Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1917-06-12
farmers UNION
YEARS WORK

Waterville, Me, June 11.-(SpeciaD
AS the fiscal year of the Farmers
| Union of Maine and the locals
! throughout the state ends with this
! of some of the work accomplished dur
I ing the past year will be of interest to
not only those who are connected with
the organization but also to those on
the outside that should lie on the in.
! BY invitation the writer during the
past week attended the annual meet
| ing Of a number of the locals and the
report at all places visited were most
gratifying as a large surplus in all
cases We're distributed among the
membership. ranging from three to
six thousand dollars, at the same time
| furnishing their members with sup
| plies al a great saving.
For example, Vim Farmers union
did gross business of 100000, net
profit $4,000, the same being divided
! among the members; North Lincoln
Farmers union only eight months in
1 business divided $4,000; Rockland
union divided $4,000. at the same time
selling their members at a very small
margin above cost At this meeting
eff the Rockland union a vote was
passed by recommendation of the
central organization that all goods in
the future would be sold with fair
profit added, thereby assuring a larg-
er surplus. at the same time placing
| themselves in a position to take care
of any loss that might accrue through
q declining market that is sure to
I come Soner or later.
This recommendation is being made
to all the locals as we believe that it
| is the better business course to fol-
! low.
Many other unions that we will not
take the time or space to mention
| have done as we'll or better than those
above mentioned. The business of the
p, organizations throughout the state the
past year will exceed 100000 a fair
showing for a small and young organ
ization
AT the present time the work and
, interest manifested is growing rapid
| ~ and 1t now looks that when the an
! hual meeting takes place the 26th of
this month that we shall have about
100 locals as there is at the present
time number waiting to be organ
lied
June list, the writer with other
Maine representatives. by invitation.
attended meeting at the Quincy
House in Boston with other represen-
tatives Of New England buying agen-
cles of farmers organizations to con-
slider the question of ORIGINATING the
| New England states into one largo
! buying agency
Thursday, June 14th, another meet
INK will be held at Worcester Mass
at which time z. f. Austin of orr
grain department and the writer win
be present where a further discussion
Of this question will take place and j,
| full explanation of the workings of
| the Farmers Union of Maine will no
given
These meetings are held under the
auspices of the N. f. NJ u. A.. of which
klcnard Pattee is secretary. Mr. Pat
tee is doing wonderful work and the
good results are being felt throupho,t
New England.
Through the Central Organization of
the Farmers Union of Maine during
the past six months contracts with
many of the large concerns of tho
country have been made to handle
their products. The r. c. Williams
Wholesale Grocery Company of New
York, who are to establish our ORGAN
lzation; the Tropical Paint G, Oil On
OF Cleveland, o., whose products 90
directly from the factory to the ,ser
thereby saving the jobber's and retail
er's profit; also the American Sugar
Rehnlng Company, with whom we are
doing an extensive business: \
Werthedmer & Sons of Lgonier. Ind
large growers of farm seeds Of tho
highest quality.
From the above named concerns
goods are being furnished to orr or
sanization throughout the State at
strictly wholesale prices and distrih.
uted to our farmers throughout the
State at prices that make them large
saving at the same time giving them
the best goods that money can buy.
rms season for the first time, Blue
Vitriol and Insecticides have been
bought by the carload and distributed
throughout the State to the farmers.
Inc fertilizer sales of this season
nave lar exceeded those of last season |
notwithstanding the bad transportation
facilities.
The Farmers Union Grain & Supply |
Company of Waterville, the wholesale |
grain house of our organization, has
done a most satisfactory business, re-
turning to the stockholders, which |
comprises many of our locals through |
out the State a nice dividend and E. |
E. Austin, manager of this House, has
transacted the business in such a way
as to gain the confidence of every To-
cal in the State.
In closing we wish to say that the |
business during the past eight months
has been trebled over that of any pre-
vious period and during the next year
we hope to make the business double |
that of last year and in accomplishing
what we expect to we are going to