The Oakes times. [volume] (Oakes, N.D.) 1906-current, 1921-08-18
U. /. Burdick Answers Arguments Put
Forth by President Of Grain
Mems Union
HAS ACCOMPLISHED MUCH GOOD
Opposition Backed by Men Who Prof
It Under Present System


w. Miracle, recently made some saus-
tis remarks which U. L. Burdicl, pres
ident Of the Grain Growers, took ex-
ception to. Following is what Mr..
Burdick has to say and we pass it on
for the benefit Of our readers:
w. w. Miracle, secretary Of the N.
d. Grainmen's union, seems to be
working over time to knock the U. s.
Grain Growers. There is nothing
strange about this as the same Mr..
Miracle is the North Dakota repre-
sentative of the Grain Dealers Ma
tional association of which Mr.. Mans
field is the head.
Here in North Dakota the Grain
mems union is composed mostly Of ell
evator managers and buyers. This
statement comes from one Of the men,
bers and officers of the Grafhmen's
union. Now why is it necessary for
them to support a national association
that has for it's purpose the destruc-
ton Of the United States Grain Grow
ers? The inevitable answer to this
must be that the activities Of the u. 8.
Grain Growers threaten to take away
some Of their profits.
Mr.. Miracle says that grain growers
are entitled to have selling agency
at the principal terminals. That's
what the organization is arranging for
now. That's what we have for the
growers Of North Dakota. That's why
the Equity exchange Of st. Paul has
become our selling agency. Mr.. Mir
acle is perhaps little impatient that
we are not going fast enough to suit
him. He should remember that the
present system Of handling grain has
been 60 years in forming. It can't
be rooted out root and branch over
night. This organization was not
formed until April Of this year. The
committee that brought forward the
plan Of action was not appointed un-
til July, 1920. How much faster could
any organization go forward? Mr..
Miracle should remember that the OBJ
ject and the only object Of the u. s.
Grain Growers is to stabilize prices.
This is to be accomplished in two
ways. First, by feeding the grain on
the market gradually instead of.dump-
ing it in peak load. Second, to elm
mate speculation and gambling. This
is the farmers viewpoint and why
can't the grain marketing machinery
let the farmers take care Of their own
business?
We are glad to have this disciple Of
the grain, combine admit that the pres
ent system is filled with gambling and
speculation and that he is willing to
get rid Of this practice. The Chicago
chamber says now that they are will
ing to get rid Of lot of bad practices.
They say they crept in during the
war. We would naturally think they
meant the world war, but since these
same practices have been going on for
two generations we conclude they
must mean the civil war. And why
just now do all the middlemen want
to correct their system? Simply be-
cause the farmers are organizing to
do their own business. No other reas-
on can successfully be advanced.
Miracle is indeed a miracle. He
says the farmers are paying their
representatives lot of money. Yes,
they are paying a number Of officers
and employees for the work they are
doing and the money is coming from
the farmers; however, there are no
officers drawing over $4,000 year
and there is no complaint coming from
the farmer in regard to salaries. The
only thing the farmers want is eff
cient and honest services and they
also want to know just what they are
paying. Can that be said Of the grain
exchanges Of the country? Are the
grain exchanges Of the country will
ing to publish list of their officers
and employees salaries showing the
amount paid. annually for this SER
vice? Where does this money come
from? It comes out of the farmer.
We call Mr.. Miracles attention to
the fact that on the Chicago pit alone
are supported 10000 persons, and if
the various wheat chambers Of the
country would give US their salaries
for. 10 days we could pay the entire
salary of officers and employees for
the u. s. Grain Growers for 365 days.
They invite a comparison Of salaries
and expenses and we challenge Mr..
Miracle to publish list Of the en-
ployees and officers with the salaries
from the Minneapolis Chamber Of
Commerce, the board of trade Of Chi
cago, Omaha, Kansas City and else
where. The truth will hurt no one
and let's turn on a little publicity.
I CONTINUED on last page)