The representative. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1893-1901, 1899-03-08
THE GRAIN
GROWERS ASSN,
The Constitution AdOpted.-A Double Or
ganization Agreed Upon.-The So
ciety Proper and Business
Association Made Up OF
Local Warehouse
Companies.

On Tuesday last, March 9TH, at 10 a. M,
the committee created by the convention
OF January "a, 1890, to formulate con-
stitution for the 'Grain-growers' Coop
erative Association of Minnesota" met in
Room 10 OF the Capitol building, ST.
Paul, to complete their work
The committee consisted of the follow
ing: Ignatius Donnelly, Chairman; John
R. Campbell, Clyde, First District; Eric
Olson, Sherburne, Second District C. H.
Hopkins, Fairfax, Third District; J. C.
Hanley. St. Paul, Fourth District; Geo.
w. Day, Minneapolis, Fifth District;
John Batz, Holdingsford, Sixth District;
and E. D. Anderson, Ada, Seventh Dis
trict.
The members of the committee were all
present except Mr. Campbell and Mr..
Day. There were also a number of per-
sons present, members of the association,
etc. Hon. Haldor E. Boon, of Fergus
Falls, was present, representing bust
ness society or proposed combination of
local elevator companies This society
had been established at Fergus Falls
with Mr.. Boon as president, Henry Feig,
Atwater, vice-president; R. J. Hall, Stew
ems Co., secretary; L. J. Schlattman, Of
Morris, treasurer; Eric Olson, Sher-
burne, organizer; .directors-Jas Mont
gomery, OF Sleepy Eye; E. A. Sweet, Of
Fisher; P NJ Hendricks, Of Robin; Jens
Anderson, Of Perley; John Batz, Hold
ingsford, and Nils Johnson, Of Winthrop
They had drawn up the necessary articles
of incorporation and were ready to pre-
sent them to the secretary Of state.
A lively discussion followed between
the friends Of this system and those who
desired a general society, made up OF
farmers. The advocates of the latter plan
claimed that the Boen-O Olson arrange
ment was not a Grain Growers Society,
but Grain Dealers Society; under it
no person could be a member Of the
society or hold stock in the same, the
stockholders being local elevator corpora
tons. Each of these societies was to
take at least one share OF stock. the par
value OF which was SIS; and then the
state meeting that was held. 1t was
argued that this was not a carrying out
of the plan for the formation of the Grain
Growers Association; that there should
be great general society without stock
or bonds, or any financial liability, that
was to represent the GRAIN Growers and
nothing else
The battle ragged fercely between these
two contending elements. and it looked
at one time as if the whole movement
would break up in discord. Finally, how
ever, they reached what seems to us to
have been wise conclusion-they re-
solved to have two movements, one such
general association OF farmers as we
have described, the initiation fee to be
$I.oo and the dues $I.oo a year, pay
able Is cents each three months. The
general plan of the society being as given
in the constitution proposed in Our man.
moth edition OF Feb. 9Th. Then it was
agreed to adopt the Boen- Olson plan as
a business enterprise; the two societies to
have no direct connection, but to mutual
ly assist each other The members of the
general society would be expected to ship
their wheat to the Business Society, pro-
x,iIoI @1a,, c1ticfIoI with, he
OF action adopted by the latter. Both
societies will meet, in separate halls, upon
the first Tuesday of July in each year
here any notifications can be made that
experience has shown to be advisable In
the meantime the Business Society will
go to work to unite all the local farmers
warehouses in one great organization,
and to secure the building OF new ware
houses where none now exists. 1t is
claimed that there may be established in
this state 1000 such warehouses. If each
one elects delegate to the annual meet
ing they would have convention Of
1000 members.
The Business Society will, in the mean
time, make an application to the legisla-
trre to turn over to them, in trust for
the farmers of the state, the elevator site
at Duluth, which was purchased by the
state for the farmers some years ago;
and also to lend them, at a nominal rate
of interest, the sum Of about 500, 900, now
in the treasury of the state, and which
was not derived from the taxation of the
people, but from fees paid by farmers for
the inspection of their wheat part of said
fees going to maintain the inspection sys-
tenn, and the surplus, which was consider
able, going into the state treasury If
this end can be accomplished, and this
money and property, which the state
simply holds in trust for the farmers, can
be placed in the hands of the society, it
will at once constitute great power in
Minnesota, and local organizations would
spring up in every county.
AS it is now the local farmers ware
house is of comparatively little value. Mr..