The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1923-03-22
Conference Urges Coop.
Marketing Stabalization
One ThOcsand Farmers from Ten
States Attend Meeting-Dbate
Price Fixing Policy.

Orderly marketing of farm prod
ucts through we'll directed co-opera-
tive organizations and immediate con-
gressional action to stabilize prices
of crops on a basis of cost of produc-
ton were Endorsed by delegates at
tending the Northwest Agricultural
Price Sterilization conference in ST.
Paul, Feb. 27 and %.
More than 1000 business men from
ten wheat growing states paid their
own railroad fare and expenses to at
tend the meeting, which was called
less than three weeks ago by the Min
nesota Farmer-Banker Council.
Following the conference, leaders
met again, on Friday, to consider
more intimately details of the coop
erative marketing plan. This meeting
was called by the American Farm
Bureau Federation, the Minnesota
Farm Bureau Federation, cooperating
with farm leaders. Principal speak
ers at this conference were Walton
Peteet, director of marketing for the
American Farm Bureau Federation,
and Aaron Sapiro, nationally known
exponent of farmer-owned terminal
sales agencies.
The keynote of the marketing phase
of the Price Sterilization conference
was sounded by Walton Peteet.
SPEAKING Tuesday, when he occupied
practically the entire evening for a
discussion of his subject, he urged
that the future prosperity of farming
in this country rested, in the last
analysis, on group action in the mar
ket place. This was necessary, he
said, because such policy has been
adopted by all other lines of indus
try.
The decision as to price stabiliza-
ton was reached only after prolonged
debate, incident to the submission to
the convention of minority and ma
:jority reports by the resolutions COM
mittee.
The majority report, adopted by an
overwhelming majority, cited that a
crisis exists in American agriculture;
that the man on the farm is bearing
more than hs, share of the common
burdens and that while other lines Of
business are prosperous, hundreds of
thousands of farmers are facing bank
ruptcy.
Until such time as farmers are in
position. through their own agencies.
to handle and control the marketing
of their products" the resolution, as
adopted. read. eve coll upon congress
to Immediately stabilize the price of
farm products on the basis of the
cost of production"
The majority resolution also asked
fer the passage of the Gooding bill
which would create an AGENCY similar
to the wartime U. S. Wheat corpora
ton and establish a minimum price
on wheat of s1,75 at the terminals.
The majority report was adopted
after sneaker after speaker had de-
clared, in effect, that the plight of the
Northwest farmer today is little short
of tragic.
The minority report took the posi-
ton that stimulation of prices would
result in further over-production and
agricultural decentralization and OPP
posed to price fixing on any commod-
ity. 1t proposed that the governor of
every state in which wheat is grown
on a large scale be asked to name 2
commission of three before April ].
and that these commissions shorl'
after ADEQUATE study, determine fa'"
price and that the full force of all
farm organizations be used to obtain
that price for growers.
The price fixing question was the
only one upon which there was any
extended debate. ~~
In their addresses before the con-
vention, Governor J. A. o! Preus of
Minnesota, and J. F. Reed, president
r 70
GRAFTON, urged the Importance of CO.
operative marketing and reduction
of tariffs on things farmers must
have Harry Owen urged controlled
production. M. l.. ~Countryman, vice
president and general counsel for the
Great Northern, explained the diff
culties of railroads. Magnus John
son of Kimball reviewed the farmers
position with respect to production
John R. Mitchell. member of the
Federal Reserve Board, in reviewing
the activities of that system since the
Armistice, said Federal Reserve
Banks were ready to aid cooperative
marketing organizations when prop
erly organized.
E. w. Decker, president of the
Northwestern National Bank of Min
neapolis, praised cooperative market
ing as the hope of the farmer. V. E
Anderson of Wheaton, treasurer of
the Minnesota Farm Bureau Fedora
ton, urged government aid in talkino
on the subject, "The Governments
Duty in Price Sterilization" T. E.
eastman of Owatonna, condemned
the Esch-C ummins transportation act
in discussing the railroads.
Much of the credit for the success
of the meeting was given to the st
Paul Association, the Commercial
Club of that city.