Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1894-07-19
TO BUILD ELEVATORS
STATE GRAIN GROWERS AssOCIA.
TON ORGANIZED.
Farmers From Various Points In
Minnesota Decide to Build Eleva-
tOrs-W. J. Bodkin of MoOrhead 10
Chosen President.

OF the state, to the NUMBER OF aOout
thirty, gathered at Harmonic hall yes
terday for the purpose of forming grain
growers association for the purpose of
protecting the grain growers from the
grasp of the monopolies. Ignati9 DON
nelly called the meeting t6 order, and
Secretary Hendrickson, of the Farmers
alliance, read the call. Mr.. Donnelly
then spoke Of the state elevator scheme,
and stated that the chief justice who had
given the decision against it had been
turned down by his own party, and they
expected to turn down another in the
coming election. The elevator business
was great robbery, so much so that he
was informed that one man in that bust
ness had made more than $1,OOO,OOO
which had virtually been filched from the
farmers. The speaker advised the cleo
ton of secretary, and also the appoint
ment of a committee to go to Duluth and
investigate the matter.
w. ]. Bodkin of Moorhcad was elected
chairman, and Mr.. Hendrickson perma-
nent secretary. l.. G.. Long spoke in ia
vor of farmers elevators.
L. A. Paddock, who has farms in Wa
dena county, told how the elevators
would cut down the weight on his wheat
several bushels per wagon load. He
made plea in favor of shipping wheat
to Duluth. His experience had been that
when elevators raised the price to shut
cut some farmers elevator, they would
cut down the weight more than enough
to make it up. They made their money
by stealing from the farmers. He ad-
vised that farmers load their wheat into
GERS, and ship either to Duluth or Min
neapolis to a commission man, and keep
away from the corporation elevators.
Right at home was the place to look out
for the steal. The weighmasters and in
spectors We're honest, and would do the
fair thing. The most favorable PROPOSE.
at every local point, and one large ter
minal elevator where it might be stored
to await market. The main object was
to escape the big elevator margin which
the farmer lost.
Mr.. Donnelly moved that it was the
sense of the meeting to organize a grain
growers association.
Are we to be helots and slaves?" he
| said. 1--WE are told that the profits of
the elevator system last year were As
per cent on the investment. Will we let
them run another one in on us next
year?"
The motion was carried, with the I'M
derstanding that the association should
| incorporate under the laws of Minnesota,
but take in the Dakotas 1t was also
understood that when the articles of
incorporation were drawn, they should
include all branches of farming. as we'll
as grain growing.
Ignatius Donnelly was nominated for
president, but he declined, and the chair.
man, Mr.. Bodkin, was elected. Mr.. Hen.
Erickson, secretary of the Farmers Al.
lance, was elected secretary. 1t was
thought proper to have board of mana.
gers of nine and that vice president
be elected in each district, each of whom
should be organizers, and then there be
one general organizer. It was finally de-
cided that there should be vice presi.
dent from each district, except the Fourth
and Fifth, where one should serve, and
one at large. A. G. Long was elected
vice president at large. Eric Olson was
chosen for the Second district: Soren
Morton, for the Third district; Thomas
]. Meehan, First district; R. J. Hall,
Seventh district; Kittel Halvorsen, Sixth
district; S. w. Powell, Fourth and Fifth
districts. A committee of five was or.
dered appointed, to prepare the articles
OF incorporation for the association.