Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1917-06-27

| cannot do so without making some
| recommendations.
On my different visits to the locals
| have carefully observed the differ
ent methods under which they are do
| ing business, noting the results under
| different systems, so that we might be
prepared to make general recon-
| mendation that we thought would
make all of our locals successful, and
l am thoroughly convinced that the
one system under which our different
units could be the most successful, is
! to sell all of their goods to their men,
| bers, as we'll as those who are not
/ members, at one and the same price,
charging therefor legitimate profit
above the cost, thereby, placing them
selves in a position to pay to their
members a fair rate of interest on all
stock issued and then divide among the
members as stock dividend any sur
plus that is left, until sufficient CAPT.
tai through these accumulated profits
will give YOU a working capital.
In my visits during the past two
weeks at the annual meet ngs of the
Locals. l have recommended that this
system be adopted and in nearly every
case the recommendation was adopted
| by an unanimous vote. l feel that you
all realize that the past year has been
one where no .losses could easily take
place, is the market has been steadily
advancing and any supplies bought this
: week would be worth more the next
| thereby assuring a fair margin of
| profit, but in many cases these sup
! plies were sold with no profit added
! except the bare cost of handling and
as it is necessary in every business to
| have a working capital, we feel that
! the recommendation that is being made
/ should carefully be considered by the
board of directors of every Local, as a
time is sure to come sooner or later
when you will have to do business on
a declining market and if you are not
prepared by having a surplus in your
| treasury to take care of the loss that
may occur you are then placed in a
hard position and will have to do bus
mess to a great disadvantage.
For moment l wish to take up a
matter, which / consider of the utmost
Importance in connection with our
work, and this has been brought home
to me very forcibly during the last few
months. The question has been asked
of me by several Locals that had not
been affiliated with the Central Or
ganization, why they should affiliate;
in other words, why not buy as a sep
arate unit and where they want to-
and | answer that question by saying,
why should the members of the Local
buy from the Local. When the differ
ent organizations throughout the State
all realize that by pooling their or
ders, thereby placing the manager of
| the Farmers Union of Maine in a po-
sitiOn to go onto the market, not only
to buy by the carload, but by the doz-
ems of carloads, then the time will have
arrived when the farmers of our good
State will be greatly benefited by this
cooperative deal. Let us as managers
of the different Locals give this care
full consideration during the coming
year. This point has been fully DEM
onstrated during the past few months
as your managers report will show by
the saving that has been made by the
buying in large quantities.
The work of>~the Farmers Union is
attracting the attention of the large
concerns of the country and the other
New England states are becoming
awakened and soon there will be
New England-wide organization which
will mean a greater buying power and
lower prices to the purchaser
The large volume of business that
can be given any concern along their
line is what establishes the low price
on that article.
In conclusion there is one request
that am going to make and that is
that the managers of the several Lo-
calls throughout the State ask their
members not to place their orders for
another season for fertilizer. grass
seed, copper and sulphate. poisons.
paints. oils. groceries and many other
things that we might mention, before
knowing the price that these goods can
be furnished you through the Central
Organization of the Farmers Union of
Maine. In asking you tn,s one re-
quest we assure you that with your
assistance we shall be able to go on
to the market and buy in such large
quantities that we shall make the
members of your different organiza-
tons a good saving.
AS stated earlier in my report the
only desire of the Executive Board
of the Farmers Union of Maine is to
make this deal SO large and SO strong
that every farmers in the State of
Maine will get the benefit to which he
is entitled by eliminating many of the
middle commissions, which we are all
today paying when buying in small
quantities. Let us all work together
and let US make this the big deal that
we can by united efforts.
Respectfully submitted.
c. H. GARDNER.
President.