UNEQUAL FIGHTS 



in business for myself in St. Paul and they 

 knew I was all right. Nevertheless, I went 

 with my heart in my mouth. It did not seem 

 possible that anything could save us. But I ^ 

 went in and told my friend how I was fixed, ^ \ 

 and he said, ' Certainly, George, you can have 

 what you need.' " 



By such a narrow margin was the enter- 

 prise saved from the rocks. After a time the 

 St. Paul banks grew rusty, and one after 

 another refused the business. The Exchange, 

 practically driven out of Minneapolis by the i 

 influence of the Chamber, meantime had 

 moved to St. Paul. It occurred to some of 

 the keen merchants there that it would prob- 

 ably develop into a valuable asset. Already 

 it was talking about a co-operative elevator 

 to be built in the city. These merchants put 

 a pressure upon any bank that was likely to 

 prove hostile, and again the Equity moved \ 

 forward. 



With its development increased also the 

 hatred it had aroused as an institution not 

 conducted for profits. It was now assailed 

 with a charge that must be fought clear to 

 the legislature of Minnesota, the Congress of 

 the United States, and the state courts, that 

 the Equity was not a genuine business enter- 

 prise, but tricked farmers to ship it grain, 

 which it turned over, while in transit, to 

 Chamber of Commerce brokerage houses, and 



137 



