Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1919-06-25

opened Tuesday morning with full
100 in attendance, who came as dele
gates from various branches Of the
State. The meeting was held in the
Council rooms Of the City building.
The regular business was transacted.
Report Of the Farmers Unions by F.
s. Adams, President
During the past two years, certain
lines Of business that the Unions
have been interested in have been
somewhat curtailed on account Of the
conditions brought on by the war,
especially along the following lines
of business: Fertilizers, insecticides.
fungicides, paints, and oils. and the
sugar trade. At the beginning of
this calendar year. the Farmers
Unions of Maine took over tht stock
Of Austin & Haines in the Farmers
Union Grain & Supply Company, so
at the present time the Union owns
the controlling interest in this COM
pany, and hope that before the end
Of this year all the stock in this
company will be owned by the unions.
It seems to be the opportune time for
the Locals. that have no stock, to
come in. and help make this the most
successful Farmers Organization in
this part of the country. In order
to reduce expenses, 1t was thought
best by the board of directors Of
the Farmers Union. January LIST. to
unite the two offices at Waterville
under one management with E. E.
Austin as manager and a marketing
committee consisting of F. A. Pot
ter, C. c. Clements and F. S. Adams.
As you will learn by the report of
the manager, the business has great
ly improved during the past six
months. Since the armistice was de-
clared, certain war restrictions have
been removed that has greatly help
ed the business of the Union. When
I was elected president last year, dur
ing my visit to the Locals, / became
convinced that we should never get
the full measure of success until we
had a man in the field to do certain
lines of work that was impossible
stores in this country. like the A. &
p. Woolworth. and others, this work
is done by what is known as dis
trict manager. working in co-opera-
ton with a local manager. by max
ing inspections or the successful
stores noticing what methods are re-
sponsible for their success, and their
methods, with his own recommended
ton, he passes along to the less sue
cessful stores to help establish bet
ter system of business. alos a better
method of bookkeeping. and if nee
essary go over the books Of the To-
Gals so as to find out their financial
standing and in some cases make
canvass for new members. and to as
sist the locals in every way possible;
also by the use Of the missionaries
to obtain information from the To-
Gals SO that the Office Of the Farmers
Union and the Department Of Agri-
culture. can have on file all the time.
a brief detailed statement of the f.
nancial and business methods of the
Unions. AS some Of YOU know. DUR
ing the past month c. NJ. White from
the Department of Agriculture. has
been visiting the locals with this end
In view. We ask the officers and
managers Of all locals to give him,
their hearty support and co-opera-
ton. and you will find that he is
ready to give you all the assistance
possible. The first Of the year. until
after the armistice was declared, our
organization work was at a stand
still. During the past few months
four new locals have been organized
of which our manager will give de-
tailed statement in his report. OF
course, all Of the locals are not sue
cessful. We have some IS that are
running stores and we'll established
in business. Quite a number that
are buying grain, occasionally de-
pending on car delivery and some
that are dormant, in fact. there are
some localities where Unions should
conditions are such that it is prac-
tically impossible for them to be sue
cessful. Others have failed because
their members went at the thing
half hearted, looking for a failure
and success never comes under those
conditions. It is no use for group
Of farmers to think Of going into
business through a Farmers Union,
unless they intend to support it to
the best Of their ability. We have
demonstrated one thing through our
Farmers Unions. that if this question
Of cooperation in buying and mar
keting is to be successful it must |
be controlled and operated by the
farmers themselves and this policy |
will develop leadership among the |
farmers.
AS to the future. would recon- |
mend that some definite action be |
taken in relation to the marketing |
Of farm crops. For this purpose you |
will notice. that an article is includ- !
ed in the order Of business. also some |
additions to the bylaws which seem !
to be necessary II we are going into |
marketing Of farm produce. 1 also |
think the time has come when We |
should liquidate one Of the corpora
tons that we are now supporting. |
either the Farmers Union or the |
Farmers Union Grain & Supply Co. |
This will come up under the order |
Of business during the day. Looking |
to the future we should profit by |!
some Of our mistakes in the past I |
would like to call your attention to |
some Of these.
LIST. Finances. I am firmly con.
WINGED that no Farmers Union |
should ever start into business unless
the members have enough confidence |
in it to take from $50 to 500 worth Of |
business they will do through 1t.
End. Loyalty on the part of the
members. The stronger we get. the