Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1914-12-30
EQUITY EXCHANGE
CONVENTION
Outline Of What Was Done at
the Recent Farmers Meet
In 6 at St. Paul.

Iu6 a Oh Qul'
More than 1000 farmers from Min
nesota and the Dakotas registered at
the big Equity Convention held at
St. Paul, week before last, and over
100000 worth Of stock in the Equity
Exchange was sold.
In the resolutions passed the Min
neapolis Chamber of Commerce and
Chicago Board of Trade are named as
institutions aiding and abetting or
gained monopolies in restraint Of
trade, that they harbor, protect and
assist lawbreakers and monopolies
taking from the farmers certain val
ues of their interests of the common
good"
The secretary of the convention
was instructed to demand that the
federal government take immediate
steps to prosecute those responsible
for restraint of trade and that evil
dence obtained in Investigations be
furnished the department of justice.
The Minneapolis Chamber Of Com
merce is charged with hiring men and
certain newspapers to place farmers
in disrepute who have sought to mar
ket their grain at terminals invoking
police assistance to prevent open dis
cussion Of terminal problems,
using dummies, subsidized newspaper
representatives and discredited law
yers to attack farmers in their termi-
nal organization and injuring through
false, improper and misleading ways
the standing and credit of the far.
mers' terminal selling movement.
Congress Is urged to pass a FEEDER:
al inspection law to place the grading
Of interstate shipments Of grain under
the control of the United States and
to pass law to prevent gambling in
farm products and elimination Of in
situations which foster it.
A pledge of support is given indie
pendent mills outside Of Minneapolis
which sell flour made from wheat
bought from Equity farmers.
Pres. Wilson's foreign and Mexican
policies are indorsed.
A larger standing army or greater
navy is characterized as "a menace to
peace"
An international merchant marine
commission is advocated and the post.
master general praised for his policy
Of extending the advantages of the
parcel post. An increase is asked in
the weight limit to 100 pounds in the
first two zones and so pounds in
others.
A land mortgage rural credit sys-
tenn is also urged in which bonds can
be sold in zones instead Of local
units.
A national convection to meet an
nually at washington, D. c., Is pro.
posed for the discussion of farm prob.
lens. States, counties and localities
are asked to hold similar gatherings
and name delegates to the larger
meetings.
Speeches Made.
The following are extracts taken
from speeches made at the Conven'
ton which reflect somewhat the spir:
it of the gathering:
Geo. S. Lotus, manager Equity Elk
change:-'We will build in St. Paul
the greatest grain market in the
world If you stand by the Equity.
est. Paul has given the Equity a vel
come that I, in my widest dreams
did not expect, and support that has
made it possible to get along as fast
as we have in bringing about reforms
in the grain handling business.
I'VE have sounded the deathknel]
Of the fictitious switching charges and
the illegal demurrage fees. We have
brought about the order of the rail
road and warehouse commission pre-
venting the re-inspection of grain af
ter it leaves the yards.
1--WE have accomplished a dozen
other reforms, all of which are of help
to you farmers, and we have just start
ed. We will keep on bringing about
reforms along these lines if you farm
ers stick together and to the equity
G. c. Daniels, special assistant OF
the United States department of jus.
tice: He told of the fight against the
tobacco trust in the South, which he
declared was similar to the fight now
being conducted by the farmers of the
Northwest.
There were dastardly combinations
in the South to throttle the indepeno-
ent tobacco companies and combina.
tions to manipulate the prices Of cot
ton. You farmers are fighting great
combinations that seek to control