Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1918-03-21
STORE SCHEME
IS CONDEMNED
BY 800 FARMERS
Kenmare Farmers Scathing.
ly Criticize Brinton For
1. Not Meeting Milloy. +:
RESOLUTION SAYS
o PLAN is GRAFT
Says Scheme Should Have
Neither Moral nor Finan-
cial Support.

SldA support.
Kenmare. N. d.. March 21.-To
bring James w. Brinton, general
manager Of the Consumers United
Stores company. before an open meet
ing for the purpose of discussing the
Townley store scheme. is an impossi-
bility. Brinton o any other promo
ter or en1ploye Of the Nonpartisan
league stores will debate the much
discussed subject. The farmers liv-
ing in the vicinity of Kenmare are
fully aware of this fact after the
farmers meeting held in this city
Monday.
This city "a selected by President
A. c. Townley of the Nonpartisan
league. for the initial store activities
and according to a statement made
by Townley to representatives Of the
Farmers Union at Bismarck, the
store at Kenmare has over six hun
dred members. When certain facts
concerning the stores were brought
to light throughout the state the
farmers OF this district were extreme
ly anxious to hear both sides of the
question and to this and twenty or
more farmers dubbed together and
arranged. for al open meeting. at
Sinclair, we'll known league men.
members Of the state legislature and
selected by the Nonpartisan league
a Gus held here recently to make
the run for the state senate at the
next election. were invited to meet
James S. Milloy. editor Of The Minot
Messenger, in debate. Invitations
were extended to all three men to be
present. and, the subject selected for
Consumers United Stores company
and their plan of operation Is not to
the highest interests Of the farmers
of the state of North Dakota"
When neither Brinton nor Sinclair
appeared. Milloy vas asked by the
farmers present to state his views
anent. the stores question. which he
done to the entire satisfaction Of
practically all present. Between three
and four hundred farmers were pres
ent in the hall at the time the resolu-
tons e offered and only four OPP
posed the acceptance Of the follow
ing: e.
: Resolution.
! Whereas, we farmers, numbering
about 800, residing in the vicinity of
kenmare, Ward county. N. Dak.. in
Ia meeting assembled called by us
farmers for the purpose Of hearing a
joint debate on the following ques-
ton:
Resolved. that the Consumers
United Stores Co. and their plan Of
operation is not to the best interests
Of the farmers of the state of North
Dakota
Editor James s. Milloy of the MI
not Messenger. for the affirmative,
and j. W. Brinton. general manager.
OF the United Stores company. and
Hon. j. H. Sinclair of this city, for the
negative. and f*<
Whereas, we have requested said
j. W. Brinton and j. H. Sinclair by
registered mail and holding signed
return cards for such letters, asking
substitute to defend this store plan.
and
Whereas. the Consumers United
Stores company has been poven to
be organized in connection with the
National Political Nonpartisan league
and is an auxiliary corporation, there
by making it a public or semi-public
institution. and
Whereas. the spirit Of all Ameri-
tons. requires public discussion of
questions relating to the welfare Of
the whole people. and
Whereas. the subject for this de-
bate are questions now before the
public Of this community and of vital
Importance to the welfare Of u
state. and
whereas. there are certain leaders
who are seeking the unquestioning
support Of certain classes Of the peo-
pie. and
whereas.such leaders have sought to
silence such editors by abuse and
appeal to class prejudice, and
j. Whereas. such tactics are foreign to
the spirit Of American public institu-
tons and tend to subvert free gov
eminent. and
Whereas. certain editors have un-
dertaken through the columns of
their papers. to discuss these aues-
tions and point out who and what
those leaders are in order that the
public. might decide intelligentlv with
that they may not follow such lead
ership blindly. and
Whereas. the Kenmare Journal
having refused to advertise this de-
bate, which advertisement was offer
ed by the committee having this de-
bate in charge, although the petition
signed by twenty farmers containing
the names OF several league members
was shown. to its editor. and payment
offered tor such advertising: and
Whereas. Elmer E. Jones. manager
Of the local Townley store, caused to
be sent over all lines q general tele-
phone call last Saturday night, with
out the knowledge or consent OF the
committee Of farmers having that
meeting in charge. announcing that
this debate as called of, thereby at
tempting to keep the farmers from
attending this meeting. and
Whereas, 1t has been conclusively
shown.by James s.. Milloy, the speak
er before this meeting, that the Con-
6umers United Stores company was
not organized In the interest Of the
farmers as purported to be by such
leaders. and i
whereas, chas. e. Jordan, in re-
puatating Mr.. Brinton's assertion at
Crosby that he, Was discharged by
the Consumers United Stores ON
.pany, further. convinced vi that the
scheme - not In the best interests of
the farmers, n
Whereas. It has been proven by the
Independent Press land the shove
benehcial to the farmers, that II
will not lower the prices OF the com
modities that the farmer has to buy,
and l93fs +vAse % 81
-Whereaa. the league store plan will
have astendencys,tos put all merchAn-
digs on .AjSsstStctly cash basis. thereby
,deprtyfng all the needy farMerR.of
this community Of the credit accom-
IELsHEA