NINETEENTH ANNUAL YEAR BOOK— PART VII 455 



Resolved, That the circulation of unreliable and misleading statistics 

 concerning the porduction and existing supplies of grains and live stock 

 in the United States and in the world should be prohibited by law, and 

 should be severely punished, and that such laws should apply to govern- 

 ment officials and employes with exactly the same force as to individuals 

 and corporations. 



Resolved, That we note with approval the beginning made to organize 

 the County Farm Bureaus of Iowa into a state federation; and we trust 

 that this movement may be carried forward as rapidly as possible. We 

 will welcome the aid of such a federation in securing economic justice for 

 the farmer. "We urge upon the members of this federation the necessity 

 of preserving for themselves absolute freedom from outside influences of 

 all kinds. 



Resolved, That our agricultural colleges should as rapidly as possible 

 discontinue the policy which they have followed in the past, of emphasiz- 

 ing increased production to the exclusion of any effective study of mar- 

 keting problems. The greatest need of the farmers and stockmen of the 

 country at the present time is reliable information on marketing condi- 

 tions, and well-trained leaders to help them in their dealings with such 

 organizations and powerful forces as the railroads, the packers, the boards 

 of trade and other organized interests. We especially recommend a very 

 thorough research into price fluctuations, production costs and the func- 

 tions of our speculative future markets. We further request them to 

 make a more careful study of the so-called law of supply and demand, as it 

 applies to grains and live stock. 



Resolved, That we favor the establishment of a Commission of Agri- 

 culture in Iowa; and call to the attention of the members of the legis- 

 lature the importance of co-ordinating the various agricultural depart- 

 ments of the state. 



Resolved, That government operation of the railroads, while perhaps 

 a war-time necessity, has so far resulted in great financial loss and in- 

 convenience to the farmer and stockman. Freight rates have been in- 

 creased from 25 to 100 per cent; the time required to reach market has 

 been greatly lengthened, causing large shrinkage; the uncertainty of 

 securing cars wlien ordered has made it necessary to haul live stock to the 

 shipping point and hold it there, at times for many days and at heavy loss, 

 because of the failure of cars to arrive; the many embargoes placed upon 

 the shipment of live stock has compelled the holding of stock after it was 

 ready for market, thereby causing great waste of feed and at times a 

 serious decline in the condition of the live stock; the collection of pay- 

 ment for damage actually suffered has been made exceedingly difficult; 

 many changes have been made in rules and practices without due consider- 

 ation to the injurious effect upon the farmer and stockman. All of this 

 has very greatly increased the cost of marketing live stock, and is tending 

 to greatly discourage live stock production. We demand that these un- 

 favorable and burdensome conditions be remedied as quickly as possible; 

 and to that end we demand that the full powers of the Interstate Com- 

 merce Commission, the various state commissions, and the courts, shall be 

 immediately restored. We demand further that the Interstate Commerce 

 Commission shall be given full authority to review all changes in rates, 



