The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1921-06-08
Grain GROWERS
PLAN ASSAILED
President Chicago Board Of Trade
Writes Brochure Upon sFarm-
ing the Farmer"

Joseph P. Griffin, president Of the
Chicago Board of Trade, is the au-
thor Of q little brochure entitled
Farming the Farmer" in which
he presents certain alleged ex-
cerpts from the minutes. OF the
United States Grain Growers, Inc,
which he offered as bearing on his
contentious regarding the Lantz
bills at the recent hearing on those
measures at Springfield.
Commenting upon the fact that
Herbert Hoover, after investigation.
declared the Chicago Board OF
Trade to be the most economically
administered system Of distributing
grain in the world, Mr.. Griffin re-
fers to the compensation which he
claims has been voted to them
selves by the organizers Of the
United States Grain Growers, max
ing much of the fact that a total of
$74,600 is spent for the services of
the president, secretary, treasurer,
general counsel, assistant counsel.
etc.
Farmers, he says, are asked to
pay an assessment OF us a year.
His comment, upon this 10 that it
would require 1000 of them to pay
the $4,000 annual salary OF the
general counsel alone. Five hun
dred farmers would be enough. he
afirms, to purchase the friendly
Offices OF the assistant counsel. who
receives $500 per year, while an
other. thousand assures the efforts
Of the treasurer whose stipend is
SIS, 900, and a few more than that
would keep the presidents $4,000
salary paid up in full.
He claims that one crew OF or.
ganizers receives $1,000 per month,
or $4,000 per year, and asserts
| it will take the annual dues OF
2,40O farmers to pay the salaries OF
one of these crews, whose duty is
to travel about and collect the dues
In contrast with this, Mr.. Crit
| fin stresses the fact that neither the
president nor the directors OF the
Board of Trade receive any com'
pensation despite the great demand
made upon their time BY their ON
cial duties.
1t is Mr.. Grinin's contention that
the zones of operation as thus fal
laid out by the grain growers are
| but tentative, and that the scheme
absolutely sews up the farmers
grain.
Accept Pool Offering.
One of his strong points Is thai
Is, 000, 900 bushels shall go into thu
pool for each sone, but that Of thii
the farmer retains no control. i
can be held by the pool or sold
and the farmer must take whatever
price the pool gives him. To main
tain this point, MIR. Griffin quotes
from their minutes.
In short, Mr.. Griffin, from hi.
standpoint, can find nothing in thu
scheme which would give the ILL
nois farmer any advantage due tt
his geographical position near I
great central market. The Illinois
farmer, he insists, would receive
the same price for his grain as tn,
grower in distant markets. as TIL
plan seems to take no cognizanc'
of the difference in freight rates
! The Illinois growers proximity tt
the market ought to bring him, s.
Mr.. Griffin claims, 20 cents to q
cents q bushel more for his grail
than is received BY farmers a
more distant points.
j Good for OrganiserS.
In his brochure, Mr.. Griffin con
cludes by denominating the plan o
the grain growers as one which
while promising prosperity to tn
farmers, will, II it ever gets int
operation, bring . very presen
prosperity to the organizers. h
claims to have the opinion OF tw'
of the very best lawyers in Chicag
i that the officers of the grain grow
! ers are self-perpetdating. He base
this opinion on the fact that Will
the officers are elected until thei
successors are chosen" no metho'
of choosing successors is provided
nor is any time BET.
Financially. he declares that tn
|, odds and ends Of expense for cal
aries. would eat mp the entire %
sessments Of many thousands Q
farmers. He drives this home. bas