Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1905-02-22
7oDUcER TO CONSUMER
10 Would Abolish the Dealer So Far
as Farmers Are concerned-Claims
the Press is Subsidized-Cenvention
at Fort Dodge Closes With Banquet
other State News.
Special to Times-Republlean.

were the guests of the Commercial
Hon NJ IT, Healy. II. NJ Wright and
others addressed The meeting and the
Fifty sixth regiment band furnished
music. The feature of the convention
yesterday afternoon was the address
of President Densmore, of Mason City.
/ He said in part:
'.One of the most powerful agents
for the elevation of men is co-opera-
| ton. Instead of don't care condition
induced By his isolation with its
complete sel1ishness. he comes out to
be helped and to help others. He
soon learns that he can become Il
useful member in the neighborhood
household. aud takes a place, however
1 humble. wherever he can give and re-
ceire the moss good.
The business Of the farmer is done
/ on so narrow margin for profit
| that it is incumbent upon him not
/ only to lessen the friction. the wear
1 tear and expense, but to save all the
! margin possible between himself and
the consumer of his products.
1T is conceded that we. as farmers.
are great in small things. The eX-
4 perts manipulate the prices profess
4 eddy on the basis of supply and demand
so as to very little If any more than
cover the cost of production and If we
/ We're not great in small things We
! should never sec out.
The cost of production can be ci-
phered down so small us to give a man
1,i hp NJ
| livings. 1t is on this basis that many
foreign countries put their products
! in the worlds markets at prices that
would starve an American.
Any of us farmers who has Il land
debt to pay off must have more than
a bare living. more than the bare cost
OF production or he can never be out
of debt. and it is the pride of every
American to OWN his home in fee sim
pie. and not lie compelled to eat what
he can't sell.
This is the idea that produces such
an army of thrifty foreign born Amer
lean citizens among us.
I'VE have as much right to this lit
tie margin on our products as the
middle man who has put no labor or
money into their consideration. Our
property is in the open so there is no
possibility of escaping taxation. HIS
property or the money with which he
prosecuteS his business is always n
transportation and his warehouses
are empty at assessment time. The
land upon which his warehouse stands
is on rented ground. He-the middle
man--is so fixed that he escape
taxation. while there is no possible es-
cape for us.
"Often wind and weather have such
an influence on our income that we
have nothing left for farm investment
and a summers hard labor except the
home shelter
These middle men engage In the
traffic in our produce professedly to
furnish us with a market and to secure
for themselves an income to keep
their mare going
The market can exist just the same
without his help as with 1T. If there
was no demand for products his being
there would not create a demand. You
can supply the facilities of a market
as we'll as he and save some of the
margin that he is after so that you
can keep your mare agoing. Why
not?
Il will not enlarge upon this feature
but will speak of the factors neces-
sary to success in a local organization.
list. Realize the right is yours and
then assert it in a business like way.
"2nd. Entire unselfshness as to the
honors in conducting the business. A
willingness to submit to the will of
| majority. This is the basis of all good
government.
"3rd Have confidence in your man
agement.
by confidence I do not mean sup
inc lying down letting things run
their own way I mean an unselfish,
intelligent method of keeping watch
on one side and an accurate open pub
licity in what is done on the other
part.
mo cooperative should ever be I'M
dertaken without a full careful nota
ton of every transaction and the facts
| in reference to it carried out to a pen
ny's worth.
"Be as careful that the balance of
each days business is made up as II
you were running a bank.
"a selfish management full of sec
rets from members has no place in CO.
operation.
Keep out of speculations on the
board of trade. We have men and
men and yet good business men, but
when they go to plunging on the
board of trade they get left. They meet
with conditions over which they have
no control Conditions which are man.
aged by others and made by others
perhaps for the purpose of wiping you
up. Mankind is so constructed that
| it is unsafe to allow others the control
of your interests without an intelligent
review OF the work performed by them.
This review should be made at irreg-
ular intervals Of time. This is what
| constitutes publicity"
| Criticizes the Press.
| Farmer organizations have no
method of making their efforts and
successes known to one another and to
| the world except by the local press.
| There is very little or no reliance
| to be placed on this means. The press
is more closely allied with those who
| they think have hold of the business
end of things and farmer organiza-
tons are viewed with suspicion. In
case of failure the press is loud in
| told you soes. They can't do it. They
| are not capable and are too slow to
| learn how. They won't and can't stick
| together.
i