The weekly times-record. (Valley City, N.D.) 1912-1922, 1915-05-27
MEMBERS STAND
BY THE EQUITY

Equity Cooperative Exchange of St.
Paul, feel so certain that the suit
brought by the state to annul it's
charter will be dismissed that they
already are planning an extensive
campaign to obtain business during
the next crop season, beginning
Aug. l.
They not only hope to triple the
shipments made to St. Paul last fall
but also to complete their proposed
new terminal elevator there by Jan.
1, next. According to President J..
NJ. Anderson, the farmers are buy.
ing literally of the elevator STOCK
and the financial details are all but
settled.
1--WE expect to push the buy in St.
Paul campaign to the limit among
our friends and in every section of
North Dakota" he said. when we
have our second annual convention
there in the fall the attendance
ought to reach the 10000 mark. Our
members are awaiting that time with
great expectation, and will do most of
their fall and winter buying while at
tending this convention. We know
that the city is back Of us and we in
tend to reciprocate to the best of our
ability"
George S. Lotus, sales manager
of the Equity Cooperative exchange
has returned to st. Paul taking with
him list of subscriptions made by
farmers and business men interested
in the open market there, amounting
to $38,S00. Subscriptions of nearly
$4,000 more are in the hands Of
the committee. This does not include
the $4,000 pledged by Congressman
C. C. Van Dyke and John Marshall,
who represent the St. Paul CONNER
cial club at Fargo.
'This suit will result in our getting
credit bonds Of more than 100000"
Mr.. Lotus predicted, "giving us all
the financial backing that we need to
operate the grain business and also
to build the terminal elevator. Our
men will begin to sell stock in the ele-
vator company on Monday, and we ex-
pect to have that institution in opera
ton within a few months.
"The suit appears to have fallen
fat" Mr.. Lotus added, "and 1 cannot
see how we can lose it. Judge Pol
lock has been very fair with US at the
hearing"
Those who have followed the weary
court session at which Edw Enge-
rud, of counsel for the state, presented
some rs affdavits in support of the
many charges made in the complaint
to Attorney Gen. H. j. Linde, are
nearly united in the opinion that the
case against the Equity is based on
trivalities and is without merit.
None of the sensational accusations
Of mismanagement, double commits
sions, insolvency, conversion of cap
ital and selling under market seems
to have been substantiated, and when
the defense has it's inning, it is con-
fidently expected that any cloud on
the character of the cooperative
movement, centered in St. Poul, will
have been dissipated.
When Mr.. Engerud had presented
his final affidavit, Mr.. Manahah made
a formal motion asking that the
case be dismissed. He was about to
argue the matter at length, when
Judge C. A. Pollock interrupted.
II shall deny the notion" he said,
"and any argument would only be a
waste of time. AS l announced earl
Ter l intend to hear both sides of the
case"
Mr.. Manahan said that he desired
to obtain afidavits rebutting some
Of the accusations of those which the
state has filed but recently. In par
ticular he wanted to have the evil
dence of John McHugh, secretary of
the Minneapolis Chamber of Com
MERGE, a commission for the taking
of which recently was issued by Judge
Pollock.
George S. Lotus, sales manager
Of the Exchange, expressed greatest
satisfaction over what he termed the
absolute failure of the state to prove
any of its sensational and widely 40
vertised charges against the farmers
of North Dakota.
He said the farmers will complete
their St. Paul terminal elevator with
in five months and always would f.
nance their own marketing.
At the afternoon session Mr.. Enge-
rud presented number of affidavits
having to do with the financial SOL