Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1905-04-26
FARMERS ORGANIZATION.
Public Letter to Farmers from Prominent
Resident of Lincoln Township.

Ridgeway, Iowa. April, l2, 1905.
Fellow Farmers of Iowa
l wish to enlist you in the greatest
work ever undertaken for farmers.
1t is nothing less than movement by
farmers themselves, inspired by that
champion of farmers rights and
founder of direct farmers shipments,
Col. H. III. Carr, of Chicago-to
organize for combined strength, and
mutual benefit. Farmers, of all great
bodies of workers, try to go it alone,
and they meet opposition on every
hand 1t is no W proposed to have all
farmers stand together-farmers of
Iowa, of Nebraska, of Minnesota, of
Illinois and all other grain states.
Farmers of Texas and other cotton
states, which are distant from the best
markets, have a quarter of million
producers organized and acting to-
gether. Shall Iowa and her sister states
of the west hesitate when it is
matter of intelligence, of indepen-
dence and of profit?
Farmer organization is now under
way in our great state on a sane,
practical plan. Neighboring farmers
organize little union in their country
school house. Delegates from ten or
twenty school house unions meet and
form township union, sign a short.
business-like declaration. that they
will stand together in business matters
and at once elect officers. These
officers names are sent to Farmers
National Association headquarters.
SO Board of Trade, Chicago. In return
instructions are sent from head
quarters telling of the extent of the
work in other states and suggesting
the steps necessary to become a part
of the state and national organiza-
tion.
I need not tell you, brother farmers,
that two hundred farmers in
prosperous community can have things
their own way if hey act as one man,
if they will only act III harmony and
as a unit. If they wish to make direct
shipments and save one hundred or
two hundred dollars for each farmer
yearly, nothing will stand in their
way. or nothing will prevent an
unusual prosperity.
There is political feature to this
practical work of combining farmers.
You have read the demands of the
people of Chicago asking for municipal
ownership. This Indifference of the
traction companies to patrons wishes
forced the people to speak at the
ballot box. Human nature is the same
in Iowa as in Chicago. Railroads and
grain buyers have antagonized farmers
shipments, have opposed farmer ship
ping associations. The Interstate
Commerce Commission sides with the
railroad in ruling that the farmers
entire carload of grain must be at the
station before they can demand and
ODtdlu CdTS. DO you see HOW llltle III
would take to arouse organized farmers
to rise up as the Chicago citizens did
and demand government control of
railroads? If farmers will organize
thoroughly, there is no reasonable
demand which W i'll be refused them
by their now powerful opponents,
whether railroads or public officials.
appeal to you, farmers of Iowa, to
take up this work of farmer organic
tion. 1t COS is nothing, and in the end
profits will be beyond expectation.
Will you not lay Off your coats and
take hold of this business proposition
as you would any other profitable
work? 1 want Iowa to make proud
showing of farmer unions when the
time comes for establishing per-
manent National Farmers Association
by u convention of delegates such as
the country has never seen.
J. JACOBSON.
Vice Pres, National Farmers Assn.