The Mankato free press., 1904-08-26

Mr.. Jackson declared that the middle
men, those who have been handling and
are handling the products of the farm on
great scale, and distributing them, are
committing robbery in both directions.
They are robbing the farmer of much
that he should receive and are on the
other hand making the consumer pay too
much for what he buys. He himself
knew the time when he sold steers at
three cents per pound and brought beef
at eight cents per pound. Last winter
he saw steers sold by the farmers at
two cents per pound while the retail
price of beel was twelve and fifteen
cents per pound.
A farmers mutual exchange at Man
kato would benefit the city wonderfully.
If the people of the city will get to-
gether and give their aid and encourage
ment, it can be done. AS soon as the
local body is organized it is part of
the Minnesota farmers exchange. That
body is Incorporated under the laws of
the state of Minnesota. Any man can
take stock anywhere from $40 to $3,-
600.
A movement has been started by Mr..
Jackson for the organization of an ex-
change at Waters Siding on the Great
Western, few miles from Mankato.
The sum of ST 500 has already been rails
ed. If affairs continue there to be as
favorable as they have been, it will not
be long before farmers elevator will be
erected at Waters Siding Perhaps this
enterprise could be shifted to Mankato.
Possibly these farmers can be persuaded
to come down here.
The Minnesota farmers exchange is
connected with terminals at Minneapolis,
Duluth, Chicago, Kansas City, Omaha
and New York. It cannot be frozen out
as individuals can be. 1t is too big. 1t
shows what can be done by cooperation.
If the farmers of this country are
ever thoroughly organized, it will be
the greatest industrial combination on
earth. 1t is not the object of the ex-
change promoters to raise the price of
wheat unduly. They would like to make
wheat stable. They would like to make
the price of wheat as steady as the
price of a pair of shoes. They would
like to make the price of bushel of
wheat hover only between ninety five
cents and dollar
Mr.. jackson incidentally remarked
that he had organized exchanges at
Pennington, Arco and Pettis.
Mr. Jackson's address took up about
the whole of the evening. The busi-
ness men spoke very favorably of the
idea and seemed to be anxious to take
the project UP. 1t was decided, however,
to hold another meeting as that of last
night was too small to be of sufficient
influence to give the project the impetus
desired. 1t was determined to hold an
other netting on the exchange matter
on Wednesday afternoon, September I,
to open at two o'clock. The secretary
was instructed to write to all the neigh
boring farmers, who could be interested,
and inform them of the meeting and in
vite them to attend.
Secretary Ogle reported communica-
tion that he had received from mutual
fire insurance company, in response to
his letter of inquiry regarding the COM
plant of a certain man at Austin, who
said that the company had never paid
him the insurance he was entitled to af-
ter a recent fire. The company stated
that the Austin individual had not kept
up the payment Of his premiums, and
therefore the policy had expired. Anoth-
er member present at the meeting told
of conversation, which showed that the
claims of the company were true.
IL Dn+a l. - L.