Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1918-01-22

GRAND FoRE
number. such . .. ana ~ the constant addition % he
azas number. We start With . number. such - s. ana
BY the constant addition of the number 3. We obtain sue
cesstvely >. ~. ~. IL and 20 on. There i another sys-
tenn OF progression in which We increase the original
number by multiplying it constantly by theosame multi
pie. Under that system We reach large quantities much
naore rapidly. BY taking the number s and using ) AZ
the multiple We obtain IS. 81. is2. and 80 on.< There are
many variations in these systems.
Just what system has been used in the preparation
Of plans to reach large figures in the handling Of the
funds OF the league we do notknor,, but it is evident that
1t has more kick in it than either Of the standard sys-
TENS commonly used by matthew aticiaps. Perhaps some
thing approaching it may be found in the practice of
certain OF the gentry who in the wide-open days Of the
past followed the small cireu.es. equipped with outfits
OF marked eards. loaded dice, walnut shells. and little
round balls made Of glue ana molasses. The unsophisti-
Gated investigator might be induced to invest a dime IN
the interesting and harmless pastime. then a quarter to
protect the profits which his dime had all but won, then
a dollar to protect his other Investments, and so on until
the limit Of his funds was reached, when any one Of a.
number Of devices would be used to break up the game.
just now the feature Of ths work to which the league
members are invited to subscribe their money is the or
gsn:zation Of the chain Of stores which is incorporated
under the name Of the consumers' United Stores. It is
interesting TO note the steps by which this stage OF the
proceedings has been reached. First there was the col
lection Of the insignificant membership fee OF Sc. BY
many people that was regarded as a joke. : Anybody
could afford to throw in six dollars just to see what
would happen, and a good many people did so. Then the
fee was advanced to 50, as things did not move quite as
fast under the old scale. Then the price was boosted 70
SIG in a lump for two years. There the fee stands now.
but the progression did not stop Their.
There we're needed automobiles for the use Of or
sanizArs. and well-to-do individuals were invited. to aid n
the purchase Of these machines. Many Of them did 50.
Some of the notes given for this purpose have been paid
by the farmer makers. Most Of them will be paid. The
management IL seeing to that.
Then there was. needed a great fiscal agency by
means Of which to handle the quantities of farmers pa
per that was coming in. and the farmer who had given a
note for SIS membership dues was invited to chip in $1oe
or so for stock in a million dollar corporation which
would handle his SIS note and keep it out Of the hands
Of the money sharks. Again lots of the farmers came
across. It was not pleasant to see the original investment
wasten.
The league needed newspapers, or its managers said
SO, and again there was afforded opportunity for mem
bers to, get in on the ground floor and subscribe money
for newspaper stock. Again came the response. The
banking work Of the organization Is also under way. and
there 10 a chance for members to buy some very attract
ive-looking bank stock with the understanding more or
ICES vaguely holc1Led th4s tne borrowing Of money at
low rates Of interest will hereafter be made a simple and
painless process.
Whatever multiple has been used in this remarkable
progression has now reached the United Stores scheme,
which. IL it works Is its projectors hope, will accomplish
some truly remarkable results. The details of the plan
are given quite fully elsewhere. A few of them may be
reviewed.
No store in this group may be started with less than
zoo memberships and each membership costs the aoider
500. cash or note. OF that sum, 90 per cent of the first
$4,000 is to be devoted to the store business. The other
10 per cent and all sums received in excess OF $40, 900
may be used for educational work in preaching the doc
trinss Of democracy. That means that it may be used
for any purpose approved by Mr.. Townley or those who
act for him. There are no strings on it.. In other words.
not less than $2o. 900 is to be collected for each separate
store, and Of this sum 81 900 is to be used for political
purposes or any other that the directors may fancy. The
Kenmare store has 900 members, therefore there is avail
able from the amounts subscribed by the farmers Of that
territory $4,000 to be spent in providing jobs for asen.s,
hand in such other ways not connected with the store as
may be deemed advisable by the managers. Several Of
these stores have been organized in the western part Of
the state with subscriptions a~pproximatinE those at Ken
mare. which is going some for a territory where Mr..
iTownley declared the farmers are so poor that they could
not raise money enough in whole counties to pay league
dues.
4 This is BY far the most ambitious scheme that has
come to the front in connection with the leasue. 1t will
be highly interesting to note what will be the next step
taken in the plans which have been, formulatedNto sepa-
rate the farmer from his money, and which have worked
with signal success up to the present time.
PROMPT UNLOADING.
The railway business is full Of details which are on.
tirely outside the experience Of the average man. Rail-
reading is a highly technical subject, and it is one ID