The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1917-02-07


and business conditions coupled with
a tidal wave of prosperity that extends
to every line of business, including
farming. favOrs the opponents of the
cooperative movement in their efforts
20 destroy or check the tidal wave of
lnIonism that is sweeping over this
state with such force nd velocity that
1t has become contagious. l am GER
tainly gratified to be able to say that
the efforts of our competitors, tho
they have called to their assistance
some of the most powerful corpora
tions, including railroads of this state,
have not reached our first defensive
trench. The loyalty of the stockhold-
ers of our local cooperative associa-
tons to their own business associa-
tions. stands -, firm that no force the
enemy can muster has caused Il furry
Of alarm.
II wish 1 could say as much for the
loyalty of the management of the CO.
operative business associations to th'
jobbing association. L regret, and
very painfully so, indeed, to saw at
this time that the management OF our
cooperative business associations
have surrendered and that, too, with
out a shadow of resistance to the men
who are bent at any sacrifice in pre-
venting the extension of the co-opera-
tive movement beyond the confines OF
the limited areas of their local busl-
ness territory, and if they succeed n
preventing the extension of the bust
ness endeavor of the union beyond To-
cal territory then the union will fall
short of carrying out the purposes for
which it was organized.
Big Business Increase.
I'VE have not only increased the
number of our cooperative business
enterprises by 80 to 40 per cent, but
we have almost trebled the capital
stock of great many OF our business
associations This great increase of
a
corresponding increase in the extent
of our business in the future, but even
now it is being realized, as is evil
denced by the tremendous increase of
last years business over any of the
preceding years in the history of the
cooperative movement in Kansas. The
volume of our cooperative business
the past year is, as near as l can get
at it from the business reports receiv-
ed up to this time. between $1OO, O0O,-
900 and $110, 900, 000-an increase of
SO per cent over last years business;
and had we been able to secure the
business accommodations necessary to
meet the requirements of our bust
several millions more.
The Farmers union, thru its To-
Gals, can do more than any other eX-
listing agency to keep our boys and
girls at home. Each local should be
organized as a community center, a
place where all may assemble for so
cial enjoyment, for the formation of
business plans, and for the discussion
of questions of common interests. AL
ready many locals have adopted this
plan. The automobile, the telephone
and good roads have enlarged neigh
borhoods and reduced distances. The
farm is no longer at any great dis
lance from the center of the world
activities and the farm family can not
now escape the obligations, the joys
|
tions that mean real community life.
Better acquaintance inspires conf
dence and friendship and these pave
and prepare the way for successful CO.
operation not only in business activi-
ties but in the more important educa-
tienal and social interests of rural life.
81 very strongly urge that the mem
bers of all cooperative business asso-
Citations conducted by the Farmers
union allow their profits to accumu-
late and remain in the business until
they amount to savings that will safe
guaRdsssuch enterprises against the
vicissitudes of bad years and the ex-
actions of banks.
Improve Social Conditions.
Attic as in previous years, the ex-
tension of the union into new terri
tory. the reorganization of dormant
| locals and the encouragement of
struggling business associations have
! taken my time, l have not been I'M
mindful of the necessity for the Guilt
walton of the educational and social
side of country life. 1 have never for
gotten that our great organization is
an educational as we'll as a co-opera-
| tive association. 1t is true that I have
given my best efforts to the forna-
ton of business associations, but l
have not neglected the educational
| and social conditions of rural life.
/ 20
ganized? For no other reason than to
| throw off the burdens we carry be-
cause of our neglect of our duties in
the past. For a great many years in
the history of the world, the tillers OF
the soil, the producers of the things
necessary to sustain life, have been
timidly taking whatever was melted
out to US by the leeches who were
dependent on us for their subsistence
AT last the farmers awoke and altho
we have not been applying the prtn-
| ciples OF the Farmers union to our
everybody affairs in Kansas for very
many years, the results so far achieved
show beyond any doubt that if we per-
severe our purposes will be accom-
plished."
Name Committees
Legislative, Good of the Order
and resolutions committees were an.
pointed this afternoon by President
| snSCsluiAAAe' tne personnel or the leg
isladve committee, the lobby" Of the
union remains unchanged FOLLOWING
are the committees: Legisla
c, Lansdon of Salina; Tromble of Be.
lott; Smith of Fairview; Gray of Lu.
ray; NJ. McCauliffe of SaIina; Rice Of
Delphos. Resolutions-O'M alley o,
Riley; E. r. Ridgely, Mulberry, chair.
4 man. Staten, Pleasanton; F'raley Ora.
nam; Swanson, Marshall; Harrington
Grovei Woodruff, Rocks Good of the
Order ommittee-Holmes Sumner
Thurston, Ottawa; Collins, Neosho
Llppert' Rush; Barralt, Nemaha
Kapfer, Woodman, Nemaha.
u. D. OF C. VOLUNTEER
Confederacy Daughters 100. 900 Strnnp