The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1906-10-24
farmers Congress Plans TO Ex-
tend Cooperative Field.
not Yet Ready to Effect a
Consolidation.
-OW TO EXCHANGE.
dembers Discuss Needs Of the
Sections.
Work will BE Completed This
Afternoon.

BY formulating a uniform system Of
organization for cooperative societies
Of the United States the Farmers con
gress hopes to WELD all the many
hundreds Of cooperative activities
into one strong central body which
though not one in name viii be 50 in
purpose.
A committee of from I'VE to seven
viii be appointed this afternoon which
win bring together under one body
the represented interests and by merg-
ing get the greatest amount of con
certed action. The committee will be
appointed to hold over until next year.
One of the plans suggested by the
committee to attain at this desired re-
suit Is a uniform system OF by laws
which viii provide that only a limited
amount Of stock can be issued to
each stockholder THE stock itself
viii probably be kept so that it will be
given q. par value Of not to exceed, say
$50 and no more than two shares to
be issued to one person said Mr.
Butler in explanation OF some OF the
probable by laws THE cooperative
Industries to have a capital stock ana
be treated with the same considera-
tios under the law that any other cor
poration would be treated. We are
asking the legislature for uniform
CORPORATION laws for our cO-Opera tive
societies. That they be given under
the law the same restrictions and no
others that other corporations are sur
rounded by
No merging Of all the cooperative
societies into a central body with one
name is contemplated at this time-it
is not ripe for consolidation
If enthusiasm and oratory count for
anything, this morning session OF the
congress was by far the best meeting
Of the SERIES
The men Of the northern states where
the cooperative plan of getting prod
ucts from the fields to the marts OF
trade has not progressed to the extent
that 1t has in the south were told how
to organize and bring about successful
results.
1--WE want your wheat and your corn
down south" said one man from Ala
bama. The stun that we get down
there from UP here is sometimes Sc
poor that even a hog wouldn't eat 1t,
but we pay the top prices for 1t, as if
it was the best. Let's change this. Ship
your corn and wheat to US direct so
that we can get some of this NUM- Der
one wheat and number two wheat. Co
operate with US and you viii be getting
better prices for your wheat and corn,
instead Of having the elevator man or
the railroads eat up most of the profits
mat should be coming to you"
Make the railroads be good and CO.
operate-this seemed to be the tenor of
their northern brethren.
we have made the railroads act good
down there. You can certainly make
them get right up here" said one dele
AS one method of seeing that some
OF the better food products reached the
south without suffering adulteration,
G. II. Peckham, OF Haven, Kan, VIII
furnish the cooperative societies of the
south with the names of Kansas millels
who are manufacturing good -four
-~HHr r r~rlrr
can be sure Of are all right-food that
is unadulterated and which Is right in
price, said Peckham. This was one of
the most practical suggestions made by
the Kansas delegation. Mr.. Peckham
furnished names to a large number Of
the delegates Of millers who would fur
nish Kansas -four from the best of Kan
sas wheat.
A permanent legislative committee
consisting of James Butler, J. c. Wat
kins and ". T. Keller was appointed to
secure legislation in the states repre-
Sented at the congress A draft OF the
form of law authorizing cooperative
industries which shall form the basis
of organization was adopted and con-
tains among others the following feat
ures:
1T shall be unlawful for E. or more
persons to form cooperative com
pany for the purpose OF transacting
any lawful business with such amount
Of such authorized capital stock, and
UANlQEQ INTO BuCn mum Der OF SnaTeE as
shall be provided in the charter or
without capital stock, and with or
without prescribed membership fees,
dues or contributions
1.-THE number of shares which any
person may own and the number Of
shares which any person may vote as
proxy maybe limited by the charter
and If not so limited may be limited by
the by laws. Charters for companies
Incorporated under this act shall he
in,
same manner as charters of other cor
pOrations except as in this act prOvid-
ed. The charter shall state that the
company is organized as a cooperative
corporation and when SO stated shall
confer the benefits of this act"
The congress viii come to an ad-
journment this afternoon, most of the
delegates departing for their homes on
the evening trains. The next place of
meeting win be left to the special com
nittee which has the Capitalization of
Efforts in charge.
The following resolutions covering
the work of cooperation were present
ed and adopted by the convention
'sTne fundamental purpose Of CO.
operation is to bring about more Just
relations between people in the same
different callings and to protect those
who are now exploited through the
existing industrial system against the
extortion now imposed on them by
great capitalistic aggrega tions Though
cooperation Is young in It's present
form It is simply fraternity applied to
the business relations Of life 1t has
already been demonstrated by the
Rochdale cooperative stores. the CO.
operative and mutual insurance com
panies. the farmers grain and eleva-
tor companies. the cooperative cream
cries. the cooperative warehouses OF
the south, the cooperative produce
clearing house organizations that CO.
operation is not q mere dream of the
az rir11f 017
viii make general brotherhood a living
fact