Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1912-02-28
REMOVAL OF HITchlNe
POSTS CAUSES TROUBLE
Farmers Think Merchants Did Not
Appreciate Their, Patronage and Go
Into Business for ThemseIves-co-
Operative Methods Declared Proper
Means to End Mail Order Business.
pecial to es-Republican.

IlIne as Sne Is now. ana IL is all
over the proposition Of the farmers
| starting a cooperative store. And back
Of the whole thing, it seems, Is the
hitching posts which We're removed
from off the principal street last fall.
fall.
AT a meeting of the farmers held
yesterday committees We're appointed to
solicit stock for the cooperative store.
A. l.. Middleton called lne meeting to
order, and in opening he said that some
OF the business men of Eagle Grove
We're looking upon the plan as one
that would be detrimental to the good
OF the town. He said that it was not
the intention to do anything to harm
Eagle Grove He said that if they
started the store it would be con-
Quoted and managed by friends OF the
town and community and not by it's
enemies.
d. D. Paine was chosen chairman Of
| the meeting, and in taking the chair he
said that he wanted to repeat what
| MIR. Middleton had said, in that it was
not the intention to harm the inter-
csts of the city. He said Eagle Grove
they go to take the train when they
go away, and 1t was where they come
to the train to meet their friends. But
there are a few things" said he, that
we don't like" Mr.. Paine then said
that the merchants and business men
made all of their money off of the
farmers, that they wanted store
where they could share in the profits,
| hot how tod ctr how
could get square deal"
E. NJ Thebiay was then elected Sec
rotary of the meeting.
l.. E. Baer moved that the chair ap-
point committee to solicit stock, and
before the committee was appointed
the discussion began.
George Wright asked that somebody
explain the proposed plans, some Of
the expected benefits, etc
Warren Paine suggested that E. NJ.
Thebiay tell what he had learned and
observed as to similar movements in
other localities. and Mr.. Thebiay took
the floor.
History of Cooperative Movement.
Mr.. Thebiay said that the coop
erative movement started in England
about fifty years ago and had spread
constantly from that time. He said
that the customary plan of the coop
erative store was that the patrons
should share in the profits, and it
should be in proportion to the amount
Of trading he does. The man who buys
$500 worth of goods should have twice
the profits of the man who buys but
$3.50 worth A shareholder should have
but one vote. He said that a common
plan was to allow the non-shareholder
to share in the profits, also to half the
extent of the shareholder. He said
that in southern Minnesota there are a
chain Of cooperative stores, from 40
to $50, and they We're generally sue
cessfully At Lakefield. he said, the
store paid per cent and to one GER
tain heavy purchaser they paid divi
dend of $205.
Combat Mail Order Houses.
Mr.. Thebiay further stated that the
plan was the only weapon to combat
the mail order houses, that it would
keep the money at home, that it would
draw trade to the town from farther
than any other method. He said that
the cooperative store would be run at
less expense than any other store. eve
don't condemn the retail merchant
said he, "but we condemn the method.
We want to improve upon the method"
H. A. Cook then took the floor against
the plan He said that now is the
critical time to decide. "The cooper
ative store" he said, if successful
will drive other business men out of
town, there will be empty store rooms
and empty residences, improvements
in many ways, schools, churches, and
the town as a whole, will suffer and
cease to advance Mr.. Cook then re-
minded them that Eagle Grove never
had better set of business men. and
that she never had brighter future.
The products of the farm. not only OF
grain, but butter and eggs, poultry.
hay, livestock, ETC., and everything the
farmers have to sell. bring more in
the Eagle Grove market than in any
other town around. He wanted to know
how they expected to improve upon
the present conditions and prospects.
Frank Mulligan, our hardware dealer
and chairman of the Eagle Grove Com
mercial Club. asked Mr.. Thebiay how
they expected to have a dividend to
divide unlesy they obtained profit
from the farmers. and he said that
farmers often invest in cooperative