The representative. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1893-1901, 1899-07-20
F. A. & |. U. Dept.
(RDIrED BY. c. HANLEy.)

The Grain Buyers Meetins,
A great many of our members and
| friends have been imposed upon by the
announcement in the papers that the
Grain Growers association was to hold
| meeting in the cities on July 7, and
take steps to appropriate the money to
build terminal elevator on the site
belonging to the state at Duluth. We
wish to inform our members that this
so-called Grain Growers society Gncor-
! porated) has no connection with the
real Grain Growers society and is a
private corporation engaged in GRAIN
BUYING and masquerading under the
name of the Grain Growers associa-
tlon,' to give some resemblance of re-
spectability and secure the support of
farmers and farmers elevators.
This was one of Eric Olson's moves
who undertook to organize a rival grain
growers society when he was turned
down in the Grain Growers convention
by his own congressional district.
l feel sorry to have to speak thus
as l was strong friend of Mr.. Olson's
until this action on his part. And, while
I deplore that anything should happen
that would hurt our movement, am
compelled in self defense to explain the
reason why there was no convention
called.
| 1t was because we heard from certain
sources that the Boen-Olson Grain
(buying) society was intending to run
in lot of grain buyers into the Grain
Growers convention and capture it, and
l did not want to be caught in any trap
like this. We have decided that none
but members of the Grain Growers as
ISOLATION shall be permitted seats in our
convention and, on account of the few
ness of our numbers at this time, we did
not deem it safe to call a convention
with such a small membership and
jeopardize the work we had engaged in.
We have decided to hold off until the
farmers are over their fall work before
calling a national convention of the
put in the time from now until then in
organizing in every state, so that when
we meet we will have a representative
farmers convention embracing many
states. Then it will be the proper time
to air the difficulties between the real
and fake grain growers associations.
Personally l have no objection to
those men engaging in the grain buy
ing business, my objection is to have
them do so under false pretenses by
using our name-the Grain Growers
association. Let them call themselves
grain buyers or any other name but the
Grain Growers association and we will
have no objection.
| 1t will be seen at a glance where it
effects the real grain grower. BY pat
ronizing the Boen-Olson society the
profits of the business of handling the
grain would 60 to build up a fortune
for the corporation and it's members,
while the farmers will have nothing but
the honor of making such Shipments
While, on the other hand, if farmers
and farmers elevators would ship
through the business agency of the
Grain Growers association the income
would go to the Grain Growers asso-
citation, and when the earnings were
large enough we could do away with
initiation fees and annual dues, and in
this way enroll every farmer in the
| United States into one great society
that would not cost it's members any,
thing to belong to and yet enjoy the
benefits that great farmers society
can secure. Think this matter over,
friends. and decide which grain grow
ers society you prefer to associate with.
We have received the following letter
| from United States Senator James H.
| Kyle, president of the industrial COM
! mission. The letter reads as follows:
| Committee on Education and Labor.
United States Senate; James H. Kyle,
Chairman.
Aberdeen, S. D., June II, 1899.
Hon. J. c. Hanley,
National Farmers Alliance and In
dustrial Union, st. Paul, MINI.
My Dear Sir: Your communication
| to the industrial commission at differ
ent times have received due considera-
ton. I wish now to inform you that
the commission has designated a sub
committee of their body to investigate
the agricultural conditions of the
Northwest, and that we shall be ready
to take testimony during the month of
| August.
| In my judgment the farmers side of
the case should be heard first, and l
shall ask you to prepare me a list OF
witnesses whom you would like to have
examined; also list of questions which
you would like covered.
The syllabus sent you is not intended
| to be final as to examinations along any
line and can be supplemented, If you
desire, by the addition of the subjects
| indicated in your letter of Jan. 81.