Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1905-05-31
FARMERS IN DISCUSSIONS
MANY INTERESTING TOPICS PRESENTED
Joint Meeting of Farmers Institute, Good
Roads Association and Corn Belt
Meat Producers Association
an Interesting One.

Although the attendance at the far.
mer's meeting at the court house last
Wednesday and Thursday was not as
large as had been anticipated, the
discussions were spirited and interes-
ting.
The meeting opened on Wednesday
afternoon with j. H. McMillen of
Hesper in the chair, and the subject
Equalization of Taxes" was ably
taken up by Hon. A. jacobson and
@. E. Welch. The talks of both of
these gentlemen showed thorough
knowledge of the subject, and it was
handled in very entertaining and
instructive manner, Mr.. Welch, the
tax ferret, being kept on the floor
answering questions nearly an hour.
A resolution was passed asking the
| legislature to pass law doing away
with the double taxation of mortgages.
"The relation of the business man
to the farmer was discussed by A.
n. Vance and G. N. Goddard, and
Frank Pilgrim spoke on the reverse
of the subject.
About five O'Clock those present
went to the hill side near Fred Sell
mans in West DEBORAH, where a test
of the King road drag and the Nc
Millen drag was given. John McMil-
len with his Y shaped drag, and road
Superintendent Scully of Bloomfield
township with the King drag demons
trated to the satisfaction of the most
skeptical that these cheap, innocent
looking appliances are capable of work
ing wonders with the dirt roads of
the country. Opinions as to the merits
of the two were about evenly divided,
it being agreed that under proper
conditions either would make a dirt
road practically as goodfas macadam.
Another trial was given the next
morning, and resolution. passed
asking the Board ofNSupervisors to
place one of each of these drags in
each township. ssva
The evening session was well car
ried out, the debate ON government
ownership of railroads being discussed
on the affirmative side by A. f.
Harvey and WO. Nordheim while
Mrs. J. H. Logsdon and DR.. S. S.
Whitbeck took the negative. Each
presented his side clearly and in an
entertaining manner. At the close
the audience decided that the honors
were even. The evening program
closed with defamation by DR..
Whitbeck on 1.-The Wife" after which
ice cream, cake sand::slemonade was
served.
Those who came from outside the
city were entertained at the homes
of citizens and at the hotels for the
night.
On Thursday morning the subject
of "good roads, was again taken up.
and general informal discussion
followed. There were pleasing re-
marks by G. o. Maltby, AT. Holton,
A. G. Baker, Mr.. Drogset of Water
vile, and several others, many valuable
points being brought out.
There was also general discussion
as to the objects of the Corn Belt Beef
Producers Association, the good it is
doing the farmer, and the results to be
secured from organization.
Thursday afternoon Mr.. John Hegg
read splendid paper on "does it pay
the farmers to organize to protect
themselves in the industrial world"
Mr.. Hegg rather took the negative
side of the question, being opposed to
organizations for the purpose of
shipping their own prouce among the
farmers, on the ground that the far
mer is not conducting a shipping
business, and is not in position to
interfere with the legitimate business
to his own profit. Organization is
all right, but it would be injurious
to the farmers to organize trust
along these lines.
The subject "'Does it pay to sor-
ganize draft horse companies" brought
out spirited discussion, it being the
concensus of opinion that it does not,
and usually works an injury to the
farmer.
The meeting closed with leaving
the matter of calling similar meet
ing in the future to the officers of the