Pierre weekly free press. (Pierre, S.D.) 1889-19??, 1909-03-04
State News of Interest
SPEAKS TO GRAIN DEALERS.
Independent Elevator Men, 700 Strong,
Meet at WatertoWn, S. D.

Independent Elevator Men, 700 Strong,
Meet at Watertown, S. D.
The second annual convention of
he Farmers Grain Dealers associa-
ion of South Dakota was held in
Natertown with an attendance ex-
feeding the most sanguine expecta-
ions of its officers. When President
J. NJ. Bowers of Mount Vernon called
fronted by an audience of visitors
numbering nearly 500, which, with adj
iitional delegates arriving on later
trains, was swelled to nearly 700 to-
day.
The visitors were RECALLED with r,u-
by the Peck-Halstead orchestra until
The president raped for order and
called upon Rev. Dr. Jenkins for an
Invocation, following which Mayor j.
w. Martin formally welcomed the
delegates
The response was by President
Bowers, who spoke of pending legisla-
ton at the state capitol, which he had
just visited, to further enactments
protecting farmers elevator compa-
MES from absorption by representa-
tives of the old-line companies.
Secretary l.. M. Doyle of Letcher
submitted an eXtemporaneous report
in which he called attention to the
progress of the association and the
! need OF more cordial cooperation on
| the part of farmers; nevertheless, he
NOTED that the progress the first year
Iot the associations existence has
been very gratifying. There are, he
said, about $50 farmers elevators in
the state, only fifty-two OF which were
represented in the first annual con-
ventlon. He suggested a closer affili-
alton and advised the employment
of organizers. Above ali, he admon-
ished the stockholders to employ none
| but experienced help. Cheap en-
Iployes, he averred, brought only
cheap resplts. ..
Treasurer T. O. Elloson Of Vermill-
ION reported the condition of the
'iSoouis. SHo"lhS net balance or
1854
h. l.. Loucke, the father" of the
Old farmers alliance movement in
this state and for many years the
leader Of the Populistic party, deliy-
eled an address on the Necessity Of
Cooperation" showing his old-time
vim. The central theme OF his re-
marks was organization.
| i do not denounce the trust mag
Mates he said; they are but the
outgroWth Of economic conditions;
rather let us initiate their methods.
IN SO far as organization for mutual
interests is concerned. We can beat
them at their game if we but go at
II III the right l>anner and stick to
1t, as they have stuck to it.
The manufacturer fixes the nrices
OF his products before he sends them
from his factory, that price being
based, theoretically at least, upon the
cost plus reasonable profit. Why not
apply the same principle to the prod
ucts OF the farm? Why not fix the
lprlce-such as affords a reasonable
pfoht, and say to the spectators that
not pound shall they have until
they pay the price we have fixed"
| only upon such system. he de-
clared, is it possible for the farmers
always to get what their produce is
reasonably worth, and only bv co.
operation can they succeed in the IN
dertaking.
| me evening session proved to he
one Of exceptional interest and drev
large audience. The Future Citi-
ZEN was the topic of an address nv
Il. d. Dunn of Mason City, Iowa
| >. A. Dalton of Minneapolis was as
signed the theme, How to Organize
and Maintain Successfully a Farmers,
Elevator Company"
Z. Z. Messerode, secretary of tho
Iowa association, discussed "yb. +
the Cooperative Element Means -
the Farmer