The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1918-01-19
TOWNLEY OPENS
DRIVE TO PUT
The RETAILERS
OUT OF BUSINESS
Far Reaching and Gigantic
Scheme Organized Under
Nonpartisan League
USING POLITICAL
POWER IN FIGHT
Collecting Gigantic Sum for
Educational and Prop
uganda Purposes"
WHOLE STATE TO
BE UNDER THE BAN
No Compromise With Pres
ent Institutions, Word of
the State Manager
WHOLE STATE TO
BE UNDER THE BAN

The organization of a gigantic
chain OF retail stores. owned and
controlled by few OF the National
: Nonpartisan league leaders, is re-
vealed in reports that ara simmering
into Fargo from various sections of
North Dakota. where corps of work
ers are engaged In field work for the
Consumers United stores corpora
ton.
The development Of the plan, Ii is
frankly admitted by many of the
field workers and others identified
with the Nonpartisan league, means
the comDIete destruction OF the pres
lent distribution system in North Da-
'lCota. The hackers Of the store aim
to place stores in every county in
North Dakota: they will establish
from two to six 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 privilege of trading at
these stores.
The scope of activity outlined for
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 fact,
everything that is required by the
average farmer.
Each organizer carries certificate
accrediting him as a solicitor for the
company, the certificate being signed
by A. G. ToWnley.
Ma. Townley personally authorizes
the solicitors to take subscriptions
and collect funds for the Consumers
Unitad Stores company, organized
under the auspices of the National
iNOnpartisan league"
Generally understood in uniformed
circles as a movement for co-opera-
tive stores, investigation Of the af-
fairs Of the Consumers United
Stores corporation, and its propa-
rganda efforts as outlined in the
agreement made by the farmers, to
which the company is not itself a
party except indirectly, reveals the
store movement 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
lNonpartisan league employees, H. /.
Elliott, OF Fargo, state manager OF
the leagues Norbert O'Leary, a stem
ographer employed in the ST Paul
once Of the league. and Charles
Heck. a field organizer for the league. |
MIR. Elliott is a Socialist who former
w resided in Minot
Mr.. Elliott, when seen by a repre-
sentative Of The Forum at his offices /
in the Pioneer block in Fargo this /
morning, refused to tell whether or /
not A @. ToWnley, the Socialist /
genius who has organized the Non
partisan league, and who Is Quitting i
All store organizers with letters per
sonally endorsing" the store move
ment as a means of bringing PRO
ducers and consumers" closer togeth-
er, lis q stockho1der.
This interview Is closed, said /
mr.. Elliott to The Forum representa-
tive when asked: Is Mr.. TownIey a
stakeholder in the company The
question had been asked before, Mr..
Elliott answering that "Mr. Townley
ts not necessarily q 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-worlFers in the organiza-
AA0A4 @A @AAG AGlAAAAAN 0& a. N0AAAE unit
They are being charged for the
privilege Of purchasing goods and
merchandise at the stores, and the
rate is 800 for each member
No store Is founded with a lesser
than 200. while the aver
age membership list Is around 800,
according TO the information SO far
available. Mr. Elliott told the For
lm this morning that about 30 stores
were already organized or i'm process
Of organization, and that stores al
ready are in operation in Minot, Ken
mare and Devils Lake
The agreement signed by the
farmers, appearing on page 2, sets {
forth very clearly how the company
proposes TO operate.
On the basis or that agreeme 1r,
which, Il Is understood, Is not sign
pa by the company nor any Of its (,
representatives, but which the farm
sra are required % sign, q purchaser
1f a certificate pays el09 ca the COM
aanws and it ia further provided that
@ nsga li