THE STORY OF THE NONPARTISAN LEAGUE 



This in especial seems a pity, because Mr. 

 Durant must have been in possession of knowl- 

 edge that would have cleared up some of the 

 mystery in which the Minneapolis Chamber 

 of Commerce operated. He was not only the 

 manager of the Grain Bulletin, but of a com- 

 bination of grain-dealers that seem to have 

 had a close working arrangement as to the 

 prices they would pay for grain. Being asked 

 as to the functions of the Grain Bulletin, he 

 said it was "a bureau for the furnishing of 

 information to grain-dealers at country points 

 — such information as is necessary to the con- 

 ducting of their business." There were about 

 eighteen members of the Chamber of Com- 

 merce that were in his organization, and these 

 members and subscribers owned together 1,275 

 elevators through the Northwestern country, 

 so it will be seen the information they received 

 might be of great importance to them, and 

 also to the farmers whose grain was to be 

 graded and bought by these 1,275 elevators. 

 Mr. Durant was now questioned more in par- 

 ticular about these matters. 



Question. — ^What information do you send out? 



Answer, — ^The value of grain at different country 

 points based on what that grain will sell for in terminal 

 markets, 



Q. — ^You send the value at the country points? 



A. — ^Yes sir. 



Q. — ^Not in Minneapolis? 



A, — ^No sir. 



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