THE STORY OF THE NONPARTISAN LEAGUE 



ers explained this and other marvels of the 

 trade by accusing the weighing and elevating 

 system then in use. I had better cite here 

 an unimpeachable authority, for I am aware 

 these charges must be viewed with incredu- 

 lity; men engaged in reputable business re- 

 sort to no such devices, we say. In 1906 the 

 whole subject of the grain trade in the state 

 was investigated by that committee of the 

 North Dakota Bankers' Association to which 

 I have before referred; it was a history-making 

 inquiry. These grave and reverend business 

 men, the most reputable and conservative 

 in the state, were not likely to report anything 

 that would give comfort to pestilent agita- 

 tion and still less likely to sanction any com- 

 ment injurious to existing business practices 

 unless they had proof. Their report says: 



We found that graia is inspected, graded, and the 

 dockage fixed [at the head of the Lakes] by the state 

 inspector under the rules of the IVIinnesota Grain In- 

 spection Board. The grain is then ordered into one 

 of the termmal elevators and, after being unloaded, is 

 elevated to the top of the elevator, where it is weighed. 

 During the process of elevating all the grain is subjected 

 to a suction draught in order to keep the building free 

 from dust (?) ^ This is an injustice to the shipper, as 

 in our judgment all grain should be weighed immedi- 

 ately upon being unloaded, and nothing should be 

 taken from it before it is weighed. The amount of 

 light grain and dust taken out under the present 



^ The question-mark is not mine, but the committee's, and seems 

 to be justified. 



72 



