THE STORY OF THE NONPARTISAN LEAGUE 



interests, but immune from public super- 

 vision, and had clothed it with the attributes 

 of the Star Chamber. 



Whatever may be alleged in defense of such 

 an anomaly upon this soil, there can be no 

 question of its immediate effects. The con- 

 trol of the Chamber of Commerce was in the 

 hands of the milling interests of Minneap- 

 olis; the law now gave into the compass of 

 this control an unlimited power to discipline 

 (or overawe) all the other members. With- 

 out chance of appeal or redress, any broker 

 on the Minneapolis market that offended the 

 controlling influences could be dismissed from 

 the Chamber and ruined in his business. 1 

 The brokers, or commission men, functioned 

 chiefly to buy wheat for the mills. It was 

 the first aim of the mills to get that wheat 

 as cheaply as possible. Laying aside all the 

 other trouble-making conditions we have no- 

 ticed, and are still to notice, here was clash 

 inevitable between the producers and a cham- 



1 Question. These court trials, do you have an actual judge in the 

 seats? 



Answer. No; that is provided for under the statutes. 



Q Of this state? 



A. Yes, sir. If you will look in the book of rules you will be inter- 

 ested at least to see the statute relating to the Chamber of Commerce. 



Q. I understand all these trials, imposing the penalty, execution 

 of the judgment are all behind closed doors and never appear in the 

 public papers at all. 

 A. Yes, sir. 



Before a committee of the House of Representatives, Legislature of 

 Minnesota, investigating grain exchanges. Testimony of J. J. McHugh, 

 Secretary of the Minneapolis Chamber of Commerce. 



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