The Lynden tribune. [volume] (Lynden, Wash.) 1908-current, 1911-11-30


CRANES Of New York and Penney
vania Start the New System In the
Metropolis.
Nv JAMES A. EDGERTON.
At last a movement has been
started in America that may
~ get somewhere in the matter
4 - of solving the problem of high
prices. 1t is modification OF the CO
lucrative stores system, originating ID
England and now in existence III
many nations Of Europe. In Ehsiaho
II is known as the Kochdale plan
which is familiar to most readers ~
least by name. In America members
Of the grange are the prime movers
working with a number OF business
men, who have organized to bring the
producer and retailer together. thus
cutting out the middlemen. The plan
ia first to be tried out i'll New YORK
and IL success there will be extend
ed to every large city in the country.
The oranges of the states OF New
York and Pennsylvania are already en-
listed in the campaign, and 1t Is the
hope of those in charge that members
of the order throughout the natioll
will fall in line. Indeed. the ultimate
design is to get the farmers generaHs
interested, whether they belong to Tx
organization or not The claim is made
that the farmers now receive only
small per cent of the price charged the
consumer. There is margin of 100, ~,
and even 800 per cent or more, ana
most of this enormous profit goes to
the middlemen. BY bringing the pro
Queer and retailer together the price
to the farmer will be increased ana
that to the consumer reduced. This
il the theory at least, and that 1t will
work out in practice is proved by the
cooperative system abroad and by the
grange stores already in existence.
These present grange stores are small
potatoes, however, compared to the
immense system now planned. They
were intended for members of the or
ganization alone. The new scheme is
for everybody.
To Conquer New York.
The head men in the undertaking
have already organized themselves
into what they call the United Stores
association. This has been going OIL
quietly for more than year layinG
the groundwork. Now 1t Is ready to
begin active operations. There was
considerable difficulty dn financing the
venture, presumably for the reason
that enormous business interests
would naturally oppose cooperative
undertaking. Money was finally rails
ed in Philadelphia, and now the as
ISOLATION claims a solid financial back
ing. New York offices have been es
tablished.
Some of the big men in the venture
are c. Paul Hagenlocher, the presi-
dent, who is banker and director in
various concerns, including the Lacka-
wanna Coal and Lumber company, the
TippecanOe Securities company and
the Republic Trust company; Roland
Onnfroy, first vice president and chair
man of the executive committee. doc
tor in sciences, literature and law, ex-
member of the chambers of commerce
of San Francisco and Seattle. former
vice president and general manager of
Pacific American fisheries. former vice
president and general manager lie
PatrimOine Life and Accident InsUr.
ance company and the real father Of
the plan; Patrick Egan, second vice
president, who was once minister to
Chile; Walter s. Pope, treasurer. for
mer eastern manager of the Royal
Baking Powder company; E. F. Ohm
sted, secretary and director of pub
licity, former advertising manager of
Shredded Wheat company, also of the
H-O company, and ex-secretary of the
board Of trade Of Niagara Falls:
| George T. Powell of the New York
state grange. and ]. W. Kjelgaard of
the Pennsylvania state grange-quite
an imposing array Of names, especial
Iy when compared with the twenty
eight poor weavers who started the
Rochdale plan in England and who
had to save up several months before
they had $40 to open their first tiny
basement store. The world moves
however, and this is America and the
twentieth century. We travel faster
now, and 1t takes money to oil the
wheels. It required long years for the
ROchdale weavers to make dent on
the business system of England. and
these United Stores and grange folks
expect to do big things right away.
Charge Of the Grange Brigade.
When ready to launch the enterprise
publicly fifty grangers from Pennsyl
vania descended ON New York. gave
banquet or two. visited the mayor
who made one of his best speeches
started the Bush Terminal stores In
South Brooklyn rs central distribut
ing station, and the first thing any
one knew the New York newspapers
awakened to the fact that there was
something new on earth. The reduc
ton Of prices is'a popular subject il
the metropolis, for probably at nc
point on the planets surface are prices
higher. Therefore the proposition t.
lower prices naturally appeals to the
readers Of these papers, and hence t.
the papers themselves. Also when the
mayor gives the best speech of his ad
ministration to delegation that dele