Evening star., 1924-06-22
FARMERS $25, 100000
GRAIN PLAN PUSHED
Committee to Meet in Chicago Next
Week to Consider Merger
of Elevators.
RATED GROWERS SALVATION
Five Big Companies Would Become
Cooperative Body.
By the Associated Press.

CHICAGO, June Zl--A plan 1Or
grain farmers to own and control a
huge system of elevators and grain
facilities now controlled by five large
board of trade firms, which would be
merged in a cooperative association,
today was in the hands of a commit
tee of the American Farm Bureau
Federation headed by Q. e. Bradfute,
president of the association, as chair
man of the committee.
The merger plan would involve
about s25,000,0o0, it was said. repre-
senting the appraised value OF the prop
critics Of the five companies. The plan
was indorsed by George Marcy, presi-
dent of the Armour Grain Company
who said he believed it would go
through.
Patten Not Involved.
Although the firm of James A.
Patten, known as the wheat king
until he retired from operations on
the board of trade, was mentioned in
an announcement from the farm
bureau federation late yesterday,
Mr.. Patten today said he had had no
connection with the merger arrange
mGnl. lie lNdl MS
pany leased its elevators from the
Bartlett and Frazier estates, which
he said might be willing to sell
their properties at good price, but
that nothing definite had been done
toward their disposal Mr.. Patten
no connection with the plan:
Samuel H. Thompson. president OF
the Illinois Agricultural Association,
today admitted that he had been
meeting with a committee OF the
American Farm Bureau Federation,
which had been considering plans for
the control and consolidation of grain
elevators by grain farmers. lie SAID
he thought the matter was TO De
treated in the strictest confidence
been released at this time, when de-
tails had not been completed.
Believes Plan viii Succeed.
Mr. Thompson was of the opinion
that the merger would be accomp-
lished and that 1t would be the sal
vation of the farmer
Members of the farm bureau COM
mittee to examine the proposal sala
before their departure tonight that
the committee had begun an lnfen,
sive study of the plan. 1t Is expected
that members of the committee Will
return next week to Chicago. T. T.:
Bradfute. Nenia, one preslesht Rsed vice
nresidant rare left at noon for New York,
where they will cooperate with dfav
silver. Washington representative, IN
nlacing recommendations of the fed-
Grafton before the peHocfalie ha
The suecial committee of the farm
bureau federation, of which PresldenI
Bradfute is chairman, probaply VIII
meet within week, 1t was an
nounced.
Other Farm Bodies Cited.
"Although the farm bureau is max
ing a study OF the possiolsi.iSs snn esr,s oi
utilizing the services of these nTms'
eo-oneratiyely, other farm organiza-
tions also are considering the ad-
yantapes which may be derived from
the move" he said in a statement.
I'VE are seeking: as we nave tSs ths
nroducers of grain and the ultimate
consumer. We feel that the resources
of these large companies may De SO
utilized, if controlled by the farmers
themselves, as to result IN many
economies in overhead operation and
| in various way cut the Cost oi inef
chandising grain.
"Of course, if we had not been at
tracted by the possibilities, we would
nor have gone to the trouble OF ask
| ing this committee to go into the de-
tails. What they will determine, of
course. cannot pEcuiSt. AhC piS0SLs
canacity of these five firms is suf-
fcent to make the move of inter-
national Importance If finally consum-
mated. Certainly we are headed to-
wards a greater development OF CO.
operative marketing in this country
instead of a decrease. We are on
the upgrade Only partial list
of cooperative accomplishments in
the last few years clearly shows the
progress.
Market Most Of Tobacco.
I'VE now market two-thirds OF the
entire tobacco crop through coop
erative channels, 80 per cent OF the
California raisins, IS per cent of the
prunes and 80 per cent of the peaches
and apricots. Approximately 80 per
cent Of the entire American produc-
tion of dried fruits is marketed in
the same manner. Fully rs per cent
of the citrus fruit is marketed CO.
operatively: rs per cent of the live
stock sold at terminal markets goes
by that route, and more than 5000
farmers elevators handle more than
$625, ,o00, 900 worth of grain each year,
"In cooperative MARKETING the
farmers are merely following the
! trail Of inAuStsy. Group production.