The Omaha morning bee., 1923-10-30
Farm Pool
Plan q. KID
by Bankers
Cooperative Marketing En-.
dorsed Unanimously by Agri.
cultural Body After Two. e.
Hour Debate.
Held Poor Idea for Grain

The agricultural commission Of the
American Bankers association, after
two hours OF spirited debate, passed
by unanimous vote yesterday after
noon at its meeting in Omaha. a
resolution affirming its faith in
orderly marketing Of crops and in
the efficacy of the cooperative mar
keting idea" with the provision that
organizations employing this idea
be conducted on sound economic
principles.
Opponents Of cooperative market
ing, led by r. .. Sheath Of Tiffin, o..
member Of the commission for the
fourth federal reserve district, cast
their votes for the resolution with
the statement that i neither en-
Gorsed nor condemned the practical
principle OF cooperative marketing"
after Mr.. Sneath's plea that the COM
mission go on record against the CO.
operative plan failed TO find support.
The resolution. similar in text with
one on the same subject adopted al
AA4f uitfAAnE ia Al4t 'l4AE
OF the American Bankers association
at the recent Atlantic City conven-
ton, follows:
We affirm our faith in the wisdom
Of orderly marketing Of crops and in
the efficacy of the cooperative mar.
keting idea. provided that organiza-
tons employing this idea are con
a.,
We believe that the ultimate success
OF any such organization viii be great
or small, depending on the sound
business judgment OF the men who
control it's affairs and upon the com
plete divorce Of any element Of specu-
lation'
Test Plan First.
Both sides in the controversy came
together upon the resolution after
an argument in which Mr.. Sheath
urged condemnation of the co-opera-
tive principle. while z. B. Doty OF
Beaumont. Tex. member for the
eleventh district. led the forces in
favor OF endorsement. and Frank j.
wikoff OF Oklahoma City. member for
the tenth district, urged that the
body neither endorse nor condemn
a principle not yet thoroughly tested.
and which may lead to disaster.
Most OF the supporters Of coop
erstive marketing were from south
ern states and pictured its success
in the marketing of cotton. rice and
other southern crops. ". ID. Dodson,
dean Of the college of agriculture OF
the University of Louisiana at Baton
Rouge. declared that cooperative rice
marketing associations in his district
had succeeded and that the market
ing OF cotton. potatoes and strawber-
ries might succeed under good busi-
ness management. Sugar marketing,
he said. was a more difficult prob
lem.
Mr.. Sheath answered that ne was
absolutely opposed 10 cooperative
marketing. and declared that IS per
cent cl'the business men Of the Unit.
ed States are (nsidlemen. We can't
get along without them
No Good for Grain.
You can't market grain on the
co operative principle he declared.
1t takes experienced men TO handle
grain. From SO to 100 elevators IN
my part OF the country have been
run out by farmers eo-operatives
that have failed or will fail because
their executives are not business
men"
Mr.. Wikoff. who opposed any com.
mltment of the commission on the
matter. said in answer TO statements
by Dean Dodson and Mr.. poty. prais.
ing the results of cooperation. that
small and restricted groups may
benefit from cooperative marketing.
but | seriously doubt the success OF
marketing comparatively a eommod.
ity like wheat, which is raised around
the globe
Cotton" he declared. has in every
year IN the history Of co-operatives
gone around the year on a rising
market. Cooperative marketing has
Yet 20 he tested IN a case such as
would arise II cotton went around
the year on a declining market. with
some perpendicular drops. Il may
end IN Disaster
Payments Arc Delayed.
Mr. Wikoff and Il. 4 Nc<any ut
ST Louis, members fer the eighth dis.
trict, declared that the country
banker. who finances tho crop from
the initial end ana who through res
nlar marketing channels gets his
money In October or November. has
Ia wait until the neNt sprinx under
the se'epelauNs plan.