The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1929-08-08
FARMERS Will NOT
PURCHASE THE Mill
Sank Centre Shipping AssO-
citation Stockholders Had
Meeting Saturday
SMALL NUMBER FAVOR
James MOnkman. st. Paul. De-
livers Interesting Address
Cooperation Pays

Thirty of the stockholders of the
Sank Centre Farmers Shipping As
ISOLATION attended the meeting
held at the Sank Centre Commun-
ity Club rooms Saturday evening
to consider the proposition of
amending the bylaws to permit
others than farmers to become
stockholders, and also to discuss
the proposition of purchasing the
plant and elevator of the Central
Mimi. Power & Milling Co.
President F. ]. Minette presided
at the meeting with Local Manager
VIM. Rattle acting as secretary.
President Geo. Berggreen, Of the
Sank Centre Community Club, in
short and interesting talk said that
the business men of Sank Centre
were willing to cooperate with the
Shipping Association to the extent
of purchasing stock if that was the
desire of the Association.
AS community proposition Mr..
Berggreen said that he felt that If
the Shipping Association owned
and operated the mill it would
perpetuate competitive market in
this city and would put the asso-
citation in shape to grind and
handle feed and -four, and to pur-
chase and store grains and seeds
profitably.
The feed problem is bound to
years pass on. In 1928 no less than
so cars of feed were shipped into
Sank Centre, and 16 were shipped
out.
James E. Monkman, Country
Representative of the st. paul Live
Stock Exchange, attended the
meeting upon invitation. He was
introduced by President Minette
and made a most practical, inter-
esting and informal address.
The speaker dwelt at length upon
the farmer approaching the fact
that he was business man. He
said the farmers residing in the vi
cinity Of Sank Centre had much
in common with the business men
in other lines of activity residing
in the city. ~
He said his attention had been
called to the fact that the Shipping
Association had been given an OPP
portunity to acquire the mill and
broaden their activities as business
men. Mr.. Monkman commended
that this would be an ideal ar
rangement and if properly man.
aged would return the stockholders
nice interest on their investment
besides putting the farmers in a
position to absolutely control the
Sank Centre market to the end
that they would always receive the
best prices for their grains and
seeds.
The opportunity of controlling
and operating their own feed grind
ing plant had untold advantages,
in the mind of the speaker.
In discussing the cooperative
situation as a whole Mr.. Monkman
said it was in keeping with the
times. President Hoover is strong
friend of the co-operatives as he is
confident that through we'll or
ganized and intelligently managed
co-operatives the farmers can find
permanent relief by helping them
selves.
Sixty-five per cent of the live
stock arriving at the South st.
Paul stockyards-over $4,000 cars,
were handled comparatively. The
farmers of the Northwest had
saved at least 500 per car, or
over $5,OO0,0OO According to Mr..
Monkman the Northwest farmers
lost $42O,00O,O00 by selling direct to
the packers instead of upon the
open competitive market.
The first cooperative shipping
association was organized in Min
nesota in 1912. At the present time
there are 700 operating successful
ly. In 1928 40 per cent of the hogs
sold were not purchased on a COM
petitive market and the farmers
were losers. This loss can be
stopped overnight, according to Mr..
Monkman by selling all stock on
Scompetitive market.
AT the conclusion of Mr.. Monk
mans address President Minette
asked for an expression from the
stockholders present relative, to the
negotiations for the mill. But few
of the stockholders did not take
advantage of the opportunity.
B. f. Dubois made motion that
a ballot be taken on whether or
not the stockholders present were
in favor of expansion by a ''yes"
and mo" vote. Thirty votes were
cast. OF this number 25 voted
against a program of expansion
and five voted in favor.
1t was quite generally under.
stood that an affirmative vote
would indicate the negotiation of
the purchase of the milling proper
ty. The result of the ballot indi-
Gates quite clearly that the farm
ers are not anxious to enter the
milling and grain handling bust
ness.
Threshing is well under way in
the Sank Centre section. The yield
both as to quantity and quality is
very spotfed. hut on fhe whole 10