The Donaldsonville chief., 1911-01-07
Ill ORGANIZATIONS I'M ONE
Society of Equity Proposes consoiida'
ton Of All Farmers Asso-
Citations in One Body.

Steps toward a big merger of far
mers organizations were taken the
other day by the American Society OF
| Equity in convention at Indianapolis.
/ A committee was appointed to confer
concerning propositions to consoh-
| date with the National Grange, or
| the Patrons of Hnsbandry, and the
| Farmers Educational and Co-opefa-
| tive Union.
| The National Grange was in con-
vention at Atlantic City, and the con-
vention of the American Society OF
| Equity sent telegram to the other
| convention announcing the appoint
1nent Of a standing committee to
work for the consolidation Of all far
| mers' organizations. The standing
committee from the Society Of Equity
is composed Of A. Slaughter of Wis
consin; S. T. Carmody OF Illinois, and
s.. B. Robertson OF Kentucky. the
National Grange was asked to ap-
point a similar committee to confeN
on the matter Of consolidation. The
National Grange Is an old organ1za-
ton and has membership of thous-
ands Of farmers in all parts Of the
United States Many of its members
are in favor Of the proposed merger.
Joint committees from the Farmers,
Educational and Cooperative Union
and the American Society Of Equity
met last May and reached a plan for
consolidating the organizations. The
latter society has not yet taken for
NAL action on this plan, which is now
being discussed.
Greetings to the American Fedora
tion Of Labor, in session at st. Louis.
were telegraphed by the convention.
A fraternal delegation was appointed
by the American Society of Equity to
attend the session of the American
Federation Of Labor, and extend to
it assurances OF friendly feeling.
There was a discussion by the dele
gates on the general form Of business
in which the society proposes to en-
gage for the benefit Of the producers,
but no decision was reached. The dis
cussion was led by Delegate Woods OF
Ohio Among those who spoke was
W. L. Whitson of Kentucky.
According to financial report made
to the convention, there has been
so per cent. reduction In the cost Of
operating the national Offices since
last May, corresponding with the
same period last year, and a reduc-
tion Of so per cent. in the cost Of OPP
Grating the Equity Farm Journal. OF
which T. G. Nelson is editor.
In an address before the society
the Rev. Mr.. Tuohy advocated a CO
operative movement by the farmers
in the direct sale Of their products to
the consumers and in abo1ishing the
profits of the middlemen Father
Tuohy Is the general secretary of the
American Cooperative Union and is
considered an expert on the subject
of cooperative business.
The cooperative store idea as .ad-
Vocated by the speaker and by the
American Society Of Equity has only
to do with the products raised on
farms, and does not take into con-
sideration the manufactured articles
handled in stores.
Father Tuohy said he did not be-
lieye in the commission scheme Of
handling products. In his opinion the
commission business should be done
away with entirely, and farmers
should unite to sell their products di-
rectly to the consumers through their
own agents. The commission system
dissipates profits, he said, and tends
to create private wealth among the
producers ana their patrons. Father
Tuohy told Of the result Of some OF
his investigations Of the cooperative
system as it is operated In Europe
A committee on plans for handling
the farmers business was appointed
as follows: William Renike, Bow.
ling Green, KY, and !. NJ Anderson
Of Casselton, Wis. The constitution
and bylaws committee is as follows:
Joseph Butler, Covington, KY; j.. H.
Carnahan, Black River Falls, Wis:
j. M. Christmas, c. v. Pierson, Cassel-
ton, N. NJ, and Bert Cole, Campbell,
Minn. Fl. @. Tank, Of Marathon, Wis.
is chairman Of the credentials COM
mittee,