Tensas gazette. [volume] (St. Joseph, La.) 1886-current, 1913-08-01
NEW PLAN OF COOPERATION
National President Of Equity Union
Sets Forth Ideas and Principles
of His Organization.

think so much OF the Equity Union
plan of Golden Rule cooperation, that
l want to proclaim It from the house
tops. This high standard of business
cooperation is being worked out In
ten states by the young giant, Equity
Union. A lively campaign of educa-
ton is being carried on at 100 good
markets. and Equity exchanges es-
tablished.
| When strongly organized, the Equi-
ty Union will prevent gluts Of central
markets, which now cause farmers to
lose millions OF dollars. When there
is sufficient cooperation by our Equity
exchanges, the price of farm machin-
cry will be reduced so per cent, coal
one dollar to two dollars per ton;
-four feed, fertilizer, and all neces-
saries, will come down, and consum-
ers, as well as producers, will be bene-
fitted.
Local unions are organized at the
best shipping points. When we have
100 or more members at one place,
we start an Equity exchange with 100
stockholders and a capital Of $4,000.
We work continually for more stock
holders and more capital The stock
holders control this capital and run
their own business.
The National Union is organized
without capital. II is an organizing
force, which carries on a continual
campaign OF education, absolutely
necessary to the success OF this move
ment for economic freedom.
The shares In our exchanges are
$25 each. The limit is four shares.
The manager is bonded by a reliable
bonding company. His books are care
fully audited every quarter and often
IL necessary. Our commission firm in
Minneapolis gives each exchange
set of books, and continual directions
and assistance in buying grain. We
work for honest, efficient manage
ment.
Each manager is required to buy
and sell on a safe margin. All profits
are prorated to stockholders according
to their patronage. A large volume
of trade from 200 or 800 farmers re-
duces the cost OF handling and in
sures the success Of the business. No
danger of assessments here.
Out OF the gross earnings are taken
expenses. national dues. and five per
cent, dividends on the stock sub
scribed. Never allow more than FIVE
per cent. dividends on the stock sub
scribed All over this is profit, figured
as a per cent of all the business fur
nished by the stockholders, and Is pro-
rated back to stockholders according
to patronage.
gets back all that he earns by his pa
tronage. Only patrons can draw out
the earnings of the company, as pa
tronage makes the earnings. This
plan is just. A small per cent paid
for capital. and as large an amount
as possible paid back each year for
patronage, viii bind farmers together
in a union that will be powerful and
beneficient
Each members produce and NOR
chandise is handled at actual cost
without profit. and large volume Of
Non-members are paid the same as
members for their produce. but do not
share In the profits.
We pay all the earnings of the COM
pany to patrons who are stockholders.
They must be both patrons and stock
hi 60 CHI Af
ings Non-members will soon see the
difference and come in.
The central idea in this plan is the
union of large per cent. Of our farm
ers. The entrance fee is three dol
lars. Each member has one vote and
less than four shafes, we prorate in
shares for their patronage until they
have four shares, the limit. We will
finally have 200 good farmers united
in each exchange, with a financial
standing of $4,000 in the business
world, and IL this is not sufficient cap
ital,s the limit Of shares can be
changed to five or six.
All of our Equity exchanges must
cooperate in buying and selling. 1t
will take time and patience to work
this out We leave our exchanges
free, as we do our members. We
never drive nor coerce.
We are now arranging to buy con-
trolling interest in a coal mine for
our southwest unions. We will do the
same for our northwest unions. We
urge every farmer to rally around
the Equity Union banner. Leave the
profit-system, become a golden rule
co-operator, and your success as a
farmer is assured. Send ten two-cent
stamps for the Equity textbook which
gives a full explanation of our plan Of
cooperation.