The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1911-12-28
COOPERATION TO
REDUCE PRICES
Movement to Bring Producer
and Retailer Together.
BASED ON ROCHOALE PLAN.
Revised to Fit American Conditions.
Oranges Of New York and Pennsy-
vania Start the New System In tho
Metropolis.

NfauSoS VI Ncw toTk ana FennSy-
vania Start the New System In tho
Metropolis.
By JAMES A. EDCERTON.
A 7 last movement has been
"a started in America that may
~ get somewhere in the matter
of solving the problem of high
prices. 1t is modification of the CO.
operative stores system, originating in
England and now in existence in
many nations of Europe. In England
1t is known as the Rochdale plan.
which is familiar to most readers, at
least by name. In America members
Of the grange are the prime movers.
working with number Of business
men, who have organized to bring the
producer and retailer together, thus
cutting out the middlemen. The plan
is first to be tried out in New York
and if a 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 i'll the campaign, and it is the
hope Of those in charge that members
of the order throughout the nation
will fall in line. Indeed, the ultimate
design is to get the farmers generally
interested, whether they belong to the
organization or not. The claim is made
that the farmers now receive only Il
small per cent of the price charged the
consumer. There is a margin of 100, 200
and even 300 per cent or more, and
most of this enormous profit goes to
the middlemen. BY bringing the pro-
ducer and retailer together the price
to the farmer will be increased and
that to the consumer reduced. This
is the theory at least, and that it 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 on
quietly for more than a year laying
the groundwork. Now it is ready to
begin active operations. There was
considerable difficulty in 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
sociation claims 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 i'll
various concerns. including the Lacka-
wanna Coal and Lumber company. the
| TippecanOe Securities company ana
he 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 o.:
| Pacific American fisheries, former vice
| president and general manager Lie
Patrimoine Life and Accident lnsur
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 tie
board of trade of Niagara Falls:
George T. Powell of the New York
state grange, and ]. W. Kjelgaard oi
the Pennsylvania state grange quite
an imposing array Of names. especial
" 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
| DdSeNCut StOIC. uc "otsu Az i-io'CS
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 a dent or
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 Penusyl
vania descended on New York. gave
BANQUET or two. visited the mayor
who made one of his best speeches
started the Bush Terminal stores IL
South Brooklyn as central distribnt
ing station. and the first thing an,
one knew the New York newspapers
awakened to the fact that there VA:
something new on earth. The rea"c
tion of prices is popular subject il
the metropolis. for probably at M
] point on the planets surface are pri'e'
, higher Therefore the proposition r
lower prices naturally appeals TO th'
readers of these papers. and hence I,
the papers themselves. Also when th'
mayor gives the best speech of his I'd
ministrat1ou to a delegation that dele