The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1922-04-05
Grain Agency Gets
Down to Work
HENRY C. LAU OF TRACY is
NEW DIRECTOR FOR
MINNESOTA.

The first annual convention of the
U. S.. Grain Growers, Inc, ended here
last week in tumult raised by a de-
feated minority, but a new board of
directors, elected during the meeting,
has settled down to the practical work
of handling grain and going ahead
with organization work.
The atmosphere is gradually clear
ing, and the important events of the
convention begin to stand out over
the sensational incidents of factional
pickering that marked the session.
So far, the definite results of the
meeting are the following:
G. H. Gustafson, chairman Of the
Committee of Seventeen and president
of the U. S. Grain Growers, Inc, dur
ing its first year of existence, was un-
animously reelected to the board.
Frank M. Myers, secretary, and
seven other members of last years
board were reelected.
William G. Eckhardt of Illinois,
treasurer, whose policies have been
storm center for months, was de-
feated
Henry C. Lau of Tracy, Mimi, who
cast the vote of 479 Minnesota men,
bers as one of the states three elect
ed delegates, was elected to the board
to represent Minnesota. Minnesota
representatives. on the board last year
were W. F. Schilling and J. M. Ander-
son.
J. F. Reed, president Of the Mime
sofa Farm Bureau federation, attend
ed the convention, and was suggested
as candidate for the board of direc-
tors. He declined; later his name
was presented anyway, and although
not elected, he received 1885 votes
in spite of the fact that he is not
member of the Grain Growers.
The whole convention was marked
by repeated outbreaks of hostility be-
tween the delegates supporting Presi-
ing Mr.. Eckhardt, whose policies ap-
peared to have caused intense dissat-
isfaction in several of the states re-
presented. Mr.. Eckhardt was strenu-
ously supported by Illinois, whose
Agricultural association is the chief
creditor of the U. S. Grain Growers.
The dispute that broke out in the an
nual meeting involved also the dis
agreement between adherents of a
compulsory pool and those who favor
ed giving farmers a chance to decide
whether they should pool their grain
or sell through the Grain Growers
by some. other method. Gustafson
stood for the latter method; Eckhardt
and his supporters stood for compul-
sorry pooling. After three days of
jockeying and pickering, the whole
dispute came to head when balloting
for directors began. Gustafson re-
ceived 41,785 votes, the unanimous
vote of the membership as cast by
the delegates. Eckhardt received 49,
$40 votes, not enough to elect him.
Five Illinois men were elected to
the board; F. A. Nudge was chosen
in Eckhardt's place.
When the election results were an
nounced, r. "A. Cowles, one of the
Illinois directors, rose and protested
against Eckhardt's elimination. He
and other Illinois men said they
would decline to serve on the board.
In the midst of bitter alteration,
was moved and the con-
vention ended. The next step was a
trump" meeting Of some of the min
ority directors and delegates; so far,
however, none of the protesting direc-
tors have resigned, and a majority of
the board has been meeting to get
the marketing machinery Of the Grain