The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1902-09-23
OELAY(|AANS ID JOIN
Kansas Cooperative Grain
and Livestock Company
SWELL WlCHITAS RECEIPTS
Wheat and Livestock to Be
Shipped Through This City.
SWELL WlCHITAS RECEIPTS

A letter was received in this city yes
terday by a grain man from J. I.
Grundy, Of Alva. 0. T.. in which he
says:
About a hundred or more farmers
who ship from this point. met last Sat
urday TO decide whether they would join
the Farmers Cooperative Grain and
Livestock association, with headquarters
at Topeka, Kan, or the FraternaI Order
quarters at Omaha. Neb. They had
already decided to organize at a prior
meeting.
James Butler, of Topeka. Kansas,
secretary Of the Farmers Cooperative
Grain and Livestock association, was
present al the request Of the farmers
committee, and presented the advantage
OF this company. and z. S. McDougal
of Carmen, Oklahoma, general organizer
for the Fraternal order of American
Farmers, presented the advantages Of
his order. After a full and free discus
sion Of the merits Of each of the organi-
cations by the speakers and farmers
present, it was unanimously decided TO
join with the farmers of Kansas. Sub
scription blanks for a Local Farmers
Cooperative Grain and Live Stock asso-
citation, were circulated and signed by
nearly every farmer present. A COM
mittee, consisting of seven members, was
appointed and subscription blanks placed
in their hands to secure additional mem
bers. The committee was selected from
various parts of the county, and it is
believed that a large list will be secured
by the time of the next meeting.
The farmers of this part of Oklahoma
are anxious TO join with the farmers
of Kansas and Nebraska in building up
a business organization strong enough 10
conduct the marketing Of their surplus
farm products 10 the best possible ad-
vantage. All other industries are COM
bining. and We can see no good reason
why the farmers of the above named
territory cannot build up a company with
sufficient capital to conduct their bust
ness in an up-to-date business way.
With the splendid start in Kansas,
we believe it is only a matter of time
until the farmers Of Kansas. Oklahoma
and Nebraska will have a million dollar
company which will be owned, controlled
and operated in their interest. The
farmers and business men tributary to
Alva are in earnest and we feel safe in
saying that they will do their part in
financing their movement in a way that
Will enable the producers to conduct
ner that will commend the respect Of
the transportation companies and other
large business interests.
The farmers and business men of
Oklahoma have long been in need of
just such a business organization on the
principles and plans embodied in the
Farmers Cooperative Grain and Live
stock Association of Kansas. and if we
are not wonderfully mistaken they will
be found in the front rank of loyal
patrons and cooperators in this move
ment.
After careful investigation we urge
farmers to action and recommend that
they correspond with Mr. James Butler,
of Topeka Kan. and secure his assist
ance in perfecting organizations at all
principal shipping points in the above
named territory. His presentation Of
questions and principles involved in this
movement are clear. fOrcible and con-
vincing His information, experience
and frank manner in presenting this
question viii command the confidence
and approval of farmers wherever he
goes"
Mr.. James Butler. secretary Of the
Farmers Cooperative Grain and Live
stock association, arrived in this city
yesterday and will be here the greater
part of this week When asked to tell
something about this farmers organiza-
ton. AIR Butler said:
The first meeting that has resulted
in this organization took place at Salina,
Kansas. on the 18th OF hay. 1891. The
farmers formed an organization and Sc
cured a charter. At that time 1t was
the only cooperative organization of the
kind in this state on the line which il
Is operating
The movement has grown until now
there are over 100 local organizations,
mostly in this state, but it is extending
into Oklahoma and Nebraska. These. 10
cal organizations are all included in a
state organization and they now own
thirty-five elevators and more are in
course Of construction The organiza-
ton is not secret. with passwords and
grips. but is simply business move
ment among the formers 10 handle their
own products and market them 10 the
best advantage. The organization be-
longs to The farmers.
The organization has a grain agent
here at Wichita. one az Topeka and one
at Kansas City TO sell its grain. They
all work on salary and each farmer
Pays one cent q bushel commission for
selling his grain and these commissions
now pay al the expenses Of the organ
ization. When the business increases. +
which il IS doing right along. the COM
missions above expenses will go 10 the
organization and viii soon enable II TO
accumulate 4 large fund. All OF the
agents give bond for the money they
handle and for the faithful performance I
OF their duty and this bond is given by
q good surity company.
some OF the members OF the ass0Cia- (
ton prefer TO sell their grain 10 Us and I
when this is the case. We take il and /
ray them the market price, but we pre-
fer 70 have them consign IL because in [
So doing they get more money for It
Many Of the local organizations arc 3
now agitaVing the matter Of terminal I
elevators at Wichita and Kansas City +
y here we can clean and mix grain and
secure good inspection and have larger
quantities OF grain together so We can
sell 70 larger mills and exporters. Il is
already being urged 10 consolidate all
the local elevators and place them under
the control Of the state organization az
IL already docs al the selling 7 have T
eceived letters from importers in Eng F.
land and different countries on the con- 4
.inent Offering % 90 business directly
with Us. I stated that the organization /
does not Try 10 limit the supply Of grain 1
On the market but Il is my private
opinion that when the organization gets
stronger that Il VIII see that the grain ]
Is not forced on the market when there .
is 70 demand for II and thereby bear
the prices think when that time
comes the farmers viii Just about SUD
PLY The legitimate demand al fair
price
HAS BUILT A HOME
~ a1,.aso Erccrs n. - 81