The Omaha morning bee. [volume] (Omaha [Neb.]) 1922-1927, 1923-11-09
Eckhardt
Big Profit
Deposed Grain Official Says
Growers Body Counted on
$4,000 Daily in
Commissions.
Seeks $4,000 Damages

Special Dispatch To The Omahh bee'
Lincoln, Nov. 8.-The annual United
States Grain Growers convention OF
1922 was the first great step that put
the organization on the downward
path" w. G. Eckhardt, plaintiff in
a $40. 900 libel suit against J. c. Fill
ley and the Nebraska Farm bureau
declared here today when recalled to
the witness stand.
For the three months Immediately
prior TO the convention In March" he
said, "the United States Grain Grow
ers was in prosperous condition.
Gross receipts had exceeded gross
profits by $4,000 and the organiza-
ton had under contract 10O,OOo,OoO
bushels of grain. So far as l know
it was the largest amount OF grain
ever held by single organization and
should have netted us a commission
Of $4,000 a day. Our indebtedness at
the time was $4,000, or about one
tenth OF one cent a bushel.'
David O. Thompson of Wheaton,
Ill, former secretary of the Illinois
Agricultural association, resumed his
testimony when the court convened
today. He again stated that the ma
jor part of Eckhardt's inability to
secure a position with farm organiza-
tions had been due to the Filley ar
ticle. Eckhardt's present status had
been affected in a minor way, he said,
by malicious attacks of enemies OF
cooperative marketing" but that the
Filley article had been the real Of
fender.
Asked by defense counsel II he
had ever read attacks on Eckhardt
In the American Cooperative Journal
Of Chicago. he declared that he had
but that he had discounted them as
he was in possession of facts that sat
isfied him, at least, that they had
been inspired by persons who were
mot fighting the fight" for co-opera-
tive marketing.
Cites Grain Program.
Eckhardt was then recalled and
read from the records a program OF
marketing that ne had outlined for
the United States Grain Growers for
the first year OF business. In 1t he
advised proceeding with caution until
the foundation for a large program
could be more firmly laid.
He next submitted an affidavit, wit
nessed by himself. by J. M. Mehl. sec
retary to the president, and to Frank
Meyers, secretary, in which Mark w.
PickelI, assistant to the editor OF
the Cooperative Journel, stated he
knew that records had been taken by
Nelson Certain, a former employe
OF Meyers.
After declaring that the Grain
Growers had been going concern
prior to the convention, he stated
that its present condition is extreme
ly bad"
He next outlined the fight that he
and others had made to gain control
OF the directorate of the organization.
showing that few days before the
convention there were 13 of the FL
directors with him and that they had
control.
At this point Judge Munger OBJ
jected that a great mass OF evidence
was being introduced that was out
side the matter now before the court
and warned counsel that he might
find 1t necessary in his instructions
to the jury to state that much of 1t
should be disregarded.
Court Warns Attorneys.
I'VE are net here to relaunder the
soiled linen Of the fight between fac
tions in the United States Grain
Growers" he said, and neither are
we here to attempt to vindicate
either side. The case before this
court is a libel suit
Counsel for Ecfaardt. resuming his
cross examination. again brought
forth a statement that Eckhardt's
troubles had been due primarily and
solely to the Filley article. He denied
that his defeat for the ueasurership
of the Grain Growers at the March
convention might have had some
thing to do with II.
George c. Jewett OF Spokane.
Wash, general manager of the Amer
ican Wheat Growers association, was
called to the stand and declared that
following the publication OF the FIJI.
fldence OF the farmers OF Illinois that
Eckhardt had enjoyed was replaced
by suspicion. He denied that Eek
hardt's failure OF reelection TO the
office OF treasurer of the Grain Grow.
ers had anything to do with his pres
ent status.
c. V. Gregory. editor OF the Prairie
Farmer, Chicago, reiterated the state
ment of Jewett regarding Eckhardt's
standing before and after the publ
cation of the article. IIe declared
that attacks on Eckhardt and others
Of his associates by the American Co
Operative Journal had no influence
on the farmers OF Illinois. as they
distrusted the Journal. The Filley
article. he said, since IL was pub
lished In farm bureau organ. was
treated In "A different fashion.
High Salaries Mentioned.
Counsel for the plaintiff then read
Into the minutes OF the court let
ter written by tho president OF the
Chicago Board OF Trade to the Kan
sas city Board OF Trade urging him
to advise his members 10 advertise
In the Cooperative Manager, an al
lied publication OF the Journal. be-
cause 1t had proved itself 10 be both
Friendly and helpful" The letter
was written In 1917.
Gregory. continuing. sai1 that ne