agree 

 among themselves as to what price to pay for grain. 

 You certainly have our hearty approval, and I sin- 

 cerely trust the buyers will be able to hold prices this 

 year where we may be able to make a little money. 



Yours truly, 

 MONTEVIDEO ROLLER MILL COMPANY. 



By II. C. Stebbins, Manager. l 



But the real taste of these revelations is to 

 be had only by comparing them with the 



1 Before the Interstate Commerce Commission. In re Relations, 

 etc.; testimony, p. 96o. 



1G9 



