The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1921-02-11
Farmers Want Seats In
Grain Exchange
ACTION Of THE BUREAU
Committee Of Seventeen Has
Labored Hard To Gain
Its Point
FARM BUREAU SERVICE

st. Raul, February 5.-Immediate
action by the federal government to
compel grain exchanges to admit
farmers Co operative associations to
full membership Ia the demand Of the
committee Of seventeen. served on
the federal trade commission and the
attorney general and announced to-
dy by the Minnesota Farm Bureau
Federation.
The committee of seventeen, ap-
pointed by the American Farm
Bureau federation end representing
the largest farmers grain selling Or
ganiza&ions In the United States. 10
working out nation wide plan for
direct grain marketing bv the farm.
ers. Its demand for legal action by
the federal government to force
boards of trade to open their doors to
farmers co-operattves Is being used
by the Minnesota federation In it's
fight for the public markets. bill now
pending in the legislature, This bill
would force the Minneapolis Chamber
Of Commerce. the Duluth Board of
change to grant equal membership to
farmers CO. operative selling agen-
cies.
co-opsrativss Are Barred.
A resolution passed by the com
mittee OF seventeen contains the first
indication Of what Its ultimate deci
ston may be. 1t also specifically re-
fused to recognize grain exchanges as
the best means Of selling grain.
While not anticipating In any Of
the findings Of the committee and not
recognising the grain exchanges as
the best possible method Of market
ing grain" the committee members
said, I'VE unanimously adopted the
changes Of the United States bar CO.
operative companies that distribute
their profits in proportion with the
volume Of business handled, from
participating in the buying and sell
ing of farm products. This prevents
the producers from collectively sell
ing their own products on the mar
kets of the country, thereby creating
a'monopoiy in the hands Of the trad
ers, situation which is not just and
which is not in harmony with the
spirit Of American institutions.
Government Asked to Act.
I'VE call upon the federal trade
commission. the attorney general or
other public authority to take such
steps as may be necessary to open
the markets to the membership of
CO. operative companies unless the
grain exchanges shall voluntarily do
the same at once"
1.-THE committee OF seventeen" W..
@. Eckhardt, It's treasurer. said today,
has gone on record publicly as con-
demning short selling. The market
ing plan that Is complete will need
to be able to market the grain crop
IN spite OF the boards Of trade and
short selling. When the farmers or
ganizEtions have control OF large
enough percentage Of the crop. then
no one Will dare to short sell. unless
from the marketing organizations
controlled by the farmers"
The committee Of seventeen will
take It's next big step toward COM
plotting the Farm Bureau Federation's
nation wide marketing plan when It
meets In Kansas City or February II.
Sales Bureau Established.
Promotion of cooperative market
ing and the Organization Of cornmuni-
ties on a commodity basis of produc-
tion IL he object, Of q now department
lust established by the American
Farm Bureau Federation. It is to
develop CO operation ~ the most eff
fective means OF obtaining for the
farmer better and more stable prices
and q regulated flow of his crops to
market. c. II. Gustafson, chairman
Of the committee Of seventeen and q
member OF the livestock marketing
committee Of fifteAn. has taken
charge of the new department as
director.
Federation Leaders To Address
Farmers.
Practical achievements of the Min
nesota and American Farm Bureau
Federations In their work for the
farmers Of the state and nation win
be reviewed at the Red River Valley
Midwinter shows at Crookston on
February 10. Former Senator L. f.
Potter. president of the Minnesota
federation. and Charles e. Gunnels.
assistant secretary of the national
federation, will address northwestern
Minnesota farmers attending the
shows on that day. State and ma
tiOnnl le1islatfOn affecting agricu1.