TWELFTH ANNUAL YEAR BOOK— PART IV 133 



and I am pleased to report that while I did not receive as many pledges 

 or collect as much money as I had expected to, yet, when everything is 

 considered, we have made a very good showing. 



The extremely hot, dry weather prevailing over almost the entire state 

 was a serious handicap to my work. The farmers were depressed and dis- 

 couraged, and it took a much greater effort to secure pledges than the year 

 before. Yet in the face of these conditions, I succeeded in placing back in- 

 to the ranks of the association six county associations that had not made 

 a report for two years, besides canvassing several counties that were quite 

 active and very materially increasing the membership in those counties. 

 I also organized several locals during the year. So I feel that, considering 

 the unfavorable weather conditions that prevailed, we have made fairly 

 good progress. 



One thing I wish to speak of that impressed me very much, and that 

 was very gratifying, and that was the way the members living in those 

 counties that had apparently lost their interest in the association, took 

 hold of the five-year pledge plan and were ready to pledge their respective 

 quotas for the next five years. This convinced me that the farmers do ap- 

 preciate the value of this organization, and are ready and willing to con- 

 tribute to its support. This fact should convince the most skeptical that 

 here is an organization that really enjoys the confidence and support of 

 the farmers and stockmen. 



The question is frequently asked me by farmers in my work: "Is there 

 any necessity for such an organization, and would I be justified in making 

 a contribution for its support? Or does the necessity merely exist in the 

 minds of a few men who are just a set of agitators?" 



The best answer to these questions is a careful review of the work ac- 

 complished by your association since it was organized. 



And now, lest we forget and our memories become dull from the lapse 

 of time, let us just take a glance backward and see how many credit marks 

 you have received in the past eight years. 



First, secured the return of the stockman's pass to the shipper. 



Second, improved the running time and service of stock trains. ' 



Third, changed the mode and system of handling, selling and weighing 

 crippled hogs at the Chicago stock yards, so that the farmer now gets a 

 fair value for his crippled hogs, whereas, at the time your organization 

 was formed, you only received fifty per cent of their value. 



Fourth, secured a reduction of eighteen per cent in the Iowa rates 

 on live stock, which made an average reduction on all shipments of 

 stockers and feeders from Omaha or Sioux City to points within the state 

 of about $4 per car, making a total saving of over $50,000 annually to the 

 Iowa farmers. 



Fifth, secured a further reduction in the rate on feeding sheep of from 

 twenty-five to fifty per cent. 



Sixth, secured a feeding in transit privilege on cattle and sheep from 

 the range territory into Iowa. 



Seventh, fought a case before the Interstate Commerce Commission and 

 secured a regrouping of the Iowa-Chicago rates on cattle and sheep, and 



