Notes covering Ben Lomond Hotel Conference of Utah Farm Cooperative Leaders, August 31, 1953;

              Notes Covering Ben Lomond Hotel Conference
of Utah Farm Cooperative Leaders
August 31, 1953
W. B. Robins, manager of U.C.A. called group to order and introduced the subject
matter of the conference—unification of U.P. and F.C. and U.C.A. which has reached
a stale mate due, it is understood to opposition from Utah F.B. with which P. and
F.C. is affiliated, whereas U.C.A. is an affiliate of F.U. Strong antagonisms between these two farm organizations exist. Turned time over to Dr. Joseph G. Knapp,
head of Cooperative Research of U.S.D.A.
Joseph G. Knapp: Utah is not the only area where internal conflict is a problem. At
North Carolina seven organizations were fighting each other, when I was connected
with the University of North Carolina and was assigned the task of bringing the antagonistic organizations into working relations. It was a tough job and took two
years, but we finally got them to sign a working agreement. Illinois has had a
rough time during the last four years, but good is coming of it. The overall
monopoly of control by       is being reduced. Minnesota had its trouble and
New York before Babcock got four conflicting groups together, one of which was
the Grange. A good share of effortrfews devoted to fighting, by many farm organizations.
John Schenk: You gentlemen understand that the F.B. is conducting an agricultural
policy conference today. Appointments have been set. We are sorry about this,
but at ten minutes of 10:00 we must leave. I would like to make a statement about
F.B. attitude on U.C.A.—P.F.C. merger, and if Mr. Shelly or Mr. Olsen do not agree
they can correct me. We do not oppose a joining of these two wholesales as such;
we do oppose the entanglement that would grow out of U.C„A. affiliation with F.U.
particularly the withdrawal of any earnings whatsoever to go into an educational
fund to build up F.U.
Clyde admonds: We have thought that U.C.A. and U.P. and F.C. could provide the
farmers of Utah with better services if we operated together. We still believe this
is possible. There has been no difficulty between the two organizations. Mr. Robins
and I get along well. While internal problems exist we believe they can be resolved.
The difficulty in the way has to do with our affiliate relationships. If these could
be resolved, other things could be handled.
Frank Shelly: We also see merit in a single wholesale and do not oppose it. But
F.U. has come into Utah and advocates policies and ideologies which we cannot agree
with. We could never bring ourselves to agree that earnings from a business we
support should go to advance such programs.
Joseph G. Knapp: You men of F.B. have made some important statements involving
favcrableness to a uniting of the two wholesales. If you think it would help clarify
the problem, I would be willing to put one of our men on this matter asking him to
bring the Mather's study down to date to provide us with factual information on the
possibility and desirability of the merger—its advantages and difficulties.
All expressed a desire to have the study made. At this point the F.B. officers
withdrew to attend their own conference.
Justin Stewart: I think this meeting should adjourn now as a means of keeping F.B.
and the rest of us together. Sharr and Geddes thought there was merit in the idea.
Mr. Robins felt that since Dr. Knapp had come a long way, we should make ourselves
available to him either together or separately. The meeting continued.