The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1901-07-09
He Would Form a Cooperative
Stock Company.
BUY STOCK.
Figures That 5000 People Could
Build a 4O-TOn Plant.
Only Necessary to Buy One
Share Each.

The latest. and what seems to be the
most feasible plan to outwit the ice
trust has been suggested by George II.
Langdons OF 1o35 Tyler street.
Mr.. Langdon has a plan whereby
cooperative stock company may be
formed to furnish ice to the members
Of the company at from 10 to 30 cents
per hundred pounds.
IF the people Of Topeka want cheap
ice and want to be relieved from trusts,
combinations and extortion. I have a
plan that IS entirely feasible and prac-
tical.' said Mr.. Langdon to 3 reporter
for the State Journal this morning
Form a cooperative company Of
from 1900 to 5000 shares. at $40 per
share. worcestershire; no one person or
firm to own or control more than i've
shares of stock: no voting by proxy IN
choosing officers. Elect president,
secretary and treasurer, and q board
of ten directors. Allow the board to
select a general manger and superin-
tendent, and pay him a fair salary.
The president and board of direct
ors to meet once a month or oftener,
according to the amount of business
They shall be allowed a very small sal
airy for attendance at each meeting.
Three thousand people of Topeka by
buying one share each can build and
equip an ice plant of from 80 to 30 tons
daily capacity, and may have all the
ice they want at from 10 TO 20 cents
per 100 pounds delivered, and still have
a margin of profit to be divided among
the shareholders. The stock after the
first year would be worth at least $50
per share. Shareholders would OF
course be served with their ice first,
and any left over to be sold to persons
not holding shares.
Conduct the business economically
as possible and inside one year there
would be a big demand for an increase
NJ ST. r1Er tn a.
by this plan no combine or trust
could control the plant. And the ones
already here could sell at the cooper
alive prices or Quit They have shown
should we borrow any trouble about
their affairs2 If the people Of Topeka
respond to this proposition they viii
have an opportunity within q few days
to subscribe for stock"
SUGGESTION FOR MAYOR HUGHES
To the Editor of the State Journal:
Through your colum ms, always de-
voted to the best interests of the peo-
pie. would like to speak some words
of commentator for that very big
hearted humanitarian. Mayor Hughes
1t is a source Of qualification to me
that he has taken up the work OF re-
form. and that because of his sympathy
for the poor he has undertaken to
squash the pernicious combines which
prosper at the expense of the needy
Having begun with ice, he viii, of
coal combine, which last awinter raised
the price of coal and which is prepar-
ing to raise it still higher next winter
1t seems absurd to say it just now.
but very right-minded individual win
admit that coal is almost as much of
a necessity in winter as ice is in sum
mer. Prejudiced people might think it
more So Therefore Mayor Hughes will
of course see to it that the poor are not
oppressed in this regard
In a town SO banded together by
brotherly love. where every man in
business is in it for the good of the
com munity, for his health. for his hui
manitarian principles. for anything
save profit. it is not to be wondered at
that people should hold up their hands
in horror and the press contain lead
ing editorials, against a concern which
admittedly is in it for profit
The generosity and unselfIshnesS Of
the men who are back OF the scheme to
save a helpless public from the ice
combine ar- too well known to allow
doubt to creep in as to their methods
were they conducting the same bust
ness. And of course Mayor Hughes is
not in the coal bushes for profit and
viii regulate that combine as he has
Ia fna h1T= II