Fergus County Democrat., 1916-12-14

Products, Effective at Very Source
Of Production, as Farmers Means
Of Retaliation in the Event That
Certain Measures Before Congress,
Designed to curtaiI the Worlds
Market Become Laws.
ST. PAUL, Dec. 7.--Addresses by c.
]. Brand, chief of the marketing divis-
ion OF the federal department of agri-
culture, personal representative OF
President Wilson, and Manager J. G.
Critics of the Equity Cooperative Elk
change, and the adoption of resolu-
tions closed the three-days' session
Of the annual convention OF the Equity
Cooperative Exchange here tonight.
Mr.. Brand, in his address to the
assembled members Of the exchange,
declared that American farming will
never be what it should be until it Is
thoroughly organized, and organized
in the hands of the farmers. The
farmer must see his product through
to the consumer just as far as eco
nomic Conditions will permit, and the
growers, by proper organization. can
conduct their business just as eco
nomically and as efficiently as any
other class of citizens"
After stating that upward Of $780,
600 is available this year for the i'm
provement OF marketing conditions but
the bureau which he represents. he
told of the work Of the division, and
declared that the ultimate purpose
Of the work Is not merely to make
more money for the farmer, but to
make American farming SO substantial
an industry that it will attract people
to the land and create an industry
which men Will follow.
General Manager j. G. Critics dis
cussed the railway problems confront
ing the farmer and the fight which is
being waged by the Equity Co-opera-
tive Exchange, and advocating govern.
ment ownership Of railways.
A telegram from J. r. Hall of the
Montana railroad commission, relat-
ing the progress made by that organ
ization in it's investigation Of the car
shortage, was read.
]. NJ Anderson, president OF the
Equity Cooperative Exchange. spoke
on the great progress the organization
has made during the past year.
Before the close of the session reso-
lutions recommending important legis-
lation, extending even to government
ownership Of railways and all public
utilities; deploring the untimely death
of George S. LOTUS, and commencing
the years progress of the Equity Co.
operative Exchange, were unanimous.
ly adopted.
During the day parade through the
loop district was one of the features.
B. c. White of Buffalo. Mont, in
troduced at the afternoon session as
''the sheep king of Montana" recon-.
mended an embargo on farm products,
effective at the very source of produc-
tion, as the farmers means of retalia.
tion in the event that certain meas.
urns before congress designed to cur.
tail the world market become laws.
I'm the event congress passes the
law there is just one thing left for
is to hold your products on the ranch"
Mr.. White, who declared he went
into Montana when there was mo Sun,
day, west Of Mandan.' reviewed the
progress OF the northwest farmer since
that time, and asserted that he had
never seen time when there was so
great a demand upon the farmer and
:. producer as the present.
Six and one-half millions of Ameri.
can farmers today are not only feed.
ing the. United States but the world. "
he said.
In the opinion Of Mr.. White certain
measures now before congress are a
direct menace to the farmer, and intro.
dnced by non-producers of the east
Should the menacing danger mate.
rialize," said the speaker, there are
but two things left for the farmers
to do-either refuse to sell their crop
or refuse to grow IT.
In conclusion he explained that the
day of the individual farmer trying to
adjust his difficulties is passed and
that. organization is the only means
of obtaining results. He commended
the progress already made in this re-
spect, both as to the marketing ol
grain and livestock by Equity mem
bers, and with regard to the lattei
phase declared that the ultimate re
suit should be. the establishment Of q
packing plant that would permit the
farmer to sell direct to the consumer
Robert Bridges, president of the
Port of Seattle Commission. who alse
spoke at the afternoon session, criti
cised the laxity of the people of St
Paul for their failure to make the mos,
of the transportation facilities offered
by the Mississippi river. and attacked
the Shields bill which proposed to de
liver water power grants to private
corporations.
August Nelson, manager of a farm
ers' elevator at Crosby, n. D.. told o.
the cooperation of the farmers in his
section OF the state.
WHAT THE FARMERS NEED.
CHICAGO, Dec. Farmers of tn,
great grain states of the middle ives
and north, believing that less than
fair share Of the profits of their labo
is returned to them. took the frs
steps here today to establish a cos
system for their industry. In connee
tion with the National Conference OF
Marketing and Farm Credits, repre-
sentative grain growers discussed va
riOuS means of determining market