Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1919-12-04


days session OF the state convention
OF the American Society OF Equity, ~
the armory, the delegates listened 10
various resolutions presented by COM
mittees appointed 10 attend to certain
matters of vital importanee TO the or
sanitation, whose membership Is COM
posed chiefly of men engaged IN asri-
cultural pursuits.
rho committee on marketing pre-
son.cd several recommendations which
were favorably voted upon by attend
ing delegates. Among the recomfneh-
dations made was one 10 the erect
that the association strive for legisia-
ton which will benefit the farmer anu
producer OF products from the soil. In
his efforts to obtain better shipping
facilities, and a better market for pre-
ducts,
Limit Membership.
Thru Il special amendment TO the
constitution Of the association it was
?crocd TO limit the membership Of the
society TO those who were directly en-
guged in the active tilling Of the soil
and 20 others, retired farmers par
ticu!ar!y, who, while having ceased to
be thus actively engaged, still main
tain az active interest in the farmer
and his problems, and were not d.
rectly engaged in any conflicting bust
ness.
This resolution brought forth con-
siderable argument and the exact
status Of the retired farmer was clos
~ defined. but the resolution was
passed unanimously when the distinc-
ton was finally placed in the record.
Who Cooperation Fails.
Fl. o. Folkestad. secretary OF the
Montana branch OF the American So
ctety OF Equity, was presented 70 the
Iowa delegates. He said he was sent
TO the convention by his organization
10 help advance cooperation that will
be nationwide and bring eventually u
condition that will overthrow the pres
emit pernicious system of waste and
loss in the marketing Of the farmers
products.
His description Of the distressing
situation IN Montana, brought on by
three years of drouth and crop fall
ures. was a revelation to the Iowa
farmers present who each year have a
bountiful harvest and always near by
markets. He stated that many farm
ers were abandoning their tracts and
going elsewhere TO work for q living.
When conditions change they will re-
turn. Live stock, by the hundreds has
~;
Gently he said, the animals being so
poor in flesh that they died before
reaching the market.
Mr.. Folkestad told the Equity mem
bers what he believed was the trouble
with the existing idea OF cooperation.
AS soon as q group Of men get togeth-
er and organize, they want to rush into
some sort Of business. They sign notes
to raise money or secure credit, then
build elevators and with their own
money or credit. for which they pay
big interest. they assemble and buy
their Own products. relieving the COM
mission men and big city market man.
ipulators OF this expensive process.
Then they let the market men come
along and take the whole product at
their own price.
Too much attention Is paid by
cooperative associations to the bar
gain counter business. A rush to es-
tabiish cooperative stores is general
ly followed By financial loss. according
to the man from Montana He ap-
pealed for thorough organization and
genuine cooperation OF farmers every
where. Then. he said. the farmer will
not have to sell his produce at the
fluctuating offerings OF the manipu-
lator and turn around and buy what
he needs al the other fellows prices,