The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1918-03-20
CONDEMN THE STORE PLAN
CONTINUED from page u

and is an auxiliary corporation, there
by making it public or semi-public
institution, and
can public or semt-public institu-
tions 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 our
state, and
whereas. there are certain lead
ers who are seeking the unquestion-
ing support OF certain classes Of the
people, and
whereas, such leaders have sought
to silence such editors by abuse and
appeal to class prejudice, and
whereas. such tactics are foreign
to the spirit of American public
institutions and tend to subvert free
government. and
whereas, certain editors have un-
dertalSen through the columns OF
their papers, to discuss these ques-
tions and point out who and what
those leaders are, in order that the
public might decide intelligently with
full knowledge of the questions, so
that they may not follow such leader
ship blindly, and
The "Kspt Press"
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 for such advertising; and
'sWhereas, Elmer e. Jones. man
aRer of the local Townley store
caused to be sent over all lines q
general telephone call last Saturday
night without the knowledge or con-
sent of the committee Of farmers
having that meeting in charge, an
nouncing that this debate was called
off, thereby attempting to keep the
farmers from attending this meeting,
and ..-, -
whereas, it has been conclusively
shown by James s.. b1illoy the speak
er before this meeting, that the Con-
sumers' United Stores company was
not organized in the interest of the
farmers as purported to be by such
leaders. and
Whereas, Charles d. Gordon in re-
pudiating Mr.. Brinton's assertion at
Crosby that he was discharged by the
further convinced us that the scheme
Is not in the best interests of the
farmers, and
whereas, it has BEEN proven by
The Independent Press and the above
speaker that the league store plan
IL not beneficial to the farmers, that
Ii will not lower the prices OF the
commodities that the farmer has to
buy, and
'sWhereas, the league store plan
will have a tendency TO put all mer
chandiss on a strictly cash basis,
thereby deprivinR all the needy farm
ers OF this community Of the credit
accommodation they have heretofore,
enjoyed, and
Whereas, it has been further
proven that this store plan instead
OF benefiting the farmers. Is only
a scheme to enrich the leaders Of the
league, netting them an enormous
sum OF money which according to
their agreement they can do with
absolutely as they please.
Now Therefore. Be 1t Resolved, by
US free and nberty-lovinE American
citizens Of all classes, in open public
meeting assembled in the city Of Ken
mare, on this 18th day OF March,
1918.
Entitled to Both Sides.
First, that we the public, are en-
titled to a fair and open discussion |
Of all questions of public Importance |
and concern:
Second, that editors who seek |
fairly to discuss such questions are /
public benefaotors. and deserve COM
mendation rather than condemnation. Il
Third, we believe that the dis
cussions Of such questions which Il
have appeared in the columns of The /
Kenmare News and Minot Messenger |
have all been founded on facts. and Il
eminently fair and not such as to
deserve abuse.
Fourth. that such leaders whose
schemes will not bear such public
discussion. and who seek to silence
it by such tactics as hereinbefore set
forth are unsafe leaders, and such
leaders have no right to ask the
support Of any class
Of free American citizens.
Fifth, that we condemn the action
Of w. B. Mclaughlin. editor OF The
Kenmare Journal for refusing to
advertise this meeting and for sup
porting this store plan through the
OF his paper.
Sixth, that we condemn the action
Of Elmer e. Jones. the local store
manager for keeping a number Of
away from this meeting by
out a general call over all
local lines. and
Seventh. that we condemn the ac-
ton Of J. w. Brinton and j. III.
Sinclair for not appearing and taking
part in this debate as requested to.
Eighth, that we condemn the store
plan as a graft and ''get-rich quick
scheme" which should have neither
the moral nor financial support Of the
farmers of this state.
Ninth, that we recommend that
those farmers who have given notes
or cash make immediate demand for
the return of same. according to q
letter written to c. T.. Gordon by ].
w. Brinton which was published In
The Kenmare News. March z, for the
reason that the scheme has been mis-
and for the further rea-
sOn that the contributors will never
get value received for such contribu-
Lions"