The weekly times-record. (Valley City, N.D.) 1912-1922, 1914-01-29
SATURDAY, JANUARY "a, 1914.

use of the partly completed auditor
ium in Fargo last evening severa
from Barnes County are very -ndig
nant. OF those present who called al
the Times Record office this morning
were w. Krenz, l.. Noltimier and AL
derman Chas. Lee each of whom
blames the Chamber of Commerce, the
Fargo Commercial Club and Presiden
Worst as we'll as the authorities fol
the part they took in subjecting the
1000 representative farmers Of the
state to insult and indignities.
They think that it must be the last
stand of he Chamber of Commerce
when they will resort to such methods
to break up quiet and peacable meet
ing of real farmers. They say that ir
the past they have done about every
thing to interfere with the carrying
out of complete organization but this
is the first time that the police have
been called in to bulldoze couple Of
thousand of representative farmers
that are organized and trying to handle
their own products at the terminals
through the Equity Cooperative Elk
change.
The following from the Courier-News
is the complete story as told by the
local farmers and reveals deplorable
lack of consideration on the part of
some one in Fargo who no doubt will
be called to account sooner or later.
AT the Grain Growers convention
of 1913 the Equity Cooperative Ex-
change and society was granted a
half day on the program of the Tri-
State Grain Growers convention for
1914" said J. M. Anderson, president
of the Equity Cooperative exchange
last night. "Eearly in the fall made
arrangements with Mr.. Worst for our
part on the program.
Chosen to Preside.
'He agreed that the program would
be turned over to use at noon on Fri.
day, which was done. l was duly
appointed to preside at the meeting
by the corporation. 1nasmuch as
did not arrive until after 8 o'clock,
did not take the chair until some of
the members had finished speaking.
States Position.
Upon my arrival, Mr.. Worst turn
ed over the hall, stating that it was
ours until the end of the convention,
and further stating that was in
charge until the close. A half hour
later boys began distributing circu-
lars announcing that Senator S. T.
Works and F.. ]. Grover were to
have charge of the meeting in the
evening. then stated the above men,
toned facts with reference to the
hall claiming that the organization
which I represented should have pos
session of the platform with me in
charge of the meeting until it was
closed, and that proposed to assert
those rights.
Hardy Appears.
Il was overwhelmingly upheld on
this position by the audience. A few
moments later, Mr.. J. p Hardy ap-
preached the chair stating that the
platform must be surrendered by us
after supper. I stated our position,
in answer to which he said he would
confer with Mr.. Worst and Mr. Smith
and report later.
81 called him by phone at 7o'clock
asking him the final result of the con.
ference. He replied that at 8 o'clock
Mr.. Smith would appear in person to
make claim to the platform and that
If we would not surrender it peace.
fully, the chief of police would &C.
company him and that this was final.
States Claims.
II was stating my claims to the
platform to the convention and to sub.
stantiate same was reading letter
from J. H. Worst, written Dec. g.
from which l quoted as follows: 81
shall do my very best to hold the
crowd together until the close of the
convention" 1t was upon this and
other promises that our claim to the
platform was based, when Mr.. Smith
suddenly appeared in front of the
platform and endeavored to mount it
Police Present.
II ordered him to remain on the
floor and in fact pushed him back
when he attempted to mount it the
first time. Then l was interrupted
by the chief of police with orders tc
permit Mr.. Smith to mount the plat
form. General confusion followed.
II was endeavoring to quiet the
crowd while Mr.. Smith kept up his
abuse when the chief of police told
me to shut up. l then mounted the