Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1904-03-05
Rockwell's Famous Farmers
Cooperative Company Has
Knotty Problem to Solve
MENACE TO THE MERCHANTS
lf All Lines of Goods Are Carried 1t
Means That the Business Men of the
Town Must Seek New Locations
Association Is Financial Success
Basis Upon Which 1t Is Run.
Special to neutrality-suspicious.

/ Special to Times Republican
Rockwell, March 5.-This town has
two Fourths of July. One is the regu-
lar fire cracker and red pop and toy
balloon observance of patriotism
which is common with all Americans
all over the world each fourth day of
the seventh calendar month, and the
other is the local observance of the first
Saturday of each March The latter is
the annual meeting of the Rockwell
Farmers Cooperative Association and
toady was not unlike the celebra tons
for the last fifteen years. Thos. Me-
Mannus, the Patrick Henry of the or
ganiza ton for sixteen consecutive tim
es has called this the second declara-
ton day of independence" and he was
on hand with his old fashioned and in
teresting brand OF oratory even more
classic and eloquent than ever. N.
Densmore, the first president, who has
been considered the oracle" of the as
ISOLATION. was also present and was
given renewed assurance OF devotion
and affection.
The past year has been the least sue
cessful for the association for four
years. The total business for the year
was s456.000. a loss of s150.000 in COM
parison with last year and the least in
total since 1898. But strange to say the
association has done business at cost
of l per cent and has a surplus still
greater than last year which showed a
total of undivided profits of nearly $14,-
600. This surplus this year will reach
10000. 1t must be borne in mind that
this amount of business should really
be cut in two as the method Of keeping
books Of the association counts both the
credit and debit side of the ledger.
That is, If the elevator buys one day
10000 bushels and ships it to Chicago
or other markets the manager records
business for that day of 10000 BUSH
els and this same method applies all
the way thru.
There has been considerable discus
sion among the members the past year,
which in some instances has been con-
strued into threatened rupture of the
policy of the management in handling
clothing and boots and shoes. Origin
ally the association bought grain and
stock and sold only coal and lumber TO
it's members. Then there We're added
farm implements and hardware then
Irvine and barb wire, -four feed,
sugar and other staple commodities.
rough garments like overai!s
and blouses and pillow shoes We're added
to the list and this year clothing and
boots and shoes. The latter was hand
led in such quantities this year that the
local merchants began to feel the loss
OF the trade and protest was made.
They claim that the farmers are not
charged an exhorbitant price and that
IL the policy was pursued it meant vir-
tually department store and the death
Of the town. Instead of an Industrious |
of 1000 people the town
would simply be a railroad station with
an elevator and big store. The board /
held various meetings and discussed the
question earnestly but with the best |
Of feeling and resolution to abolish I
the sale OF clothing and boots and |
shoes was lost. However, of late there
has been less disposition to make this
i feature and the matter was left with I
he new board with the feeling having
developed opposed to pursuing the mat