The representative., 1901-05-02
Grain Growers.


Fairfax, Mimi, April 20, 1901.
To Editor of Representative, Mime
apOlis, Mimi.
Dear Sir: Enclosed please find copy of
bylaws of Grain Growers association,
adopted at our last meeting.
l was opposed to it's adoption at the
time on the ground that any open So
ciety or organization that did not pro-
tect it's members by having all officers
handling funds give bonds, would fail;
and my prediction was verified.
The days of such movements are past.
The people can tell at glance whether
any movement has a solid foundation,
and any movement to succeed must be
established and run on as solid plan
as is the Elevator Co., which we turn
our products over to today.
Now, do not know whether the peo-
pie have woke up yet to where we are
drifting. If they have not, they will
have to pay for it, or later on their child
rem will Can they not see that trust
power has been built up that can never
be broken You ask why? Cannot the
people stop it? All history says no. 1t
has gone too far. Nearly all the wealth
of our country is included in trusts of
some kind and still the farmer sleeps on,
goes out in the spring and sows his
grain with bandage over his eyes;
keeps it on all summer and gets on to his
load of wheat and drives it up to the
elevator combine like a lamb to the
slaughter.
1t will be an easy matter to organize
now. And If you do not now, it will
have to be done later, and it will be un-
der more adverse circumstances. l re-
spectfully submit my plan and will give
my reasons for including all people who
are interested in the prosperity of farm
ers. When the Grange was instituted
was with them, and was an ardent ad-
vocate. The Grange was organized tC
object to combinations that were then
in their ception-which have now de-
veloped and are getting stronger every
day.
The people foresaw the great danger
that was in prospect and made an objec-
ton; and one of the greatest reasons
for it's failure was that the farmers in
that movement built wall between
themselves and every other business in
the small villages in the country, and
built up a perjudice in the minds of
everyone else against the farmers.
The farmers and business men both
lost sight of the fact that when the
farmer prospered everything else moved
along. Again, when the Alliance was
started, joined that, and the same mis-
take was made again. Now, if we have
used our think tanks" as we should
in the past 80 years, we have been
taught this: That in order to cement
the people in any movement, first, it
must be built on a solid foundation; !;
second, it must include everyone who is
financially interested in the success of
the movement. Let anyone hold one
all have one vote, and anyone who has
merit hold Office and you will cement
all the people in the movement. This
plan will let the farmer who has to
draw part of his money out and get
the balance when his wheat shall be
sold.
We will have our own board of trade
that will have the actual wheat, which
will be sold on it's merits, doing away
with the present humbug wheat in
spection which the farmers are taxed to
support and which is necessary and can
not be changed as long as present con-
ditions prevail.
Again, we can adopt the system that
the trusts have taught us, that we must
keep an account of stock on hand and
regulate the supply accordingly, instead
OF going it blind as we are doing today
In other words, have farm products
to sell if some one wants to buy, and
remember a sinking fund of five per
cent on one crop will build all the ele-
vators necessary for our business.
Again, have it forever understood that
this is not political movement, but for
business only.
Now in conclusion will say that do
not feel sure that this plan as submitted
is perfect; l know it is crude and will
have to be corrected by that great, in
telligent body that will gather>at our
meeting, and which will select from
ii among its members men tried and true,
-vho will perfect the greatest movement
Tor humanity that has ever been In