Emmons County record. [volume] (Williamsport, D.T. [i.e. N.D.]) 1884-current, 1918-01-24

or seven stores in each county or as
many as may be required to supply
the farmers whom they are signing.
up to agreements under which the
farmers pay 500 each for the priv
ilege of trading at these stores.
The scope of activity outlined fer
these stores by the organizers, in
talking to farmers, is made to include
every feature Of the retail business,
including household commodities of all
kinds, implements, and, in fac+ everv-
thing that is required by the average
farmer.
Each organizer carries a certificate
accrediting him as a solicitor for the
COMPANY, the certificate being signed
by A. C. Townley.
Mr.. Townley personally authorizes
the solicitors to take subscriptions
and collect funds for the Consumers
United Stores company "organ
under the auspices OF the National
Nonpartisan league"
Generally understood in uniformed
circles as movement for Coroner
tive stores, investigation Of the af-
fairs Of the Consumers United Stores
corporation, and is propaganda ef-
forts as outlined in the agreement
made by the farmers, to which the
company is not itself party, except
indirectly, reveals the store move
ment is. in fact, a plan whereby the
retail business of North Dakota would
eventually pass into the hands of the
stockholders of the company.
Who these stockholders are, is not
made public. The incorporators of
the company, however, are three Nom
partisan league employees, II. L. Ell
liott of Fargo, state manager of the
league; Norbert OLeary. stenog-
rapher employed in the St. Paul Of
flee of the league; and Charles Heck,
q field organizer for the league. Mr..
Elliott is Socialist who formerly
resided in Minot.
Mr.. Elliott, when seen by news
paper representative at his Office in
the Pioneer block in Fargo, refused to
tell whether or not A. C. Townley,
the Socialist genius who has organiz-
ed the Nonpartisan league, and who
is Quitting all store organizers with
letters personally endorsing" the
store movement as means of bring
ing producers and consumers" closer
together, is stockholdcr.
"This interview is closed" said Mr..
Elliott to the Forum representative
when asked: '1s Mr.. Townley a
stockholder in the company" The
question had been asked before, Mr..
Elliott answering that "Mr. Townley
is not necessarily stockholder. We
are not making public our plans. It
is not a public matter.
The scheme of organization rests
upon the same principle employed SO
successfully by Mr.. Townley and his
Socialist co-workers in the organiza-
.tibfl sof the farmers as g voting unit.
They are being charged for the priv
ilege of purchasing goods and merch-
andise at the stores, and the rate is
500 for each member.
No store is founded with lesser
membership than 200, while the aver
age. membership list is around 800,
according to the information so far
available. Mr.. Elliott told the For
um that about 30 stores were already
organized or in process of organiza-
tion, and that stores already are in
operation in Minot, kenmare and
Devils Lake.
The agreement signed by the far
mers appearing on this page, sets
forth very clearly how the company
propose to operate.
On the basis of that agreement
which, it is understood, "is not signed
by the company nor any OF it's rap
resentatives' but which the farmers
are required to sign, a purchaser OF
certificate pays 500 to the COM
pany, and it is further provided that
the first $4,000 so subscribed shall
go to the establishment of the store
The balance, or, to quote the agree.
ment, "all surplus subscribed over the
said sum of $4,000 may be used by
the said company either to establish
and maintain central buying agency
or wholesale establishment, or tc
carry on educational work or rropa;
ganda along all lines deemed by t..e
board of directors of the Consumers
United Stores company to be in this
interest Of or beneficial to farmers
and fcr tie a3sfst snce-cf farmers or,
ganizations such as relate to the eco
nomic, educational or political inter,
ests of the farmers. or both"
The case of the Kiamare store /,
pat. In that store. there arr ovel
800 farmers. signed up si00 each
making a total collection by the or
ganizers of 100000.
OF that $50 .ooe, according to th,
statemert in the a--cament, $1,000
is devoted to t,c establishment of tlit
store, and the balance, or $2o,0Oo