Ladysmith news-budget. [volume] (Ladysmith, Rusk County, Wis.) 1907-1927, 1922-01-20
FARMERS STORE
Is DISCUSSED
Large Attendance At Meeting at
Chamber Of Commerce
Rooms
STRONG SENTIMENT
FAVORS DISSOLVING
Myron Hoffman Resigns As President
Succeeded by e. e. Cries
hammer

4 large number Of representative
farmers gathered at the Chamber of
Commerce rooms Tuesday to discuss
their problems in regard to the pro-
posed cooperative store
Myron Hoffman opened the meeting
at II o'clock and County Agent Leo
Schoepf gave a talk on tuberculosis
tests, clover seed and cooperation.
The meeting was then adjourned un-
til after dinner, when with much eff
fort a quorum of 81 members, repre-
senting fifty per cent of the members,
was called together for business and
discussions. The discussions were in
teresting Myr0n Hoffman stated that
the officers had taken time to get to-
gether several times to try and put the
deal across for the VOlkman Bros.
tween Volkman Bros and Paine and
Krcma. He told OF Judge ID. w. Ma
loney calling on each subscriber per-
sonally, trying to raise money enough
to put the deal across. Less than
$1,000 was rai1cl1.
The agreement between Volkman
Bros. and Paine and Krcma was said
to be that the .Volkmans were to take
cash and notes for their stock and
store. Fifteen hundred dollars and Il
great number of notes were collected
and offered Vollman Bros
This was declined and the offer was
drawn up and signed by the directors
and a refusal to accept same was
typed below and signed by Volkman
Bros
fnsinuatiCns Resented
While the bylaws allowed the MEM
bers $500 each for every meeting and
xpports were circulated that the di
l@ctors were calling meetings, and
even secret meetings, in order to draw
their pay Mr. Hoffman said that they
had received no pay and would not
consider accepting any. Other reports
that Mr. Hoffman had been trying to
buy another building was explained
satisfactorily when Mr.. Hoffman stated
that others had tried to sell him
building. Mr. Hoffman resented these
inSinuations and reports. Mr., Hoff-
man stated that he thought it was use
less to start a farmers store with less
than $1,000 cash and a bunch of notes
with at least part of them worthless,
as a means of raising money. They
would have to have very efficient
manager to run the store and such men
are scarce. There would also be some
bad debts in any business. He said
he was willing to put more money into
it to see the thing go through right,
However he would not be railroaded
into any proposition. Co to 1T, men,
he declared, IF you think YOU can
make it. in business with $4,000 car
. rying charges per year" he would stay
with them.
He said bankers had told him that
they were behind cooperation and
would be willing to back the PROPOSE
tion if they could, but with the small
foundation to start with in these times,
thev couldn't see their way to do II
and refused to take the notes, for the
members own good as well as their
own safety.
These notes were to be paid from the
profits Of the business, many members
understood and claim they were led
to believe.
Hoffman Resigns
In concluding, Mr.. Hoffman sald
that jnasmuch as Volkman Bros. had
refused to take all they had to offer,
that they were at the end OF their
rope. He then rendered his reslgna-
ton as president and member of the
board.
p. W. Maloney then spoke ON Co
Operation." Cooperation is always up
against this kind of propaganda, ne
said. He had been asked about the
lawsuit against the farmers store com
nauv. There is and has been no law
sniff he stated. He then spoke OF the
orange growers of the west and the
grain growers and how they have built
up one line.
The merchant thinks it is all right
for the farmers to own creamery
The stock buyer would have the farm
ers own a store, and the bankers don't
want the farmers to own bank, and
SO on. Cooperate III any other busl-
ness except ours, seems to be the way
they look at it, he declared.
Business men understand each other,
while farmers don't. Mr.. Maloney then
stated that one business man told him
the night before that he could get all
the money he needed from the banks.
In the next statement he said that
J he needed money as he had money
Continued on page IL.