Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1917-12-22
FARMERS UNION REPORT
MADE AT STATE GRANGE

FARMERS UNION REPORT
MADE AT STATE GRANGE
In making a brief report Of The WORK
that is being accomplished through the
Farmers Union organization, it il; Very
gratifying to be able 10 say lnat not a.
any time since the origin OF this work
haS there been so deep an interest as
at tho present time. Duriu{; The pas.
- OF more gears there hos been 50
much written and said relative to far
mcrs cooperating lid a business way
and 50 little had been accomplished
along this time that WHOM the Farmers
Union launched cut the same story was
circulated that Tie farmers viii not
work and pull together and to 5 'cvs
you that such is not tie 1t-', | Will
cndeaVOr TO give YOU an,nr ftn 'it-te
examples Of what has bcrm accom-
l,ished since this work began.
One year ago We had i'm the state -
local unions in addition u the central
rganiZation and 20 per ce1t Of that
numhcr were inactive ana today We
have lCY and from 81 to 90 pr cont ac-
tive and doing a prosperous business.
returning 10 their mamher$ after al
running expenses are paid dividends
Ranging from : 20 ~ pnr cent. Thi
condition ha.. been brought about by
good husinc. methods icing adopted
by The locals Is l1i~s fhei. goods at 4
fair profit which surplus at the end or
tie fiscal year influences is being
brought to bear on each local to tran
sac. business in this manner.
The business Of l3St year exceeded
&"il},C0p ard this year VIC ,&p2Ct to
pass this amount quite " little. ~ the
IRE sent time business is being trans
acted with the largest m@npfrc;W' rs
ard iohhcrS in tho country ana loGt
we haV" NO trouble in securing pro-
Gucts of all kinds for or locals, while
two wears AGO we were considered q
small organization If farmers ana was
bothered 10 q great extent to get thu
supplies needed rs these concerns dit.
/ OF care to deal with farmers Organi-
cations. TODAY these large concerns,
1ealizing that We arn strong power
dsir4 business along Legitimate hus-
ress lines, are all catering for our
business ana are willing AT all times to
give us the benefit of lowest prices on
their products.
Grass seeds. insectideY. blue Njtrol.
paints, oils, grtases, rofin9 paper gro
ceries, sugar and' MANY Other Things
that We cannot mention OF which
large saving IL made are being bought
in carload lots and shipped from lhtsc
large concerns direct 81 our locals
throughout the state. And in addition
to the above the state agency has been
taken for thu Cnibilla silos and Apex
ensilage cutters, on which large say
ing tc the purchaser will be made. as
the heavy selling expense is eliminated
bv our selling these products.
Have YOU ever stopped I" ""asider
whether or not there VA = 5000
reason why the farmers q. Maine
should not get together and transact
their business through their own or
eanization and pay the profit t. them
selves instead of to the other fellow
tnd to conduct their business along
the Same lines as other business is be
ing conducted? If not. now is GOOD
time for ourselves alone on are we ny
ing to try TO do our nelShborS and the
community in which We live lti'le
good"
The Farmers Union Of Maine Is
simply the business end Of the grange:
while we are in no way connected WIN
said organization we are accomplishing
the work that the grange originally IN
tended TO do.
That a wrong impression may not ne
had we wish to state tina; tNf3nSh the
prnss recently a statemcr- NdS teen
made that another new organization
was to be created, and that the Far
mers' Union had expressed wiling
ness to affiliate the same. We wish TO
saw here that this was news 70 IN"
officials of the Farmers Union and that
the Farmers Union has NJ idea OF
doing anything of the kind unless
there is something to be gained ny the
farmers for doing so. The Farmers
Union is built on a solid foundation
and is the largest and strongest far
mers' organization in New hng'1no
and its buying power is great and we
desire TO see every farming LOCALITY
esnecia!lv where there ]. = slipping
station. organized and a line 70 ~"
central organization at WaterVil,e VIII
bring YOU information relative to The
work that is being done and YOU Will
b, given the desired information. The
shirt is growing. Let's all get behiAd
AMI push and show to the people Of
Maine that the farmers can transact
their own business and Get the Dement'S
that they deserve.
C. H. GARDINER.
:i1aD1