The Connecticut labor press., 1920-03-13
MEET SUNDAY TO PLAN
 COOPERATIVE STORES
Trades Council Committee Gets Assurance of Assistance From Producers and Others Who Are Tired of Being "The Goat" Farmers Even Want to Come in as Shareholders.

A meeting of the general committee representing all Organized Labor bodies in New Haven, appointed by President Ornburn of the Trades Council to con- slider and make plans for the establish ment of Co-Operative Stores Society in this city, will be held at Trades Coun- cil hall tomorrow (Sunday) afternoon at 2:30 o'clock. At the meeting 1t Is figured that reports will be ready from the various locals, all of which have now had time to tentatively consider the sub- ject, and that a detailed plan for or ganization and scope can be strted.
 Aside from the interest created III Labor circles by the cooperative stores plan much further interest has been started elsewhere, so much in fact that farmer producers from sections sur rounding New Haven, have already taken up the project and are seeking opportunity to act i'll conjunction with the cooperative plan. These farmers point out that they are tired of being ''eipped" by the middleman i'll the mar kets, which middleman then turns about and gives the general public another "gipping" and then blatantly planes ii onto the producer. They now propose to deal direct with the cooperative stores, when established, take legiti- mate profit, place their products imme- diately before the consumer at the one profit and help out the cost of living to themselves and the public.
 Several such farmers have already approached President Ornburn and other members of the committee and asked to bettaken III on the plan, some even ven turing to go in for shareholding if such shareholding is possible. If, as the plan is being worked out in other places, the stores deal in general merchandise, these farmers seesplainly that they can not only benefit themselves and the con- sumner by selling their goods there but can also do their own trading in things they too must have, at an advantage over buying in other stores.
 Reports secured by the committee members from other cooperative stores conducted by union organizations show that everywhere the stores are making a big success. Not only are the workers enabled to buy practically all the neces- sites of living at prices much below the open market prices but at the end of each quarter they are turned back ad- ditiona1 savings in the form of d1v1- dends With the thousands of organ ized workers in New Haven, similar success could be had here. t- as-+ss'-~~@s.s
 To make this assured, however, it will be necessary to have the unqualified en- dorsement and support of every local union and every organized worker in the district. To make sure of this sup port the committee that will plan the stores. was made to include a repre- sentative of every union affiliated with the Trades Council. Each organization will therefore have a say as to the final organization, selection of manage ment and other details surrounding the operation of the stores. It is therefore requested by President Ornburn that every member of the committee be present at the meeting tomorrow and take active part in the discussion of the plans.