Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 40, Number 6, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 27 September 1907 — Farmers to Fight Grain Trust. [ARTICLE]

Farmers to Fight Grain Trust.

Open war kas broken out between the so-called grain trust and the farmers of the Middle West. The farmers say they have paid $1,000,000 a year tribute to the grain trust, and have been organizing, until now co-operative elevators are in operation all over lowa and arc b» : ng extended into Minnesota and Nebraska. Their organization possesses a $50,000,000 reserve fund, while back of the trust sands the wealth of flte Armours aul other millionaire capitalists. The co operative elevators will get ail of the grain of their own members, but, in order to win, must also get some of the groin from outsiders, thus crippling the trust. There are now 170 farmers’ co-operative societies in lowa alone, with a total membership of 28,000, operating 250 elevators. Also, the merchants of the Northwest are organizing a co-opcrativp association to combat the mail order bouses, the merchants so organized agreeing to advertise under one management, in order ro lessen the expense and secure an expert manager. This movement is of great economic importance.