The Rice belt journal., 1921-06-25
INVESTIGATING FUND IS
RETURNED TO DONORS
Farmers in Mass Meeting Endorse
American Association. Some
Are Slow in Signing.


um Wednesday night heartily en-
dorSed the new American Rice
Growers Association now in pro-
press of organization. Due to
threatening weather the atten-
dance was not as large as other
wise would have been, but there
was no lack of earnest enthusiasm
The meeting was called by A.
R. McBurney, who as member of
the investigating committee ap-
pointed at one of the mass meet
ingS earlier in the season, made a
final brief report. The committee
included besides Mr.. McBurney,
MeSSrS. A. T. Jones and L. G
Lewis. After making careful in
veStigation locally, in Lake CharI-
eS and in New Orleans, they were
of the opinion it would not be ex-
pedient for them to begin any le
gal action. Mr.. McBurney suggest
ed the return of the fund collected
to prosecute the investigation to
the original donors, calling for a
motion to that effect. Hon. John
T. Hood, secretary and treasurer
for the committee reported that
there were 12O subscriptions to
the fund, the amount subscribed
being $1,O33.50. Of these 81 paid
the total sum collected being $691
so. Checks have been mailed to
each donor for the amount con-
tributed. The committee paid its
own expenses incurred in what
work was done.
Mr.. McBurney heartily endorS-
ed the American Association voic-
ing a strong appeal to the Welsh
farmers to join in putting it over.
Mr.. C. E. Carr, as chairman of
the meeting, also discussed the
merits of the new association and
the need for it explaining it's work
ingS in detail. He stated frankly
that without there was a strong
association of farmers here he
did not consider his property was
worth much.
'"If we can organize" said Mr.
Carr, "we~ca1 market four-fifths
of the coming crop at a good price
in the home market, otherwise the
whole crop will have to be mar
keted on a basis of export prices,
which will necessarily be very
low"
In that assertion Mr.. Carr
struck the key note of the whole
situation. In an open market, the
lowest figure is bound to be the
ruling figure. That has been prov.
en- beyond a doubt in the expert
ence of the past few months.
With a two cent tariff and ar
association strong enough to con
troll the disposition of the crOT
the home market can be supplied
on a profitable basis, and the sur
plus, if there is a surplus, can be
Exported at export prices without
any reflection on the home mar
ket. Taking the rate of increase II
home consumption as a criterion
it does not now appear that there
will be surplus again for severa
years.
The meeting resolved itself into
"a heart to heart conference amons
those present, bringing questions
and comment from many. Cha
la. Lantz of Fenton thought far
Imers should come into the aSSo
citation 100 per cent strong. VIM
IFenton and H. G. Patterson, alS'
Iof Fenton, were ready and willing
Ito do all in their power to pu
the matter over. w. F. Tietje o
Roanoke didn't think there wa
doubt but what the association
would 90 through. c. M .Sheu
lmaker did not think any farme
could advance a reason for no
signing, and others in the sam
vein. A number of contract
were signed at the meeting an
blanks distributed among thos
: who will personally canvass thel
neighbors. 1t is quite probabl
: that Welsh will come across wit
: her quota of members.
! In order to become operatlV
: the association must have two
7 thousand members before tn
second Tuesday in July. Thl
membership, with the co-opera
ton of the California growers
} who are already more than nlnet
s per cent organized, it is figure
l will CONTROL more than sevent.
: five per cent of the total crop, an
: will be sufficient to assure SUI
e cess. One of the attractive fe'
| lures of the organization is IL
t proposed reserve fund which wi
e be built up. A fee Of ten cents WI
: be collected ON every sack OF I'll
sold. Figuring the cost Of marke
e ing at six cents, there will be
e profit of four cents on every b;
handled. Estimating the assocl:
ton will handle 100000 bags u
Is ln.I coocny1 n rncnrUn Of S1Ml lU