Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1918-10-02
OBSERVATIONS
10y a CornfieId PhIlosopher.)
v. The American Society of Equity

10y a cornfieId PhIlosopher.)
v. The American Society Of Equity.
A brief description of the origin
of this organization may be of inter-
est. About 16 years ago one James
A. Everett, man engaged In small
seed business in Indianapolis, 1ndi-
ana, and who was eking out pre-
carious existence. conceived the idea
Of organizing the farmers on lines
which, If successful, would make him
millionaire. He published small
advertising sheet which he aptly
named Notwithstanding"
up to-date-Farmino."
Everett called together some OF his
employees and few others and organ
lied the first Local of The American
Society of Equity. This local proceed
ed to incorporate and thus became a
legal body capable of making con-
tracts. This local then proceeded to
enter into an agreement with Everett
by which Up To Date Farming, was
made the official organ" Of the So
ciety for the term of fifty years. The
plan of the Society, as devised by
| Everett, was very simple and the ex-
pense was not great The annual dues,
which included thirty-fve cent sub
scription to the paper, were $1.00 per
year. Locals were to be established
everywhere among farmers and dele
| gate convention was to be held each
year, at which, prices for grain. based
upon the seasons crop, were suggest.
ed as being fair and reasonable, pub
lished in the paper and sent to all the
members. It was calculated that nc
equity farmer would dispose Of his
grain for much, if any, less than the
Equity price. In some places the plan
was modified as in the case OF tobac
co in Kentucky by pooling the crol
and selling it through one agency.
Grew Very Fast.
i The movement grew by leaps an6
bounds. 1t meant giving the organic
ed farmers a little "say" as to Wha
they should receive for their produce
! Not only was the price of leaf tobacco
nearly doubled but the price of whea
; was advanced ten cents or more pc
. bushel and other grain felt its 1nhu
ence. In two years, nearly a hal
, million of farmers enrolled In tn
Society, the organization being espe
: cially strong in Wisconsin, Ilinoi
and Minnesota. was State organize
for Iowa.
Excessively Benevolent.
AS will readily be seen, as eac
member became an enforced subscrlf
er this gave Everett's paper subscrll
ton list equal to the whole member
ship and on this account made it YER
valuable. Meanwhile, Everett wa
! telling over and over again in ever
issue that he was receiving no salar
as National President, and how man
thousands of dollars "of his own MOI
ey" CD he was putting into the move
ment, all for the benefit of its men
, bers. This constant claim Of exec
! sive and unheard-of benevolence o
l his part made some Of us suspicious
The question in many minds wa
I what is Everett making out of thj
I thing. So at the annual meeting he'll
in East St. Louis, Illinois, in 1906 9
l 7 we determined to find out. 1t fe
= to my lot to become chairman of a
Investigating committee which revea
ed the fifty year contract with tWent
!, people in regard to the paper whic
already bound over quarter OF
million, and would compel every men
Der to take Everett's paper whethe
T. he wanted it or not, and Everett wa
% it's editor and responsible to no on
III plead with Everett to pl
price on the paper, sell it
the Society, and allow the members
elect it's editor. He asked for tim
= to consider the matter, and the que
i ton was passed OYER for anothe
year-not, however, without a warnin
that unless this was done at the ne1
J. meeting trouble would follow. I
u put Everett in good humor as parli
mentary floor leader, / so arrange
that he was unanimously re-electe
president for the ensuing term. BIZ
! many felt that Everett could no lon
q er be trusted and a Board Of Director
: was chosen, who, if so disposed, cou]
, take the management out of his hand
During the following year difference
y arose and as predicted, Everett wa
endorsed at the annual meeting thu
j. followed. He made buster, appea
g ed to the courts, started new organ
|. cation which he called The Farmer
|: Society of Equity, but failed to q
u recognition, and disappeared.
= Rescued by Brave Souls.
r Some brave souls notably In Wiscol
T. sin and Minnesota rescued all that wa
e good in the society, re-established
l. on cooperative lines in buying an
e selling and it is gradually extendin
r it's membership and the sphere of il
r influence among thinking, progre
It sive farmers, especially in the middl
v West. Here in Minnesota it has MOI
than two hundred live locals that do
business in the aggregate of millior
of dollars annually. The Equity ide
has come to stay and I predict bri
q liant future for the organization.
In my next article am going to tie
d how the States property, its land
Il timber and minerals, and much of il
d water power, has been disposed I
under "the forms of law" for muc
q less than it's real and actual value,
a favored few who have used it as
n basis for private fortunes. This a
q ticle should be carefully read and pr
It served for future use by all who al
h interested in good government in Mi
# nesOta.