The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1918-06-20
The Ethics Of N. p. u. Big Biz.
70 the Editor of the Union:

The Consumers United Stores Go.
has the distinction Of being in class
by itself and without an equal. There
are three incorporators who are the
legal directors, so, of course, they
direct more or less. There is also J.
w. Brinton, the general manager, who
countersigns the checks issued by w.
G. johnson, cashier. The general
manager appears to be no part of the
corporation. Again, there is a. 9.
Townley, who claims the honor Of con-
ceiving and originating the plan, and
has general supervision over the
whole business, though he has no stock
in it nor is legally connected with it.
AS to its aims the Stores Co. con-
templates and it's articles of incorpora-
ton provide for the widest possible
scope, not only as business proper,
but also as an organization for spread
ing the league doctrines. So it may
be described as many sided and many
headed.
One Of the twelve labors of Hercules,
the national hero of ancient Greece,
was that Of killing the many-headed
hydra, task made more difficult by
the power Of the monster to put forth
two heads where one had been severed.
Whatever of historic fact there may be
back of the story we may not de
termine, but let it suffice at least to
suggest the persistent habit that his
tory has of repeating itself.
Some Of the personalities in control
of the leagues policies would have
the stores main development in some
one particular direction and some in
another. j. w. Brinton, for instance,
is credited with having expressed the
hope that it (the Stores Co.. would
edo all the mercantile business in the
United States" On the other hand
Howard Wood, who was speaker Of the
house Of Representatives of North
Dakota, said to a correspondent of the
Fargo Forum, "The plan will bring the
funds we must have to carry on the
league propaganda work"
The SIG membership fee evidently is
not sufficient to meet the actual and
contemplated expenditures Of the
leagues political activities, but the
method of obtaining "THE FUNDS
WE MUST HAVE" and the uses made
of such funds reminds one of the
English historians (Macauley's) char
acterization of the ''reptile species of
politicians" associated with George
III. The following letter written by
H. L. Elliot, N. L. manager OF
North Dakota, and one Of the incor-
porators Of the Stores Co., indicates
that the aforementioned species is not
extinct though one wishes that it
were.
Fargo, N. D., Nov. 27, 1917.
Mr. Christ LIE Wang, Adams, N. D.:
Dear Mr.. LIE Wang: In the matter
relative to settlement on your automo.
bile account, which has been referred
to me by Mr.. Townley, will say had
a talk with Mr.. Bowen, also with Mr.
| Townley, and they. left the matter tc
settle with you, and I assure you that
we appreciate your services with the
league, and, if possible, we will have
work for you soon. We have some or.
ganization work in this state that
would like to see you at work upon
It is too long a story to put in writing
but, in a few words, there is being
organized in North Dakota chain OF
stores under the auspices Of the Non
partisan league. We have few OF
them opened and have many others
organized. The work is just nicely
started, and we need large caliber men
for this work, men who cannot just
take a mans valuable property away
from him, but will leave him organized
and full of confidence in the Non
partisan league. We will soon have q
crew working out at Devils Lake, N
D., and when they start there I will
let you know so that you can go there
working with this crew, SO that you
can see for yourself first hand what
kind of a proposition this is. The com,
mission on the work is a little better
than on straight organization work
and for that reason we can command
the services Of a higher class Of organ.
izers.
Now then, Mr.. lie Wang, getting
back to the subject of the automobile
which I have wandered from little
will say that had a similar PROPOSE
ton like yours and / settled on the
basis Of $3.50 for the use of the car
giving the man the opportunity to de-
/ eide whether he would turn the cal
over to the league and let us pay fol
it or he pay for the car and we pay
him $3.50 for the use Of it. How does
/ this strike you?
We would like to get a line from
you, and assure you that there is
nothing about this arrangement thai
will attempt to force upon you?
simply await your convenience.
Yours truly,
The Nonpartisan League,
/ BY H. L. Elliott, Manager.
According to the press Of Minot, N
4 D., the original Of this letter is in tn,
4 Second Nafinna1 Rank of that citu fo1