The Rice belt journal. (Welsh, Calcasieu Parish, La.) 1900-19??, 1910-10-14
GREAT MEETING or RICE MEN.
Largest Gathering OF Rice Men Ever
Hetd.-Men From All Parts Of Rice
Belt Present. to Form
Buying, Selling and Hold
ing Organization.

1t is estimated that from eight hum
dred to q thousand men assembled in
Crowley, from all parts of the Rice
belt, Wednesday, to consider the con-
ditions confronting the rice interests,
and, if possible, to devise means for
improving the present conditions OF
the marketing end of the industry.
The meeting, which met in the city
hall, was adjourned to the Grand op.
era house, as the city hall would not
nearly accommodate those present.
"Gentemen of the Convention:
I'm calling this meeting, I called it,
not only as farmers meeting, but rs
one in the interests Of all connected
with the industry. | was asked to
call the meeting, not only by the rice
farmers, but by business men in gen.
eral, connected with the industry.
"We are all agreed on one thing,
and that is, that there is something
radically wrong with the marketing
end of the industry. Just who is to
blame, it is not for me to say. Per-
haps every branch of the business is
to blame, to some extent. Be that as
| it may, the result is, that we are face
to face with the same problem that
confrouts us annually, when We have
large CROP"
| At the close of Mr.. Gabbert's adj
dress, temporary organization was
effected with Mr.. Gabbert as president
and Frank Randolph as Secretary.
George Hathaway, president of the
Rice Association of America, stated
the object of the meeting. He said, in
effect, that the purpose of the meeting
was to organize the entire industry in
the interest of better conditions.
MIR. Hathaway said that the lack of
harmony was one of the reasons Why
the industry is not on a good basis
He accused some of the New Orleans
millers of failure to cooperate with the
country and called attention to the
fact that New Orleanes millers have
not subscribed to the rice association
advertising fund.
Letters and kilograms from various
sections of the rice belt, were read,
and several important addresses on
the subject, delivered by rice men from
different parts of the rice territory,
following which, on motion of George
Hathaway, a committee Of five was ap-
pointed to consider the organization
of buving, selling and holding or
ganization for the purpose of improv-
! ing general conditions. The commit
tee NAMED consisted Of the following:
DR.. A. C. Wilkins, Jennings, La; Mi
ron lAbbott, L'Argent, La; J. G.
Neelis, Gueydan; L. E. Robinson,
Welsh: J. w. Mccain, Crowley; j.
E. Broussard, Beaumont, Texas.
w. E. Ellis of the Crowley State
Bank, said he thought that selling
agency would be feasible. The hold
ing movement organized by the far
mers last vear and year before last
was effective. Mr.. Ellis thought that
the mills could not do it alone, but
co. operation of all interests might do
| it.
II want to know how the bankers
stand; that's the interesting point?"
interjected Judge Pugh of Crowley.
"They always have stood by the
farmer replied Mr.. Ellis.
The bankers of Calcasieu are all
right" interiected Mr.. Gabbert. land
they can be depended upon to stand
by the farmer in the future"
The following resolution was offered
by the committee and adopted by q
rising vote:
"Resolved, That it is the sense of this
meeting that we favor and recommend
the organization of Cooperative
Sales Company for the purpose of SELL
ing the entire rice through one chan
mel that there may be-no competition
in the sales''
Mr.. Ritche of Jennings offered
motion advising farmers to hold their
rice at full values until the Organiza-
ton is perfected.
The meeting then adjourned and the
organization went into session. No
tice of another meeting will be given
as soon as the convention has formu-
lated its plans.