Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1904-11-04
F|GHI
1H[ GRAIN TRUST
State Organization of the Far
mers' Cooperative Societies
Completed at Rockwell
SPECULATION AS TO ITS FUTURE

as Known, for Carrying on the Cam.
paign and Strength Of the Organiza
ton is Not Apparent Delegates
Were Very Enthusiastic.
Special to Times Republican.
Rockwell Nov 4.--The word Rock
well thruout the United States is now
synonymous with "a strong farmers
organization" These were the words
that closed. the strong argument of III
A. Hodge Of Des Moines, who was rep
resenting the Farmers National Ex-
change at the meeting of farmers CO.
operative societies held In Rockwell
Yesterday for the purpose Of framing
a state organization to combat the
grain trusts who We're attempting tc
drive these farmer organizations from
Iowa. Immediately after Mr.. Hodge
closed his speech Chairman Densmore
asked il it was the desire Of the dele
gates to associate themselves together
and insist upon their rights III the
grain markets of the world. From
3uv sturdy Iowa farmers thundered
back the determined You bet"
The meeting was attended by nearly
500 people, at least 300 OF these wear
ing pauges indicating they were in
sympathy with the contemplated pro-
ject. The meeting was held IN the
Opera house and it was crowded. Del
egates representing 20 different farm
ers' societies in Iowa were in attend
ance They came with instructions
from the thousands Of influential farm
ers they represented, to do their share
towards this formation of some sort
of society to help maintain their
rights, and with enthusiastic determin-
alton they applauded every sentence
uttered by the speakers against the
grain trust and In favor of forming a
state association. At 1880 p. III. the
meeting was called to order by Hon.
N. Densmore, of Mason City. Dens-
more was formerly representative from
Cerro Gordo county, and is an enthus-
iastic supporter of the farmers assoc
citation idea. The first address was by
Mayor Jenkinson, of Rockwell who
eloauently welcomed the visitors to the
city and turned it over to them during
their stay.
j. A. McCreary, secretary of the IL
linois Farmers Grain Dealers Associa-
tion, spoke upon the work, which had
been done in Illinois. He explained In
detail the manner of conducting the
business. He said the trusts would
control the Iowa elevators un-
less something was done at once, and
that a combine was necessary to ac-
complish anything.
G. Vincent, of Omaha, a former resi-
dent of Iowa and a graduate of Ames
A agricultural College, was the next
speaker. He represented the National
Farmers Exchange and told how the
Zine svstem'' Of this company was op-
Grated. He stated that they now bought
and sold grain only but that they were
and hoped to soon be plac-
ing finished products upon the markets.
This they would do by the building of
mills and packing houses of their own.
They die net want to freeze anyone out
bu. TO freeze everyone in. he said. He
said the system helps to build up the
Iowa farms instead of the cities and
that the fa1 mers would get all the prof
It's instead of their going to the peav-
les and councilmen. His speech was
with frequent applause and
showed the audience were In entire
with all his suggestions.
II. A. Hodge, of Des Moines, also a
of the National Farm
ers' Exchange, told of the prominence
which the Rockwell idea" had secur-
ed in the United States. He thought
the Rockwell idea" greater and more
beneficial to Iowans than the Iowa
idea" which has been advocated by
Governor Cummins. He said that the
Rockdale system, which had been ORR
ginated in Rockdale, England, sixty
years ago, by nine poor weavers, had
grown into the business world until it's
financial success was represented by
two million people In the world. The
idea was. he said, in the selling of pro-
luce at only an ordinary market price
and avoiding the profit of the middle
man. The Rockdale system is di-
vision of the profits and the Rockdale
store in London is the largest store in
the world.
G. B. Rockwell, an extensive grower
of South Dakota, read letter from a
grain firm in Milwaukee asking how to
dispose of the future offerings thru
regular buyers instead of shipping it
himself. as the various associations OBJ
iected to their handling in competition
with elevator and warehousemen. He
-old of being offered IS cents per bushel
oy grain dealers for his wheat and by
shipping it himself he obtained 95
cents.
As to Future.
Whether or not this association is to
De of greater strength than the old or
ganizat ton remains to be seen. but the
grain trust does not intend TO be idle
and will continue to fight against
these societies.
A prominent Rockwell business man
said that Ave empty business houses
and fifteen empty dwelling houses We're
iue to the cooperative society here
and that a clothing firm had recently
been closed out OF business here be-
cause they could not compete with the
farmers pricas
The organization accomplished noth-