The Mena weekly star. (Mena, Ark.) 1904-1977, 1919-12-04
HATFIELD WAREHOUSE
OUTLOOK PROMISING
in Splendid Address C. v. Robertson
Points Way to Farmers to Obtain
Full Justice


Full Justice
To the Star:
On Nov. 20. the farmers in and about
Hatfield held a meeting to start plans
for building a bonded warehouse
There was a large crowd out. G. v
Robertson, of Little Rock, assistant te
the Commissioner Of Mines and Agri
culture. was present and made one OF
the better farmer talks, by far and
large, than any speaker who has been
to Hatfield in many day So plain
did he put it up to them that they al
quickly saw that they had no one tc
blame but themselves for their condi
tions that the entire crowd. to a man
clapped hands until they were almost
sore.
when the farmer produces his pro
ducts and throws them on the market
in the fall OF the year when they are
cheapest, and buys some of them back
in the spring when they are highest
who has be TO blame?" With clinched
fists, Himself" he answered, for
through the medium of the warehouse
he has the means of getting every
right he is entitled to"
There was no man present who dar.
ed take issue with Mr.. Robertson. For
he was full of his subject and possess
ed enough pep, tact and facts to
convince every reasonable man pres.
ent.
So enthused were the farmers after
this talk that a subscription contract
was gotten up and funds are now be-
ing solicited for the purpose of build
ing large warehouse which will ac-
commcdate all the cotton. fruit and
truck growers of this community for
many years to come
A drive is going to be made to
raise $4,000 And up to Monday night
everything looked very favorable The
subscription contract showed that 25
men have pledged themselves in
amounts that total 81 1900 And only
one day has been spent at the work.
d. E. Myers worked a couple of hours
at 1t Saturday and the writer spent
several hours Monday in the cause
Up to the present there seems to be
but very few DIRECTORS. In my rounds
Monday | only met one man who was
knocking and ne did not understand
the proposition. Some seem to think
that this is just haphazard affair
like they have been encountering in
years gone by. But it is a mistake.
This warehouse the Hatfield farmers
are working is being organized under
a law, Act No. 266 of the 41st. General
assembly, March 81, 1917 and every
step of the work is being made accord
ingly.
In this deal there will be no way for
the farmer to loose his money as here
tofore. Because in the first place the
subscribers must elect their own trus-
tees to turn the money over to and in
the second place, the man ~hc w:!i
have charge of the warehouse must be
put under heavy bond. All along the
farmer is safeguarded by law against
losses.
The advantages to be gained from
this warehouse proposition are many
and far reaching; no man can even
pretend to know the ultimate outcome.
Some are predicting that they are des-
tined to cut out at least rs per cent OF
our middle men and at the same time
reduce waste to very low minimum.
The waste on the farm is something
enormous, and as to the middle man
one instance alone, that of cotton
speculation, is sufficient to show how
they are bleeding the farmer and the
New England states gave out the re-
port that they paid SIS 200, 900 more
for their cotton than the farmer re-
ceiyed. Carry this kind of profiteering
on into the field Of corn, wheat and
other farm products and it is easy to
see what must be done.
Here is what Forest X. Woodruff OF
the X. G. s. and James G. Ferguson
our Agriculture Commissioner say on
the matter in some recent letters |
have on file. | quote briefly:
You will find that forming ware.
house association TO be a very advan.
tageous in every way
1st-It enables the farmers to club
together and ship in carload lots.
2nd--It increases production OF
different commodities, for the reason
that the producer has q pretty good as.
surance that he will be able to market
what he produces
3rd-Jobbers and other large buyers
are attracted to places where certain
commodities are produced in large
quantities.
We hope some day to find our asso-
citation in every town.
This department is at your services
at all times and please be assured OF
our cooperation in all your undertake
lngs." f. f. Woodruff, Agriculture
Agent, K C. S.
Here is what Mr.. Ferguson saws
THE warehouse can be made not only
marketing agency for cotton, but for
all farm products"