Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1906-10-22
Great Organization Of Farmers
Of Wheat States With That
Object In View
FOR COOPERATIVE ELEVATOR
Hundreds Of Farmers Organizations
to Take an Active Interest in the
/. campaisnconsress Meets at To-
peka Today ~ Score Of States
Will be Represented.

Topeka, Kas., Oct. .-Three-quar-
tiers Of million American farmers are
combined in an effort to corner the EN-
tire wheat crop of the United States.
A concerted and somewhat strategic
movement in this direction, which has
been under way Tor months, promises
to crystalize into definite action i'm
mediately-in fact, the cornering pro-
cess has, to some extent, already been,
consum,nated, and the finishing touch
es are to be. a part Of the program of
the Farmers Co Operative congress.
which convene.s in Topeka today.
This congress will consist of 1,5o0
delegates and spectators. representing
a score or more of states, all the way
from Oregon to Georgia. and will be-
In session four or five days. The con-
gress is an offspring of the Farmers
educational and Co-Operative union
an organization whose phenomenal ex-
pansion entities it to consideration as
factor Of material consequences IN the
industrial and commercial affairs Oh
this country. James Butler of this
city, a national director of the Farm
ers' union, was first to suggest sucn
a congress, and other leaders promptly
concurred in the idea.
Briefly summarized, the ambitious
plan of the farmers participating Iii
{ this movement is to store the wheat
crop in cooperative elevators which
are to be located ait numerous conven-
lent points In the wheat producing
states, and simply decline to sell until
whatever price they may agree upon is
offered.
co.Operative Elevators.
Forty-six co-operative elevator COM
panies were chartered in the state Of
South Dakota, during the first ten days
of September. and moce than twenty
elevators were purchased by the new
companies and Will be operated by
them in the handling Of, this years
crop. One hundred and twenty-seven
co-operative elevator. companies have
been organized in the state of Mime
sofa, and are. now in operation; Kan
there are 100 In Illinois, forty in Ok
laIlOIIld duQ luU III 1<tUTdSAd
The purpose is to urge corporation
al along the line, to keep the farmers
posted and, eventually, to control acre
age, SO that there will be little sur
plus to carry over.
And.sthe money to do all this, where
Is it coming from? For answer the or
ganizers point to the $125,000, 600 lying
In the state banks of Kansas to the
credit OF the farmers, as guarantee
4 that this time Wall street will not, be
asked to stick a finger in the pie. And
they point to the millions OF dollars
of farmers money in the banks of the
south, all subject to check. Farm-
ers cali attention to the success of the
co-eperatiye elevators and mills as
proof that the farmer is as good a bus
mess man as the city chap, and when
he puts his hand II a business enter
prise can run il equally well with the
best of the city born.
Among the states represented in the
congress, as indicated by hotel reserS
walton which has been made, are: IL
{ linois Iowa, Indiana, Minnesota, Mis-
& souri,, Virginia, Texas, Oklahoma, Ar
kansas, Louisiana, South Dakota,
North Dakota, Georgia. Alabama, Mis-
sissipi, Wisconsin, Nebraska, New
Mexico, Indian Territory, Tennessee,
( Colorado, California and Washington.
A majority of these delegates will come
as, the properly accredited representa-
tives of their respective branches = of
the Farmers Educational and Co Ops
erative uniDn and grain companies,
while others from states where unions
have not yet been organized, will be
present as spectators for the purpose
OF acquiring information in order tlla.
they may carry the cooperative idea
back to. their homes.
Wheat is only one of several issues
to be taken up for discussion by the
congress. Already the union in the
southern states has gained control of
the cotton situation and with that sue
cess as an object lesson, the move
ment is reaching out to include wheat,
corn, oats. hay, live stock, poultry-in
fact, everything that is produced by
the farmer and stock raiser.
Some OF the objects and aims Of the
institution are set forth as follows:
First-To discourage as much as
credit system.
Second-To assist our members in
4 buying and selling.
,Third-To labor for the education of
i the agricultural classes in the science
of crop Investigation and scientific
agriculture.
Fourth-To constantly strive to Sc
cure entire harmony and good will
among all mankind, and brotherly love
among ourselves.
Fifth-To form more adequate un-
ion with those in authority for more
rigid and impartial enforcement of the
law. that crime, vice, and immortality
may be suppressed.
Sixth-To garner the tears Of the
distressed, the blood OF martyrs, the
laugh of innocent Childhood, the sweat
Of honest labor, and the virtue Of a
happy home as the brightest jewels
known.
In the beginning, the new union was
given but little publicity. The meet
ings were secret and nobody seemed to
care. But the movement grew on and
on In the meantime, and attracted at
tention from the entire country the
first week of last September, at which
time the first annual national conven-
ton was held at Texarkana, Tex.
Twenty states were represented at the
Texarkana convention and it develop
ed into ore of the greatest gatherings
ever held In the south
The national officers elected at Tex
arkana at the close of the September
convention are: G. S. Barrett, presi-
aaa4 At-o+ar On r F. Montpomery