The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1917-08-21
TO PROTECT FOOD
GRAIN MEN AND OTHERS INTER.
ESTED MET LAST NIGHT
AND ORGANIZED.

Pursuant to a call from the depart
ment of justice, Geo. r.. Farmer. act
ing with local grain men. called a
meeting at the city hall last night for
the purpose of organizing the grain
men and grain producers of Lake
county into an association for mutual
and collective protection Of the food
grains of this locality. The interests
of the county were represented by 32
men from all the towns in Lake
county.
Impetus was given the movement
upon the information that all grain
men are now required by the govern
ment TO make a weekly report TO the
bureau over which Commissioner
Hoover has supervision. reporting
the amounts of grain received, ship
ped and in storage. Carelessness il
the care and protection Of this grain
would thus come directly under the
notice of the government.
1t was brought out that the grain
companies themselves would stand to
lose little by the destruction of an
elevator loaded with grain. But the
insurance money could not reproduce
The lost grain. and it is the grain it
self that is desired-no amount OF
money will sustain the soldier in the
field if there is not grain and food
which the money is to buy.
Marcus Aus opened the meeting.
and the formal organization of the
Temporary body was completed by in
stalling Geo. r.. Farmer as chairman,
and +. II. Sloan as secretary. on
extended discussion the organization
was made permanent with Marcus
Aus. president; f. II. Sloan, secre-
ltary; r. Hutchinson, of Wentworth.
treasurer: directors. Ed Ecklund Of
Ramona. w. G. Williams Of Ninfred
and Y. r. Lee of Rutland. 1t is the
immediate purpose of this committee
10 keep i'm touch with grain men and
local civil officers in efforts to secure
protection and maintenance for the
grain storage houses.
Geo. r.. Farmer pointed out in his
opening the object of the meeting
that of protecting the fO%odstuffs OF
the country. the impossibility Of re-
lplacing that destroyed, and the dan
gers of local and foreign foes in its
destruction. He suggested means OF
lighting and patrols in the vicinities
of the storage houses. He suggest
ed hat while there is no law or pro-
vision made for such a measure, that
the county commissioners would en-
ter into the idea, and give substan-
tial financial support TO a system OF
patrol and protection, and that he.
as states attorney. would advise &c
that end.
There was at first some fiery ar
raignment of the /. w. w. and OF
the necessities for guarding against
their ascribed principle of setting
fire TO things Unfortunately. The
! secret foreign agent was also brought
$ to the attention of the men. +. w
Ketcham gave a strong opinion thai
E there were no more fires at this time
q than there were at other periods OF
in other years, and that he did moi
believe in all the /. w. w. stories
which were usually denied next day
:, The sentiment of the meeting came
S down to a steadier tone, and 1t was
the sense thereafter that it was moi
5 the greater danger against which
they should guard, but a greater pro
vision against the ordinary danger
Resolutions were adopted, agree
ing in text and meaning with similar
2 resolutions adopted in other coun'
ties. that local grain men should so,
I licit their town boards for more
Q lights and watchmen. Inasmuch as
+ the elevator and storage companies
: themselves have only a passing inter
I est in the grain, it is made a public
interest to see that it is not destroy
S ed. and the public should bear the
expense. Farmers are admonishec
S 10 watch carefully their grain, in
structions are given for stacking i
in isolated settings, fire guarding 1T
and in supervising the help employed
on the farm.