The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1914-01-24
ELEVATOR MEN
HOLD SESSION
QUESTION OF PRESENT STATUS
OF FARMERS ELEVATORS DIS
CUSSED AT GREAT MEETING
YEsTERDAY-RANouET HELD
LAST EVENING.

Assembly nail was packed dt yesLeE-
days session of the Farmers Elevator
association of North Dakota.
The most notable address of the
meeting was that Of George S. Lotus
Of Minneapolis, who told graphically
and f~orcefully of the fight to supply
the farmers with a terminal market.
Much has been accomplished already,
looking to this most desirable end. Mr..
Lotus answered u number of ques-
tons which were put to him relative
to the operation Of the Minneapolis
exchange, of which he is the head.
NJ. P. Johnson, president Of the
Farmers Elevator Co. of Tollcy, was
the first speaker at the morning meet
ing n o up practical topics re-
Iating to the Farmers elevators in
this state.
S. H. Greeley Of Winetka, ILL.,, mem
Der Of the Chicago Board of Trade,
talked on methods used by
cial exchanges in the terminal mar
kets.
At the afternoon session, Hon.. J. e.
Kelley Of Pierre, S. D., spoke on Co
operation and the High Cost Of Lsv-
ing.
Henry Pau of Wallace, S. D., gave
a practical talk on cooperation, from
the farmers viewpoint.
j. A. McGovern of Madison, S. D.,
discussed the question of how much
real cooperation there is in the man.
agement of the average farmers ele-
Vator.
NJ. F. Sharp of Louisville, KY, or
ganizer for the American Society OF
Equity, talked on the work of the So
ciety n urged loyalty to the organ
ization.
The banquet was held at the
knights of Columbus hall last night,
the principal speaker Of the evening
being Professor Trimble, who spoke on
the subject, What Cooperation Means
the World Over.
The resolutions: First, we believe
in cooperation, and define the essen
tial fundamental principles of a CO.
operative organization in this man
ner:
1. Equality of vote. regardless of
investment or shares held;
2. Interest on shares to be limited;
3. A division of profits whenever a
division is made, in proportion to pat
r0nage.
Further, all men being created equal,
we believe in the Acknowledgement of
woman.
Further, we denounce the vicious
and malicious attacks made by the
Cooperative Manager G. Farmer, the
m~outhpiece Of the chamber of com
merce Of Minneapolis, on the Equity
Cooperative exchange, and our sales
manager, Geo. S. Lotus; we highly
deplore the course The National Grain
Grower has taken. and believe it was
brought about by the vicious and cor
rupt methods of the chamber Of COM
merce Of Minneapolis.
Further, we most highly appreciate
the splendid and Self-sacrifcing work
and support the officers Of this or
ganization performed.
Further, We have the most implicit
faith and confidence in the integrity
land ahjIjfI u nf al 60 lac p, ~ 49,
S. Lotus; he has by his splendid work
demonstrated that he is the right man
in the right place and fully able to fill
chat most difficult position in the most
satisfactory manner, the prominency
the Equity Cooperative exchange has
attained today is largely due to his
untiring efforts.
We extend a vote of thanks to our
attorney, BENZ. Drake, for the very eff
fc1ent service he rendered the cause
during the recent Minnesota legisla.
tive grain investigation.
Whereas, the chamber Of
of Minneapolis and the board of trade
Of Duluth have until recently afforded
the farmers Of the northwest the only
available market, and whereas, these
institutions are strictly private and
operated as such, n whereas, by vir-
tue of their being private, they have
created a monopoly in the grain trade
win oDuoCSs
Now, therefore, be it resolved that
we condemn a private market where
such a large volume of business Is
handled as In the above anne termin-
al markets and we respectfully urge the
proper authorities in the state of
Minnesota to take such steps as are
necessary to place them under state
control and make them a free and
open market to the producers Of the
northwest.
1t has come to our notice that there
has been placed before the railroad and
commission Of the state of
Minnesota the questions of commits
sion firms selling to their subsidiaries;
the question Of commission firms buy
ing grain and selling it in competition
with consigned grain; the question Of
allowing cars to be switched to ter
minal industries before the right Of
r~e-lnspect1on and appeal has been eX-
ercised; the method Of weighing grain
on cupola scales in terminal elevators
instead of on track scales; the present
arbitrary discrimination against vel
vet n and the method among men,
berS OF the chamber of of
Minneapolis to sell grain on the basis
or delivery at an industry instead of
on the incoming track.
Now, therefore, be it resolved by
this gathering that We go on record
~oS AASSS va llhS
railroad and warehouse commission of
the state of Minnesota to regulate and
remedy these abuses complained of
and which they now have under con-
~Sideration. We believe that the right
or re-inspection and appeal should be
exercised before the cars leave the
terminal track Of the incoming road.
We believe that no commission firm
should be permitted to buy grain and
sell 1t In competition with grain ham
died by them on consignment. We be-
lieve that there is a most unfair and
unjust discrimination now being prac-
tlced by the large millers and terminal
elevators against the variety Of wheat
known as civ chaff. We believe
that the present method of weighing
grain in the cupola of the terminal
elevators instead of on track scales is
most unfair n deceptive and gives
chance for mistakes. We believe, also,
that their system was and is being
operated to the great benefit Of the
terminal elevators and to the detri-
ment Of farming interests. 1t has
been found on investigation by the
Bankers association Of North Dakota
that a great deal is extracted from
each car unloaded by the so-called
dust collectors in the form of dust
which has already been allowed in the
form of dockage.
We condemn as unjust. illegal and
against public policy, and tendency to
destroy free open competition, the
system known as the Grain Bulletin
Price Card system.
Resolved, that this society endorse
the Cooperative Herald Of Fargo,
and make it the official organ for our
society in North Dakota.
I ~ nd a. lie. Tncc1xaI hvy chs x%anJ.Izf1 e.