Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1919-06-25
FARMERS union OF Maine OPENS
CONVENTION IN WATERv|lLE

sell to the Unions. The province OF
the Central in my opinion ia to make
contracts with manufacturers ana
biz jobbing houses for supplies Tor
the farmers At the lowest possible
wholesale price for cash. quality
consider ed. Under this policy 1t Is
absolutely necessary for the men,
bers to anticipate their wants. This
is especially true Of commodities that
are used only once o year like SEEDS
fertilizer, etc. The members notify
their local manager what they will
want and the local manager passes 1t
along to the central, SO that all the
orders can be assembled and the
central be in q position to buy IN
large quantities and take advantage
ct the market by buying at the right
time. I believe the time has. come
when we should standardize as much
as possible. would like to see
Farmers Union moving machine
and SO on. with all kinds of farm
machinery, the same with fertilizer
and seeds. Quite large saving
could be made under this policy Of
standardizing. This is absolutely i'm
poEtant in selling farm produce.
standardize on quality-establish a
brand, Produce sold on inspection Is
not satisfactory to either produce or
consumer. The method Of successful
marketing. is to establish a prsnd.
advertise ii In the market, and as
sure the consumer a continuous sup
ply during the season. At the meet
ing Of the different Farmers organ
izations held In Augusta Nav Is.
steps were taken to form a feaera-
ton Of all the different farmers or
CARNATIONS. for several purposes,
namely. for marketing certain farm
crops, to devise the machinery for a
paper to be run in the interest Of the
farmers organizations, also so that
the farmers Of Maine can have some
organization to act for them on Geo.
nomic and political questions a<.ct-
ing their interest
In conclusion I want to congratu-
late the farmers Of Maine on the pro-
gress that Is being made through or
ganized/ efforts, demonstrated with
1S5 local milk producers associations
with a membership of some 5000: 1877
Farmers UnionA with about the
same membership: Is we'll establish
ed Fruit Growers Associations that
have been very successful in market
ing the fruit for its memoers:, ana
the rapid progress the sweet corn
growers have made in perfecting
their organization since April and
which now wiz socn he completed.
We no longer have to go to the West
for examples Of successful co-opera-
tive farmers organizations. Instead
OF saying look at California fruit
growers" or the vegetable growers
Of the eastern shore" we can now
say with commendab,e pride. Zee
what the farmers Of Maine are do
ing"
The extension Of business was ex.
planned In detail in the report of A..
w. stetson. manager Of the Union,
his report showing that the estimat.
ed total gross business of the locals
IN Maine was $685. 43.S4, exclusive
OF groceries. meat products and grain.
purchased outside. No figures were
available on potato shipments. hay.
pntter and eggs. The report further
stated that if all Unions. had reported
tneir gross sales the total would
nave been we'll over $5,00o,0co.
Inc inventory Of stock on hand m
January I showed the amount NJ "a
2oS.l7, while the inventory or .I,,na
10 showed a reduction Of this stool
20 s'oo''I. The greater part Of the old
accounts due the Farmers Union Of
MAINE have been cleaned I'D and it
Is hoped to conclude in cleaning IN
the balance before next January
Inc business between the Centra,
Union and the local unions has hee,,
conducted by. the Farmers Union
Grain & Supply Co. since the ar.+
OF January under the supervision Of
managing committee CONSISTING ~
the president. F. s. Adams: the treas-
orer, c. G. Clements, and r. A. po,-
Ger OF the executive board. IIndsr
."is arrangement the entire business
mas oeen more closely centralized un-
oer one head and the MANAGEMENT
mas been able to keep in closer touch
with the problems and various need.
OF the locals
IN January !. q call was made IN
the Unions to pay in their subscr,nN
ions Tor stock in the Farmers I'm.
ION Grain & Supply Co. to retir. ~.
STOCK held up to that time bv the
Co. and while ~. a.
tire amount subscribed has not. he's,
received. ret enough has been naid
IN to retire this stock and give 70 49,
Unions the control of the entire 49, e
at Waterv:lle. p'~A'
MI. Stetson also explained the d.
taHs OF the grocery business. satin.
tnat the Unions obtained these goods
at the same prices thu. any dealer IN
inc State buys for. the Centre, ~
nee receiving its commission 49,.
the wholesalers. The same n,an ="
oeing worked with hardware tohh..s
and in other lines. S
II has been the policy of tho al.
mlnlstration this year to rive 81 ~.
ara possible to the Unions aIraad,,
formed rather than to devote nv" =.
Sen rs energy to the forming of new
onlons. Four Unions have been
lorINd. however. at Etna, Levant
Earmel and Calais. The Etna TInior
90. INTO business at once and hourht
"ut store and the former owne- e.
.nerr present manager. Thew ami.
scrloed good-sized amount ~ go.
10 nnance themselves ana sr. 49,
= successful business from, the start
Inc other Unions are all xettir1
ready Tor places Of busires. 49," LIS
'n9y VIII open in the near future
Inc morning session was c,os.s
se,,. 'o ana a fine luncheon wa.