The Ronan pioneer., 1914-12-04

ing at Great Falls Nov 19, furn-
ishes the following report:
The meeting was to be held in the
Odd Fellows Hall, but was changed
to the court room Of department 2 of
the district court, and the first ses.
sion was given over to the preliminary
steps of organization. The meeting
was called to order by James Griffin
OF Chinook, secretary Of the State
Grange and the one who presided at
the meeting held during the state fair
week at which the convention now be-
ing held was decided upon. Mr.. Grit
fin stated the purpose and then NOM
nations for temporary officers were
taken up, M. W. Anderson of Helena
was chosen for chairman and James
Griffin and w. r. Rankin of jefferson
Island, were made temporary secre-
tayies. Following the selection of the
temporary officers the committees
were chosen and the meeting adjourn
ed until in the afternoon.
The committee on credentials was
headed by W. j. Gwin as chairman,
while the committee on permanent
organization was composed of A. D.
Stillman of Pleasant valley, B. c.
White of Buffalo, Pat Carney of Wa
te1loo, C. H. Mcdonald of Belgrade,
T. S. Putnam of Joliet, Charles Nc
Rae of Woodside, James Griffin of
Chinook, A. NJ. Glazier of Rothiemay,
Robert Irwin of Dunkirk, w. V. Tai
ho-t of Arlington, and W. j. Rankin
OF Jefferson Island.
When the session convened at in
the afternoon the committees reported
ard there was discussion of num-
ber of problems of interest to the far
rners of the state. The report of the
committee did not get by without a
little spirited action, all, however, of
q friendly character and intending to
infuse life into the organization.
There was the question Of voting to
be decided upon and there was an ell
ement of difference as to who should
be entitled to vote. Forces said to be
dominated by the American society
OF equity members wanted to limit
the voting privileges to the delegates
carrying credentials as delegates from
duly organized bodies of farmers
while those who opposed that view
held that the farmers who had, on
their own choice, paid their personal
expenses and come to the convention
purely for the good of the farming
population, should have just as much
right to vote as the so-called creden-
tial delegates. After some jockyine
the ones who believed in the broader
view for the voting privilege won and
all had vote.
The permanent organization COM
rlittee was not ready to report when
it was called and some speeches were
called for. Among the speakers were
c. NJ. Parr of Hamilton, representing
the Bitter Root Valley cooperative
society, and J. M. Sharp of Minneap-
oils, Mr.. Carr's address was of espec-
ial interest. He told Of the workings
of the organization he represented and
how we'll it has served the farmers
who constituted it's membership. He
illustrated what he meant by telling
Of the handling Of sugar. He sale
that when the society was able to sell
its members sugar at S5.25 the hun.
same territory were quoting sugar il
hundred pound quantities at $3.50 tc
So and then an amusing thing happen.
ed. The society's stock was depleted
before the shipment arrived and the
merchants at once increased theil
prices to 10 cents the pound in 100
pound lots. He said this was but on,
instance of the benefit which had come
to the members of the society.
The permanent organization com
mlttee reported the following:
I'VE recommend that the name o:
this organization be the 'Montans
Farmers League and that the officer!
shall be president, first vice president
second vice president, secretary an(
treasurer and an executive committee
of II members, two Of whom shall bs
president and secretary.
1--WE recommend the following
named persons for the respective off
GERS: w. V. Talbot of Arlington
president; c. S. Norton of Clinton
first vice president; I. D. O'Donnell o
Billings, second vice president, an'
the secretary and treasurer to b.
named by the executive committee.
Executive committee-A. D. Still
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