Gloucester County Democrat., 1912-01-18
CRANGE:RSAREOUT
Pennsylvania No Longer ,AffiIi-
ated With United Stores.

Lack of Harmony Stated as the Cause
For the, Association Refusing to Sell
Stock In the Company to Pennsyi-
vania Grangers, and So the Grange
as Body Is Barred.
A few months ago the United Stores
association tGrangers, Dealers and
Consumers union) was organized in
New York city with a capital of
81 900. 900. It's plan was and still Is
to furnish household supplies to the
people of New York city who patron
jize their stores on such terms as to re-
duce the high cost of living. There are
now 400 or more of these stores in the
city. The saving to consumers is
made by per cent discount on all
goods purchased during the month
preceding the date of settlement. 1t
was early discovered that it would be
necessary to interest producers as well
as consumers in this association. and to
this end it was decided to work
through the grange
MIR. George t. Powell of the Agri-
culturist Experts association was ear
ly called into conference with the di-
rectors and later made a director of
the association, who laid before them
a plan of operation. As the grange
was the only generally organized body
iof farmers he felt it was the proper
;rf in, hi c0f
although he realized it would debar a
very large number of farmers from its
benefits unless they first became mem
'bers of the grange. However. he be-
lieved if was an exceptional opportu-
nifty for the grange to come to the
front in large way along lines OF
work that were so much needed among
the farmers He believed the grange
could broaden its work in conjunction
with this organization and thereby the
great general lines of cooperation
might be instituted among all classes
of farmers. but of which the grange
would be the natural promoter.
The executive committee of the
Pennsylvania state grange was the
first to manifest interest in the Unit
ed Stores association. The directors
of the association invited the Penn
sylvania farmers to visit the officers OF
the association in New York and in
vestigate the enterprise. The large
delegation was enthusiastic over the
project and returned TO its cOnstitu-
ents and advised them to fall in line
with this new cooperative movement
A little later second delegation Wis
tied the officers in New York. when
what has been styled "captious in
.quiry'' was made into the affairs of the
association by few members OF the
delegation. 1t was soon discovered
that there was something back of the
inquiry more than to obtain informa-
ton and that something had to do with
Pennsylvania state grange affairs. Aft
er listening to the discussion pro and
con it seemed wise to the directors OF
the association to stop all further deal
ings with the grange as body. And
the day following this second visit OF
the Pennsylvania farmers the directors
adopted the following resolution:
Whereas. The United Stores association
has inaugurated a movement to improve
the present costly methods Of distribution
and sale of food and other products. and
as the interests of producers are closely
allied and representatives of the associa-
tion had met with the executive commit
lee of the Pennsylvania state grange and
after full and careful consideration had
been given to the purposes and plans OF
the association the executive committee
of the grange gave its Endorsement to the
undertaking: and
a Whereas. Cooperative organization
among farmers would be necessary. and
as the grange represents the only general
Organization of farmers in our country It
was deemed wise to work through an al
ready organized body rather than to at
tempt to create new organization: and
Whereas AS an agreement was entered
into whereby cooperative work was TO be
undertaken with the grangers Of Pennsyl-
vania. and by invitation of the United
Stores association a delegation of the mas
tiers of a large number of the oranges
came to New York to examine its plans
and to study the system of distribution
end sale of farm products and 10 learn.
of the consumers cost and problems, that
farmers may better understand them and
more intellgenty proceed in the organiza
ton of their part of the work; and
Whereas The delegations returned to
their oranges favorably impressed bs
what they had learned and second and
larger delegation was invited to come to
the city for the same purpose. and the as
sociation having worked up sale of ff-
teen carloads OF hay for the Pennsylvania
farmers and had secured the president OF
hay and grain retail dealers association
{who would sell more for them) to address,
the delegation and give Instructions on
how to grade. bale and ship hay, and DEM
onstrations in the grading and packing or
apples as retail dealers want them and in
the selection of seed corn were given. and
Whereas. In the second delegation there
developed on the part of few only. and
those not farmers. however. a captious
spirit of inquiry, the Interior purpose of
which became clearly apparent. WAS tn
cast suspicion and doubt in the min Is OF
the delegation TO discredit one of its own
prominent members; and,
Whereas. Existing internal dissensions
in the grange organization. it is believed,
will seriously hinder the progress of the
work OF this important undressing there
fore.