The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1921-02-08

ii -Nu'D'f
Annual MeetingASuccess Under lS2o
Conditions a Severe Test.
SPRINGFIELD, Mass, Feb. S-De-
termination to carry out a progressive
program of constructive effort during the
present period of reimbursement and con-
fidence in their ability to do 50 success
fully. was the keynote of the third an
nual meeting of the Eastern States Ag-
ricultural and Industrial league which
took place in the Municipal building,
here yesterday. Important progress III
the accomplishment of the aims and pur-
noses of the Eastern States league has
been made during the past year accord
ing to the annual report which was made
public at the meeting. The work of the
cooperative purchasing and marketing
department of the Eastern States Farm
ers' exchange has been exceedingly sue
cessful and has demonstrated the etil-
cacy of combined purchasing effort. EX-
tensve and significant strides have been
made in the boys and girls work by the
Junior Achievement bureau OF the league
and the work of the Home bureau only
recently organized, has met with entnus-
iastic response and hearty cooperation:
According to the report the volume OF
business handled during the past year by
the Eastern States Farmers eXchahee
aggregated $1.612O09.0O as compared
with 1861. 224.00 in 1919, The tonnage
increase over the previous year was liz
per cent This represents 944 cars OF
grain, feed, fertilizer and farm products.
1t is pointed out that through the dl-
rect and indirect influence of the Eastern
States Farmers exchange n saving of
possibly several million dollars has been
effected for the farmers of the east during
the past two years. Estimating an ay-
erage saving of twenty per cent would
show a saving of SJOO,OOO.O0 to the
farmers on the actual purchases of two and
a half million dollars worth OF supplies dur.
ing the past two years. These actual
savings. however, are very small part
of the total savings effected through the
Influence of the Eastern States Farmers
exchange. Grain and fertilizer dealers
have reduced their prices all along the
linz to meet the competition of the East
ern States Farmers exchange and III
many cases local associations have been
able to buy in carload lots for their
members on better terms through regular
trade channels than through the Farmers
exchange.
The report shows that Massachusetts
led in the volume of purchases while Yer
mont, New Hampshire and CQnncctiGut
show substantial increases over the l9l.
volume. In Connecticut the increase OF
business handled by the Farmers eX-
change was 253 per cent over the pre-
viOuS year. y beginning has been made
in the standardization and marketing of
potatoes The standardization of farm
products is an essential step in cooper
alive marketing and in the creation of u
profit for the farmer and satisfaction for
the consumer. The report summarizes
the years accomplishments and calls at
tentiOn to the unprecedented business
conditions aud cites the ability Of the
70, aud QND1UG
under those circumstances ~ q definite
instance of the perman"ncy Of the Co
operative movement. IT says: Last
years unparalleled conditions COnStitu
ted the most severe test which could have
been applied to the cooperative move
mcnt. The manner in which the farmer
has stood the test is an emphatic answer
to the oft-made question: Is the coop
erative movement among the farmers o.
the East Il temporary activity or Is II
one which has come to stay There
can be no mistake about 1t. The coop
cratiVe movement has come to stay and Il
each year growing, solidifving and rapidly
working toward success.
The work of the Junior Achievement
bureau of the Eastern States league
among BOYS and girls Is at present at
tracing national attention. AccOrdin;
to the report more than six thOUSan'
boys and girls were directly reached 0n'
organized into Junior Achievement clubs
These clubs consist OF teams ana WORKING
groups of boys and girls who make
game of work and who have become inter
eeted in industry. commerce. trade, agri
culture, home-making and craftsmanship
1t is estimated that about twenty thouS
and boys and girls were indircctl
reached through this work.
The organizations which are cooper
atng in this work rank among the high
est in their communities and many q
them are of national Importance aud il
nuence. Among them are such organi5
atonS as the International Rotary clul
the New England Rotary club, the y,
Sociated Industries of Massachusetts
Manufacturers association Of Connect
cut. New Jersey State Teachers assoc
alton. local Rotary clubs. chambers
commerce and numerous womeus organ
iza4ionS.
One of the outstanding features Of Il
work was the organization in Mass;
chuSettS of Il Baby Beef club. Sixtce
baby bccvcS. totaling 9.SG3 pound
were purchased by bows and girls who f
8nd cared for them for five months ~
then placed them on competitive eXhil
ton at the Eastern States expOsiti"
where they were sold at auction. III
gain ~ weight of the hcavcS amoumtt
to 1920 pounds This demonstration
Siuuififant Of thn Ss,ihiIit;n., pf J,,,-,