The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1905-03-23
THE MEAT PRODUCERS
A Decatur County Branch of the Corn
Belt Meat Producers Associa-
tion Organized. 5

z 4 f 90 4 = !.
Pursuant to call issued by Fred
Wooley, president of the Decatur Coun-
ty Farmers Institute, the court house
was we'll filled last Saturday afternoon
at meeting for the purpose Of organiz-
ing q Decatur county branch Of the
Corn Belt Neat Producers Association.
The meeting was called to order by Mr.
Wooley who introduced Mr.. A. L. Ames,
OF buckingham, Iowa, president Of the
Corn Belt Meat Producers Association
OF Iowa, who at some length gave
brief history Of the organization, how it
was organized and for what purpose.
The Corn Belt Meat Producers Asso-
citation Of Iowa is an organization com-
posed of farmers who feed and ship live
stock and others who are interested in
the agricultural and more especially the
live stock industry Of the state. 1t
differs from other organizations of farm
ers in the western states in that its OBJ
ject is purely business one. It was
organized originally for the purpose of
securing an improvement in the very
unsatisfactory transportation facilities
which prevailed during the year 1908,
and which;seemed to culminate in jan
uary, 1904, when the railroads announc-
ed that the return pass, which had be-
fore that time been issued to live stock
shippers, would be discontinued after
that date. While this return pass was
a small thing in itself it proved the pro-
verbal last straw, coming as it did after
a year of wretched service and delays
which had cost the shippers and farm
ers Of the state Of Iowa hundreds Of
thousands Of dollars. The agitation
finally eliminated in a meeting which
met in the city of Des Moines:on Jan. u,
1904, at which a majority of the coun-
ties in the state were represented, and
an organization was effected. Since
that time the organization has been
growing in rapid manner until at this
time there are branches in about
seventy five counties in The state. The
organization has already accomplished
vast good to the farmers and shippers
lin the way Of securing improved service
in the shipping Of stock and other con-
cessions by the railroads.
| Mr.. Ames exposed the methods Of the
big packers trust which has for years
controlled the prices OF all live stock
and showed how they proceeded to ham
mer down the prices SO that the feeder
and shipper lost money in shipping
their stock instead Of making legiti-
mate profit. He said that the railroads
could not exist we're it not for the peo-
pie who patronize them and insisted
that the people had some rights as well
as the railroads. He said the big pack
ers were the ones, however, who secur-
ed the benefits in the way Of rebates
for the dressed meats they shipped, and
were thus enabled to get lower rate
on the dressed product than the farmer
on the live animal. 1t was for the pur-
pose Of securing legislation and con-
cessions to equalize these matters
that the meat producers were organiz-
ing, and they have accomplished great
deal Of good already. Only recently
the Burlington road inaugurated new
fast stock schedule whereby stock from
this part Of the state is delivered in
! Chicago within twenty-four hours from
the time it is shipped. There is nothing
political in the organization, it being
solely an organization of farmers and
! live stock men for their own protection
and to secure the rights which they are
4 justly entitled to.
AT the close of Mr.. Ames' address q
temporary organization for branch of
the state organization in Decatur eoun-
ty was effected, the following officers
being elected:
i President Frank CARRIER.
1 secretary-A. M. Pryor.
I A soliciting committee consisting Of
W. H. Snyder, Of Garden Grove, Ralph
i Baker, Geo. W. Wadsworth and Richard
Baker, Of Center, Fred Woolley, Of High
1 Point, W. Il. Golfer, of Decatur, Frank
Chastain Of Eden, and A. M. Pryor, OF
Leon, was selected for the purpose Of
| soliciting members for the local organ
Iization, and they are going at the work
vigorously. The next meeting Of the
organization will be called in the neal
4 future and the promoters are hopeful
that at that meeting they will be able
to report a membership Of at least one
hundred ogressive. farmers and stock.
men in Decatur county.
, Llndsey's Stock for 1905.
Black Percheron.
Gray Norman,
Bay Belgian. .5
. Il IL II II