Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1919-12-17
ARE PUTTING
UP THE BAr~n'
Equity Society of Iowa Decides TO
Ofean House and Membership
State Organization Will be
Limited to Farmers
PROFESSIONAL AGITATORS
ARE BARRED
One Man Cited Where Rush to Es-
tablish Cooperative Stores is
Generally Followed by FL
nanciRl Loss


Waterloo, Ia.-During the session
OF the state convention OF the AM
erican Society of Equity, at the
arrnory, the delegates listened to
various resolutions presented by COM
mittees appointed to attend to GER
tain matters of vital Importance to
the organization, whose membership
is composed chiefly of men engaged
in agricultural pursuits.
The committee on marketing pre-
sented several recommendations
which were favorably voted upon by
attending delegates. Among the rec
concentrations made was one to the
effect that the association strive for
legislation which will benefit the far
mer, and producer of products from
the soil, in his efforts to obtain bet
ter shipping facilities, and better
market for products.
Thru a special amendment to the
constitution of the association it was
agreed to limit the membership Of
the society to those who were direct
ly engaged in the active tilling of the
soil and to others, retired farmers
particularly, who, while having ceas-
ed 10 be thus actively engaged, still
maintain an active interest in the
farmer and his problems, and were
not directly engaged in any conflict
ing business.
This resolution brought consider
able argument and the exact status
OF the retired farmer was closely de-
fined. but the resolution was passe..
unanimously when the distinction,
was finally placed in the record.
H. o. Folkstad, secretary of the
Montana branch of the American So
ciety of Equity, was presented to the
Iowa delegates. He said he was sent
to the convention by his oganization
to help advance cooperation that
will be nationwide and bring even
tually a condition that will over
throw the present pernicious system
of waste and loss in the marketing
OF the farmers products.
His description of the distressing
situation in Montana, brought cn by
three years of drought and crop fail
ures, was revelation TO the Iowa
farmers present, who each year have
bountifui harvest and always near
by markets. He stated that many far
mers were abandoning their tracts
and going elsewhere to work for
living. When conditions change they
will return. Live stock, by the hun
dreds has been shipped out of the
country, recently, he said the ami
mails being so poor in flesh that they
died before reaching the market.
Mr.. Folkstad told the Equity mem
bers what he believed was the trou-
BILE with the existing idea Of cooper.
alton. AS soon as group of men get
together 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 commission men and big city
manipulators of this expensive pro-
cess. Then they let the market men
come along and take the whole pro.
duct at their own price.
Too much attention is paid by CO.
operative associations to the bargain
counter business. A rush to establish
cooperative stores is generally fol-
lowed by financial loss. according to
the man from Montana. He appealed
for through organization and genuine
cooperation OF farmers everywhere.
Then. he said, the farmer will not
have to sell his produce at the fiuctu-
ating offerings of the manipulator
and turn around and buy what he
needs at the other fellows prices.