The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1924-09-18
BY QUICK

6ANaL SAoA4A ALlA4 hCNA4lE SNAltLilE
- are the most important
things in it. In the first place, if it
is to succeed it must command the
confidence of the farmers and their
organizations. 1t is a terminal ele-
vator trust made legal by the new
cooperative laws. The important
cooperative factors already built up
r the 5000 farmers grain eleva-
tors, the wheat pool and similar or
CARNATIONS which must be formed.
Now unless this grain marketing
company can command the conf
dence and get the shipments of grain
from these organizations, it can not,
in my opinion, be a success.
It has not yet won thesconhdence
of these organizations to any great
extent.
The farmers and their organiza-
lions criticise the men in the control
Of the grain marketing company be
cause it comes from a deal between
their old competitors and enemies,
the big grain companies, Armour,
ROsenbaum and others. and because
the key men of the old companies
are retained on salary to run the
farmers grain trust and. second.
they object to the in which
the new company was formed.
Represent Themselves"
As I have stated, the officers Of
the new company, and it's directors,
are with two or three exceptions
officers Of the American Farm Blu
reau Federation. the farmers eleva.
Tor companies, the Wheat Pool, the
National Grange, and the old and
failed United States Grain Growers.
But none of these organizations as
bodies gave them any authority to
form the Grain Marketing Com
pany. The farmers say that these
men had no right 70 claim 70 repre-
sent their organizations and assert
that they do not really represent
any n except themselves. They
insist that instead Of being selected
by the farmers. they selected them
selves or were selected by the old
grain companies in a deal to sell
the terminal grain business to the
farmers. On the face Of 1t. this Is
true.
The men who are officers and di-
rectors Of the Grain Marketing Com
pany who claim to represent the
farming interests have an answer
TO this. II the Grain Marketing
Company was to be formed, they
say. somebody had TO form Il. They
insist that the attempt 10 get the
cooperative elevators and the other
farm organizations together to act
on the grain magnates' offer would
have been hopeless. II they had not
done It. it would no have been
done. II this new grain trust which
they offer 10 the farmers to control
IS a good thing, they think they
should be credited with good inten-
lions and willingness to cry
Is 1t Good Thing?
There is strength in this argll-
ment. Probably the producers or.
CARNATIONS could not have been
gotten to act together to buy out
the old grain companies. The real
question for the farmers now is.
Is this a good thing? Is il prop
erly put together? Are the right
men running it? Can IL be made 10
work to the benefit of the grain rails
ers? Can the farmers raise the $26.-
000. 900 or so much Of It as is es-
sential within five years to buy the
grain companies out? If all these
questions are answered in the affirm
alive, the farmers have much inter
est in taking the grain business over.
Another objection made by the
farmers and their representatives Is
the fact hat Marcy of the Armour
companies, the Rosenbaums, Davis
of the Davis Nolan-Merriu Company
and others Of the old grain crowd
are actually managing the Grain
Marketing Company. Can they be
trustede This is the question one
hears over and over anon the
farmers.
Must Have Experience
The answer given to this Is that
the Grain Marketing Company could
not run without skilled and capable
men in its management. The con-
tract requires that these men be
given the management. There are
two reasons why this must be.
First, nome of the actual directors
and officers know anything about
the grain business.
Second, the Grain Marketing Com
pany must have credit running into
the millions. Now, no bank would
lend 1t a cent if it We're not for the
fact that these old and skilled grain
men are in charge and have a con-
tract that as long as they are faith
full they are to be kept in charge.
So as to personnel, we have the
self-selected officers and directors
representing agriculture and the nee
essary management by the old grain
magnates. Whether or not these old
enemies Of cooperation will work
faithfully to make the company a
success or will wreck it as they have
the power to do, is a matter for
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