Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1904-10-24
The Corn Belt Meat Producers
Association Is Biding Its
Time at Present
is PERFEcTING ORGANIZATION
Stock Shippers Say They Are Enlisted
For Long Campaign and Will Not
Rest Until Substantial Results Are
Accomplished by Legislation or
otherwise-state Capital News.
special to Times Republican.

Special to Times-Republtcan
Des Moines, Oct. 24.-The Corn
Belt Meat Producers Association, or
ganized in Iowa the past year, allied
with the larger association of stock
shippers, with headquarters in Denver,
politics this year in Iowa and it cannot
be said that there has been any effort
on the part of the officials of that
organization to interfere with the
course of politics. 1t is true that some
effort was made to take advantage of
the disaffection existing with regard to
some conditions, but this has attracted
little attention. In the Eighth and
Ninth districts of Iowa there was nom
mated for congress men who are Of
ticials i'm county organizations of the
meat producers. They are men of
high standing and represent a definite
idea, but the people have been un-
willing to make OF their cause d parti-
san affair. Occasionally some one
connected with the association has ex
plotted his views in regard to politics
to attract some attention, but aside
from this the officers have kept still,
and have gone on with the work of
perfecting the organization thruout the
state. Some of the officials of the as
sociation in Iowa were in favor of MAX
ing war on the thirtieth general as
sembly by opposing the biennial cleo
tions amendment, thus indicating their
displeasure at the action taken by the
legislature. Others of the officials, 1t is
learned, counseled against this course,
and the Corn Belt Meat Producers
Association will not go on record as
antaaonissic to the general assembly
and moved by revenge to defeat an
amendment because the legislature did
not do all that was desired In fact,
one official declared, and in this he
spoke for many, that the stock ship
pers of Iowa had more to hope from
a legislature that has gone over the
ground once and become familiar with
the problem Of how best to help the
stock shippers than from a legislature
composed of inexperienced persons
subject to any and every influence
which may be brought to bear on the
new legislator. But in the meantime
the stock shippers are perfecting their
organization in every county of the
state. and in due time they will be able
to take part in politics with intelli-
gence and in manner to have greatest
influence. They say they are enlisted
for long campaign and will not rest
until they have accomplished some
substantial results by legislation or
otherwise.
In view of the general interest felt
by farmers in the problem Of transpor-
tation, especially transportation of
livestock, an effort is being made to
secure a big convention in Des Moines
next winter to consider the rate and
transportation questions. 1t has been
suggested that the state agricultural
convention which meets annually in
December take up the subject, and that
a program be arranged to cover all
phases of the subject, that representa-
tive farmers be placed on the program
to speak for the agricultural interest.
that officials of the Meat Producers
Association be invited to speak Off
cially and in concise manner just what
remedies are proposed for present de-
yards and packing houses be invited to
make a showing as to the difficulties
from their separate view points, and
that some representative of the trans
portation lines be placed on the pro-
gram to present still another side.
Care would be taken to avoid having
extremists or mere agitators on the
program, the aim being to have a dis
cussion of the subject in candid and
fair manner by all interests so that
if possible, some common ground
could be arrived at for the betterment
of conditions. The proceedings would
go into the annual year book of the
department of agriculture and be
doubly valuable for this reason.
Prominent shippers state that the
agreement reached at the various con-
ferencees of the stock shippers and
railroad managers last spring in re-
gard to shortening the time of trans
portation and for return passes to
stock shippers, has been of mutual
benefit, but the congestion at the stock
yards on account of so many ship
ments being made on certain days of
the week to the exclusion of other
days, is something which still causes
much trouble. The law which the
Iowa legislature passed and which was
the result of an agreement between
representative of the stock shippers and
the railroad companies. had the one
effect of pointing out the direction in
which reforms should be made, and
was to that extent useful In anticipa-
ton Of a demand on the legislature
at the next session for further legis-
lation it is desirable that further in
formation be secured as to just what
would be useful and what would be
acceptable to all interests.
A peculiar turn has developed In re-
lation to the complaint OF the ship
pers in regard 10 the refrigerator car
business, and that is disclosure Of the
fact that the railroad managers are