Deming graphic. (Deming, N.M.) 1903-1948, 1920-10-05
GRAPHIC EDITOR MISSES MARK
Editor Of the Dcming Graphic.
DemiEg. New Mexico,

Editor Of the Deming Graphic.
DemlEg. New Mexico,
Dear Sir:
The editorial IN the Deming Graphic
Of last week. entitled "SOcinlistic Ac-
tivity In Deming." is an unjust attack
ON Mr.. Il. q. +. Ames, president Of the
Pacific Cooperative League, and "a
wilful attempt to discredit the CO.
operative movement in Luna county.
Knowing that yolI have always been
sport In giving space to opposing
views and interpretations. thank you
for the space that the following com
ments. inspired by your editorial. may
require
In the first place. how can even so
brilliant writer as the Graphic edi-
tor intelligently review u lecture that
he has neither heard nor read?
Mr.. Ames entire lecture was op the
subject Of "CO-Opeation," which purely
and simply an economic movement,
having no connection whatever with
political creeds or parties. II appears
10 be popular pastime these days TO
brand everyone who advances an idea
| ON the present order of things n social
list, b0lshevist, or sympathizer with
the Russian Soviet government. But
the facts concernig the relations OF
the co-operators of Russia TO the So
Wet government are as follows:
! Cooperation had made progress IN
Russia long before the war, although
hindered and suppressed by the czarist
government. Later when the revolu-
tion came, the cooperative movement
had an opportunity to advance. and
was encouraged by Kerensky. When
the Soviets, who belong to the trad
ing classes. came into power their un-
democratic methods were bitterly OPP
posed by the co-operators, who belong
to the peasant and producing classes.
However, the Soyiets had the arms
aud the power and so took possession
Of the entire cooperative business
against the will of the cO-0perntors.
You rightly condemn the Soviet meth
OdS of misusing power In Russia. Why
hot do likewise In copdemning them IN
all countries?
Mr.. Ames' reference 10 the present
political policies Of Russia was not
made by way of approval, ON the con-
tray, it was made by way Of warning.
His exact comment ON the situation
was, 1--WE do not want that kind Of
Il revolution in the United States"
He then proceeded to set forth how the
cooperative movement Is proving to he
a practical and peaceful method by
which the consumer may protect him-
self against the flagrant ravages or
the profiteer and his immoral and lille
gal system.
Mr.. Ames stated that investigation
shows that the fault does not lie with
the retail merchant nor with the whole
safer. but much farther back with the
hig business interests which by means
of their ill-gotten millions have gain
ed control of the distributor of our
daily necessities and have made tne
need Of the common people means
Of speculation for their own profits.
Now. If the editor Of the Graphic
wishes to align himself on the side of
the profitteer. whose hideousness is be-
ing exposed by the press the country
over, against those who are seeking
some way out, that Is his funeral The
people of Deming are not 50 mentally
deficient as tO he influenced by edi-
toral befuddling Of the issues.
The cooperative movement Is direct
ed against diabolical system which
in less than three years has produced
IN the United States $4,000 million
aires. and at the same time has placed
thousands of helpless children into n
condition of starvation. These are facts,
my dear Mr. Editor, not theories, and
are backed by government statistics.
Mr.. AmeS has one unanswerahle nrgu-
ment to support his theory of cO-opera-
tiOn. 1T WORKS. And best of all. IL
works to the mutual benefit of the peo-
ule connected with the movement.
Those who wish to satisfy themselves
on that score need go no farther than
III Paso, Albuquerque, Gallup Tucum-
carl. or Tucson. AriZ.
The Cooperative Exchange In Dem
ing has but one answer 10 make 10
your onslaught 1T ALSO WORKS.
And Il has already accomplished to n
considerable extent that for which il
was planned. That although only three
months old. It has proven itself Of
amazing benefit to the people Of the
county Is matter Of record, which
the editor Is invited to look into at his
leisure The directors OF the Exchange
may he socialists and bolshevists, they
may not he men of proper balance and
responsibility. as the editor Of the
Graphic so graciOusly intimates-BUT
they have pOrven themselves compe-
tent to steer an unpopular enterprise
through its initial stages under the
most adverse circumstances and
against the most malicious misrepre-
Vcntati0ns. They have by their un-
selfish contribution Of time and energy
put the business ON truly co-opera-
tive basis and are JUST NOW ready
10 do business.
Veru truH yours.
A. G. HEYMAN.