The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1921-03-15
Cooperative Plan Before the
Farmers in Topeka Today.
From Over Kansas $50 Dele
gates in Attendance.
KEEP PRICES BETTER BALANCED
Producers Would Share in Price
Paid by Consumer.
Hold Grain Until There Is De.
mand for 1t, Is Plan.

A plan for national cooperative
marketing of grain was under consider
alton by ESQ delegates of Kansas farm
organizations in convention here to-
day.
William G. Eckhardt, a representa-
tive of the Illinois Agricultural asso-
citation, and a member of the commit
tee of seventeen which devised the CO.
operative plan, told the farm delegates
today that investigations had shown
that while the Chicago board of trade
last year handled only 1925, 100000
worth of grain at actual value, $18.-
100000 worth had been bought and
sold by the board.
Market at Low Ebb.
1t was further discovered by the
committee, Eckhardt said, that 1875
per cent of all the wheat grown in the
United States goes on the market dur
ing four months after harvest. At
this time. he said. the market is at its
lowest ebb. From this time on, the
market advances, he declared. Sifted
down. this means that during eight
months of the year wheat sells above
the average price arrived at over a
ten-year period, while during four
months-the months during which the
FARMER IL unlOdQlnR-Ihe market is
below the average price.
The purpose of the farmers, It was
explained, is to get for themselves
more of the money which the con-
sumer must pay for the grain. To do
this, it was said, national co-opera-
whereby the farmers can hold their
grain until there is a demand for it.
This, it is assumed, would cut out a
large percent of the speculation.
Ralph Snyder Presides.
The meeting this morning was
called to order by Ralph Snyder. presi-
dent of the Kansas State Farm bureau.
John L. Boles, of Liberal, a member
of the Committee of Seventeen and a
representative of the National Farm
ers Equity union, was elected chair
man.
The plan of the Committee of Sew
enteen was first outlined by Eckhardt.
c. H. Hyde, of Aiva, Okla, and a
representative of the Farmers Union,
then talked on how the plan had ben
originated and arrived at. This after
noon c. NJ. Gustafson, of the Farmers.
Union AMI chairman of the Committee
of Seventeen, talked on putting the
plan into execution.
The delegates this afternoon were
to decide on whether the Kansas farm
organizations will favor the plan.
Eight delegates will be elected to the
national convention to be held IN Chi
cago, with instructions to vote, either
for or against the plan.
Originated Last July.
The plan originated last July when
J. r. Howard. president of the Amer
lean Farm Bureau Federation, called
a convention of all the farm organ
izations in the United States to con-
slider the grain mark citing problem.
The result was the appointment of
the Committee of Seventeen represent
ing all farm organizations, to investi-
gate and work out a plan. The COM
mittee first met last September and
divided into several subcommittee
to study various phases of the prob
lem. Many national experts were
called in and at last the national CO.
operative marketing plan was agreed
upon and submitted. Whether it will
be accepted depends upon the action
of the various farm organizations
thruout the United States.
The decision on this question so far
as it affects Kansas farmers, and the
election of the delegates to Chicago.
was to take place this afternoon. The
convention met at the city auditorium.
r. E. Lawrence, of Hutchinson, sec
| retary-treasurer of the Farmers Co.
operative Grain Dealers Association of
Kansas, was elected secretary of the
! meeting today. The convention will
close tonight