134 IOWA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 



making sheep in double deck cars take the same rate as cattle. This re- 

 duction made of a saving of over $100,000 annually to our feeders. 



Eighth, the officers of this association, in connection with the officers of 

 the Live Stock Shippers' Association, of Monmouth, 111., and a few com- 

 mission men, during the spring of 1910, secured a change in the water at 

 the Chicago stock yards, from the Bubbly creek, or sewage water, to the 

 use of the lake water. This change in the water reduced the shrink, ac- 

 cording to figures received, about twenty-five per cent, and made a saving 

 to farmers and stockmen of from $15 to $25 per car on their cattle. Figure 

 this out for yourself, and see what it means to individuals. 



Ninth, represented the farmers and producers before the Interstate Com- 

 merce Commission to prevent a general advance in rates, that would have 

 cost the people of Iowa over two million dollars a year in advanced 

 freight charges, and we believe this case was won largely on the facts pro- 

 duced and submitted by this organization. This is without doubt the 

 most important case that has ever come before the commission, and had 

 it not been for the Corn Belt Meat Producers' Association, the farmers 

 and stockmen would not have been represented in the case. 



Tenth, secured a decision and an order from the Iowa Railroad Com- 

 inission, preventing the railroads from increasing the minimum on live 

 stock cars used within the state, which order is now suspended, pending 

 the outcome of the rehearing of the case. This decision alone means over 

 $50,000' annually to the farmers and stockmen of Iowa. 



Eleventh, took a leading and active part in defending your interests 

 against the proposed advance in rates on stockers and feeders before the. 

 Interstate Commerce Commission, which advance, if allowed to go into 

 effect without protest, would have cost the Iowa feeders one-half million 

 of dollars a year. 



, Besides all this, your association has been a powerful influence in secur- 

 ing good, healthy, legislation, both in congress and in the Iowa legislature, 

 to benefit and protect the Iowa farmer and stockman, and to place him 

 where he rightfully belongs. 



Now, with this list of benefits and accomplishments, which I have enum- 

 erated before you, and which have been placed directly to the credit of 

 the Corn Belt Meat Producers' Associatioi^ do you, brother farmer and 

 stockman, feel that this organization has justified its existence and that 

 you have value received for every dollar that you have contributed towards 

 its support? If you do not, I would like to ask you how large a per cent 

 In returns you expect on your investment. 



Besides, I do not believe it is at all fair to measure the value of this 

 organization simply by what it has accomplished in actual results, as 

 no man would attempt to say what conditions would have been, and the 

 very many unjust rules and laws that would have been forced upon you 

 from different sources had your association not been a very potent factor 

 to reckon with. Who is there that does not believe that your organization 

 has been a great factor in checking and preventing railroads and other 

 corporations and organizations of wealth from forcing upon you a great 

 many unjust measures in the past eight yeai's. Its purpose is to safe- 

 guard your interests and give all a square deal. 



