Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1918-02-19
Farmers Co. Operative
Union Condemns the
United Store Scheme

ing Of the state board of directors
held at Bismarck on January 1873,
1918. We also present for your con-
sideration h agreement which the
Consumers United Stores company IS
asking the farmers to sign. Go over
this contract thoroughly. n see for
yourselves the enormous mount OF
money each community of Is
required to put up in order to start a
store, over which they have absolutely
no control.
"A C. Townley, of the N~onpartisan
league, under whose endorsement the
stores are being started. admits that
the stores are not owned by the Non
partisan league, and that the league
has no monetary interest in them.
In order to start Il store at any
given point. not less than 100000
must be subscribed. in notes Or cash
given for the same. BY Mr.. Town-
ley's own admission. they are using
not to exceed $4,000 in the establish
ment and maintenance of n one of
these stores. The balance of lis
money. whatever it may be, may pc
used in any n the board of dl-
rectors. which is composed of three
mon. sees fit.
"Admitting that it is possible for
each holder of Il buying certificate to
save money for himself in p%atroniz-
ing this chain of stores, you arc NY
building up Il business for the other
fellow. Considering this matter from
every angle, and having discussed 1t
thoroughly. We c~mphatically main
tain that by putting the same amount
of money into q truly cooperative
business of your own, it will rapidly
,develop into a dividend paying propo-
sition. and ave you a. great deal more
than 10 per cent on your purchases.
"ln the end. every holder Of CO.
operative stock will he better off fl
nancially than he would he if he puts
his money into a micro buying ~certiti-
cate. and we would therefore advise
, all members OF the Farmers Union to
thoroughly consider the matter before
putting their money into buying GER
tifcates in tho Consumers United
stores company.
!~'rHtcrnally yours.
Frank MchrinS,
VIM. Il. Breen,
: W. ]. Motley,
w. J. Smith.
f Directors
: Attest: T. T.. shinlcv.
e Acting Secretary.
n Proceedings OF the Board.
The official minutes of the board OF
= directors at the session are set fcrtf
Z in the circular us follows:
: The meeting was called to order
:, at { y. M, January IS. by Presiden'
J. j. j. Montgomery. with Vice Presi'
dent Geo. w. Sorber and directors, w
= j. Smith, w. r. Brecn and Franz
y Mchring present. Director e. L
Malone was unable to attend.
. Moved by Mr.. MoZley. seconded
by Mr.. Smith, that h board of direc
. tors advise A. G. Townley, of the Non
partisan league, to appear before tn
meeting on the evening of January Is
at $50 o'clock. n give the boart
full details and working plan of TIL
Consumers United Stores company
and that VIC submit to him, at tn
close Of the meeting, the stand tina
this board takes in regard to the mat
/. ter. Motion, carried.
O motion, meeting adjourned t
%reconvene at $50 p. M. January %.
Meeting r~econvened at $3.50 p. m
President Montgomery in the chair.
II AT the request of President Mont
Is gomery, state Organizer ID. f. Ship
K ley announced the purposes of tn
I'd meeting. after which A. G. Townlc
was called upon. and explained tn
IN Consumers United States r%ropositio
"a from beginning to end.
After listening to Mr.. Townley
"a explanation, the board of director
adopted the following resolutions:
I'VE, the board of directors of til
" North Dakota division of the Farm
ers' Educational and Co-operatiy
~ Union of America, in special meetin
J" assembled, after listening to a full an
st thorough explanation of the organize
at ton and working plan of the Consun
IN ers' United stores company by A.
Townley, are of the opinion hat tt
plan Of organization and operation
10 these stores is not based on good bus
:! ness principles and not workable as
lasting business proposition, and "
fully believe that the only safe ar
: sane method of building up Il tho
=, ough bushes by and for the farme,
is by adopting the Rochdale syster
which is the official teaching and al
" proved plan of the Farmers Union.
le I'VE hereby recommend that {
GO Farmers Union members should car
-, fully investigate and consider tt
~ agreement of the Consumers Unite
~ Stores company. which is printt
herewith. Consider this agreeme,
Cd carefully and from every angle. v
a fully believe hat if this is done. ar
I'd if h members of the Farmers Unic
Or. will put the same amount of mon
into their own business. it will be Il
nd means Of establishing for themselv
alf a real and profitable cooperate
m business. that will be much more ga
nd %isfactory, and he the means of aidir
ed true cooperation for all time to com
Z, @ motion. meeting adjourned
r%econvene at 10 o'clock a. m. Janua
20.
- |. Meeting ~reconvened at 10 o'clot
: a. m. January 30. President Nor
gomery presiding. with Vice Preside
> Geo. W. Sorber and Directors W.
> Motley. W. J.. Smith. w. e. Breen al
q Frank Mehring present.
= Moved by Mr.. Motley, seconded
Mr.. Smith, that enough copies of Il
> proceedings Of this board meeting. t
- gether with the official agreement
" the Consumers United Stores cor