Pierre weekly free press. (Pierre, S.D.) 1889-19??, 1916-12-14
THE ST. PAUL CONVENTION

Equity COOPERATIVE Exchange held
in the city of ST. Paul, commencing
on December 5. was in some respects
the greatest the farmers of the North
west have held. About four thous-
and were in attendance, many ladies
being there with their husbands.
Good entertainment was furnished
by the people of st. Paul in the way
of vocal and instrumental music.
The program, as published was car
ried out, as practically every speaker
advertised appeared upon the plat
form.
The delegates were welcomed both
by the mayor of the city and by Coy.
Burnquist OF Minnesota. Both made
appropriate and well-receivea ad-
dresses and touched on economic
questions to an appreciative extent.
Hon. j. E. Kelley of Pierre, perman-
ent chairman of the convention, re-
sponded to the address of welcome
delivered by Gov. Burnquist
The addresses covered a wide range
OF economic questions, from the
shortage of cars to the government's S.
efforts to establish q merchant marine
Mr.. Bennett of Montana, read tele-
gram from a member of the ware
house and railway commissions of that
state, showing that the shortage Of
cars, by reason of which that section
is greatly hampered in the shipment
of grain and livestock, is caused not
so much by the actual scarcity of
cars as by the poor management Of
the railroads in. getting the cars
emptied for immediate use.
Governor elect Lin j. Frazier of
North Dakata, made an address in
line with the new declaratian of prin-
ciples OF that state, and promised that
the platform of the partisan
league would be carried into effect.
This platform stands for an appro-
priation by the state of funds to
build and operate packing plant
and suitable stock yards, storage
elevators, either within ths state or
at terminal markets, state insurance
against hail and some other reforms.
Magnus Johnson of kimball,
Mimi, candidate for speaker of the
house OF representatives of that state,
warned the politicians of Minnesota
that if they thwarted the desires Of
the farmers in the coming session of
the legislature, they would get a
worse drubbing the next election in
Minnesota than they got in North
Dakota at the late election.
Mr. Bridges of Seattle, Wash.
showed the great advantages of
municipal and state owned storage
elevators. The wharfage and stor-
age elevators at Seattle, all publicly
owned, were shown to have been
erected at a cost of over $4,000, 900.
He declared that the advantage to
the shippers and consumers OF the
state were almost ondcaleulation
The dedication Of the new half
million bushel capacity terminal ele-
vator was, of course, one of the great
features of the big convention The
dedicatory address was delivered by
Mr.. Brand, chief of the marketing
division of sthe Department of Agri-
culture, Washington. d. G. Mr..
Brand on this occasion acted as the
personal representative of President
Wilson, who sent his regrets at his
inability TO attend the convention on
account Of the assent bling of congress
at that time.
Hon. Henry G SoIem of Baltic. S.
D., was introduced by the chairman
as the father of GO operation in the
Northwest. Mr.. Solem made.a short
but interesting address along th g
lines Of co operation.
Hon. Dick Richards of Huron, was
also introduced ami made one of his
characteristic interesting addresses.
The new terminal elevator, which
will soon be ready for use, is the
first and only farmers co. oparatiyely
owned terminal elevator III the Unit
ed States. 1t was erected at cost
of 100000, and there is no mortgage
against it. 1t is estimated that the
stockholders of the elevator, num-
bering between six and eight thops-
and, represent property interests OF
about so. 100000 and while the great
majority Of the stockholders live in
North Dakota. they are scattered
over South Dakota, Minnesota, Mon
tana and Wisconsin also.
This elevator will stand as q monn
ment to the courage, the foresight
and the tenacity of purpose of those
who caused its erection. The fight
put up by the Chamber Of CONNIE roe
of the city OF Minneapolis to defeat
the aims Of the farmers Id it's section
Icopat linton Nppafnf tho dorEnnf nB,s, :,