Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1915-04-17
WESTERN GRAIN MEN
GATHER IN OMAHA
Reception Held at Omaha Grain Ex-
change, Convention Following
and Banquet Concluding,
FIVE HUNDRED IN ATTENDANCE

Five hundred grain men concluded
the first days program of their two
days session OF the Western Grain
Dealers association in Omaha, with
banquet Aat the Hotel Fontenelle
last night at q: Sofso'clock. 1t re-
ouired almost the capacity of the big
banquet and ball room of the hotel
e. accommodate the crowd. still
there was room for the cabaret artists
to slip about among the chairs and
tables, and show off their several.
various and divers stunts to the best
advantage In all parts of the room.
Male and female cabaret talent was
employed, and some clever singing.
dancing and hestnut-cracking was
dished mp for the entertainment Of
the visitors.
Speech making was more OF less ta-
booed, although one formal speech was
scheduled But the grain men had list
ened to speeches and shop-talks all day.
They were ready for something lighter
something to wash the mind clear of
shop-business and leave It in mood re-
iceptive of the things to come at the
business session this morning
PicIxeII Talks to Grain Men.
The only formal speech of the even
ing was that of J. Ralph Pickell Of Chi
cago. editor of Price Current Gram Re
porter He chose for his subject Truth;
A Tribute and Some other Things"
Then he SCARED into the subject and made
| Il lively enough TO satisfy even those
who had come principally to enjoy the
cabaret.
An automobile trip starting at the Fon-
tenele Just after the close OF the after
noon session. took the grain men all
over the city.
The omaha grain men. besides giving
the visitors a banquet. were anxious that
they look over the city and get some
idea of it's industries and its general
scope. They took them TO the most in
teresting points in the city. where they
saw parks, now Just turning green. saw
large substantial buildings in the busi-
ness district being torn down. only to
make room for skyscrapers: saw other
business blocks already in process of con-
anu SOA 80 eNh~ANA
Omahas present era of prosperity.
Cowgirl Extends Welcome.
President +. $. Cowgirl OF the Omaha
Grain exchange opened the convention at
the Hotel Fonteneile in the afternoon
with q brief address of welcome, dur
ing which he remarked that as Omaha
was a home market for the gain men.
he wanted them to feel thOroughly at
home while here. He emphasized the
fact that Omaha is the second largest
primary grain market in the United
States.
Defending Nebraska's recently eracted
public warehouse law, while expounding
what such laws ought TO be, when passed
| by a state legislature. Attorney Edward
p. smith OF Omaha, told the grain men
that although banks are allowed TO ac-
cept deposits OF money without giving
bond direct to the depOsitor. no grain or
Elevator man should be allowed to accept
grain for storage without giving bond
70 protect the farmer. lie asserted that
there are now six bankruptcy cases in
Nebraska courts, as the result OF grain
men selling stored grain on a rising mar
lket ana then being unable to deliver 10
the farmer on demand. Continuing said
Mr.. Smith:
Public warehouse laws, to ne salts
factory and workable. should be op-
tional TO the elevator men, as in Ne
braska. rather than compulsory; storags
charges should be fixed rather than
sliding, In order 10 be fair 10 eli; and
such laws should SATISFY the farmer, tbs
country elevator man. the terminal mar
ket man and the banks. Public ware
house certificates ought 20 be az good
i collateral a. government bonds" Mr.
Sc0ntiSuSd On PAGE FiTa. Column One