Greenbelt cooperator. (Greenbelt, Md.) 1937-1954, 1940-10-17
OCTOBER II, 1870
VOLUME 5, NO. II


Merle Thorpe, National Chamber of Commerce spokes-
man, doesn't like We have known this for long
time, but just to dispel any understanding MA
tions Business" (Thorpe is tory published anoth
er blast at Greenbelt In its October issue.
This article was written by Ed Thornehill. A few
of the residents here still recall Thornehill the
who for Town Council and was badly beaten
as the man who aspired to manage the cooperative
stores---in vain, as the who "resigned" his job
with Farm Security Admin stration. His article is
the typical sour grapes one would expect.
Differing from previous slaps at Greenbelt only
In It's length, this article is masterpiece of half
truths and distorted facts. Two items selected ct
random should be sufficient to prejudice whatever
case the house organ of the National Chamber of
MERGE seeks to prove.
As before in this magazine the wri ter Jumps toge-
Their the cost of all government in the Green
belt area, the cost of all Streets roads and walks
business buildings, schools parks, Fairgrounds the
water, sewage, and electric systems. Then he di-
vides this by $50 families achieves the fantas-
tic figure of $40, 900 the building cost of each
dwelling unit. This figure he compares wi tn housing
costs in other residential show how exper-
sive Greenbelt is and how wasan the Government is
But his comparative cost figure for these houses
outside of Greenbelt only the actual house
struction, and of the items he
It's an old trick and that fails to perturb US
any more.
Another example of this ARTICLES style is the
statement, "Uncle Sam provided the $4,000 worth of
instruments for Greenbelt's band." AS we parents
who are paying each month for these instruments al
ready know, they were used and damaged instruments
viii had been completely discarded by the Army and
the Navy bands and lying in Philadehhia ware
house. At total expense of 1902 to the Govern
nent they were hauled down here. The total cost of
putting them into condi ton for being paid by
the parents of the youngsters using them.
There would be little point in taking the time
for answering the remainder of the article.
he1ters do not read "Nation's Rsiness", and the
businessmen who subscribe to the National Chamber of
Commerce do not read the Cooperator. Moreover
readers of "Iations Business" have already made up
their minds to hate Greenbelt. Ed Thornehillis
ticle has done damage there. And Greenbelte
already distrust the National Chamber of
this editorial have Ii tile effect here.
1t is we'll to know, though, Who is Attacking
and why, and to understand the weapons used.
joice that Merle Thorpe's cohorts, though powerful
few. He and he alone has. insti gated every
misrepresenting article about town that have
read. 1t is phobia wi tn him, and he is incurable.
In only measure do agree--that Greenbel-
ters favored few. Thorpe has quoted one of
our own editorials to say this. But to DIFF
ferent conclusions. Thorpe, feeling that II Cow
erment subsidy should be for the of
industry, says that there should be is.
We who feel that the and and children of
America constitute this nations greatest treasure
say there must be thousand Greenbelts---an we
shall never rest so long America has inadequate
housing for third of its people.
-----------