Evening journal., 1921-03-31
FARMERSFRAME
POOL FOR ALL
Growers of Nation TO Or
ganize TO Combat Food
Gamblers
CURB MIDDLEMEN
ALSO is PLAN
Ry Newspaper Enterprise.

BY Newspaper Enterprise.
CHICAGO. March s1.-A gigantic
pool Of the grain Of the country. to
be sold through one great central
agency. is the vision Of farmer dele
gates assembling here from II states.
They picture themselves dealing.
as a unit. with the miilers Of Amer
lea and the world market as well.
Their hope is to eliminate some Of
the middlemen who take profits as
the grain passes through their hands,
and to abolish grain gambling.
The national conference convenes
here April 6, at the Lasalle Hotel.
Delegates are here. or expected.
from Missouri. Illinois. Kansas. In
diana. Ohio. Oklahoma. Michigan.
Texas. Colorado. Wisconsin. Ne
hraska, Minnesota. Iowa. North Da-
kota, South Dakota Washington
and Montana.
The big plan they will consider
was prepared by the Committee OF
Seventeen"--so called because II
comprises that many men represent
ing various organizations OF grain
growers and shippers. These in
-lude the Farmers Union. the Equity,
the Farmers Grain Dealers Asso-
-iation, the agricultural colleges. the
q Agricultural Editors Association,
and the American Farm Bureau Fed
Grafton.
The plan is revolutionary in the
result II seeks. and is patterned
somewhat after the method adopted
BY California fruit growers for mar
keting through a central agency.
In substance It is this:
The farmer pays $40 for an indi-
vidual membership in the national
organization.
He then becomes a member Of a
local cooperative elevator, associa-
. tion, or If none such exists, OF local
grain growers association.
He signs a contract to deliver all
his surplus grain to this local agency
for a period Of years-probably five.
This agency may buy the grain for
cash, as delivered. or take Il for
shipment on consignment
or. II the local groves so decide,
all the grain from a given locality
may be pooled, TO be sold from time
70 time as theS think best. Pools
may cover any period. up 10 a year
This local agency. in turn may
pool its grain with that Of other
communities. to be held for sale
when market conditions look attrac-
live.
In any event. the grain must al
be handled through a national CEN
tral sales association, either on con-
ctgnment for immediate sale, oi
through pools covering any desired
pectfon Of the country, period O.
dine, or kind Of grain
The national sales agency viii
control a finance corporation which
will advance funds on grain held II
pools
II will operate a terminal ware
house corporation for the purpose o
building or acquiring great termina
facilities for grain handling.
Il will have a SUBSIDIARY expor
corporation for dealing abroad.
II will conduct service depart
ments for collecting and disseminat
ing accurate information regardin
crop conditions all over the world
The goal sought through all thi
is to stabilize prices and eliminat
speculation
II successful. the plan will enabl
the farmer to hold his graip for IA
prices, instead Of dumping It upo
a glutted market. II will finanC
him while he is waiting for price
TO get right.
Part Of the plan calls for II
elimination Of grain gambling. a
though there Is considerable sent
ment for permitting dealing in fl
lures as price insurance on the pa
OF growers and millers.
While the plan has been und'
consideration, steps have been take
TO force the great grain exchang
to admit to membership cooper
tive organizations which divide the
profits Bills to this effect are b
fore several State Legislatures.
every case there will be a bitt
battle before this is brought abot
The Committee OF Seventeen isr
making any threats. Its membe
infer, however. that once the orga
ization is perfected, and controls
big share Of the grain produced
the United States, it will be able
dictate terms to the Chicago Boa
Of Trade and the Minneapolis Char
Der Of Commerce.
Even while this battle is ragir
the same elements among the fari
ers are at work on another plan, I
the cooperative handling Of liy
stock.
And that will mean a battle 70,
with the packers.