davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1941-10-16
Strawbridge q Clothier declare

a regular quarterly dividend OF
S150 on prior preference stock
Series A, payable December l &c
stock of record November Is.
Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1941-10-16

Reliable stores Corporation and subsidi-
aries exclusive Of the companys share Of
earnings Of tho Frank Corporation show a
September quarter net profit ~ SAL ,27l
before excess profits TAX against SIZES POS
in the September quarter .of 1910 and
Allh las Tor The june quarter ~ 1871.
Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1941-10-16

MOody's Investors Service de-
clared a regular quarterly dividend
of Is cents on SO participating pre-
ferred, payable November ID 10
stock of record November ].
Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1941-10-16

X. II. Macy n 60. declared a
dividend of SO cents on common
payable December ! 10 stock of
record November z. Same amount
was paid in previous quarters--
Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1941-10-16

cOLoRED-Hieh school student handy.
man OF any other work. Tyler 1905.
Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1941-10-16

clared a dividend Of so cents on
stock. payable Novem-
Der 10 stock of record October
25. Previously paid STA cents
quarterly.
Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1941-10-16
Seaboard Snrety Company de.

clarcd a dividend of so cents, pay
able November ID 10 stock of rec
ord October 81. Same amount
was paid on May Is.
Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1941-10-16

-WAITRFSS- DAYS SundaYs OF. excellent
pay. steady record and references re-
qulred Apply mornings, 1904 West Six
Mile road
Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1941-10-16
YOU CAN SELL BOOKS

OUR MEN ARE MAKING FROM $40 TO
SIPS WEEKLY YOU NEED no EXPERT
FNCE IN THIS FIELD WE PERSON.
ALLY TRAIN YoU AND PUT YOU ~
IMMEDIATE PRODUCTION.
Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1941-10-16

100 EXPERIENCED BOX NAiLERs
Braun Lumber Corp. East Dawson and
Grand Trunk r.
READ Times Want Ads for proht-ues
them for results
Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1941-10-16
Wonted-Male

COOK -houseman- p0rter.careiaker Experi-
enced references honest, dependableg
fcol0redI Temple i-feTi.
The people's voice. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1939-1969, 1941-10-15

crash came, to present its case to the
incoming administration at Washing
ton. The new administration desired
to listen because, not only had agri-
culture become PROSTATE, but Indus
try, Banking and Railroads also. The
militant faction mustered in this crit
ical period was the Outgrowth of the
faith of those pioneers who, back over
the years, fought against overwhelm-
ing odds. They pioneered in this
agricultural fight. Their spirit of de-
termination prevailed.
it was obvious that not only should
producers acquire marketing facilities
and the benefits that go with them,
but go beyond that to bring about
security for the farm family home.
The necessity for this lay in the fact
that the total farm mortgage debt in
1910 was 81 billion dollars, which at
that time represented approximately
1919 of the valuation of all farm lands
and buildings. In 1928, the farm mort
gage Indebtedness reached an all-time
high of 91a billion dollars, represent
ing approximately 209o of the valua-
ton of farm land and buildings.
The people's voice. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1939-1969, 1941-10-15
HOW triple A"
WAS FORMED

Recall the statement made by the
President in 1933-that if the farm
organizations would get together and
agree on program, the administers
ton would be happy to put it into
effect. The farm organizations did
get together and after due delibera-
ton program was devised which
had for its purpose parity income.
The triple A" and the bonus pay
ments derived from the processing tax
resulted. This program was held I'M
constitutional by the supreme court
of the United States by vote of
to 3.
That was most severe blow to
agriculture, but undaunted and undis-
mayed, the leaders of agriculture car
ried on, knowing that ways and means
would be found to maintain payments
to agriculture and thus overcome the
effect of the adverse ruling of the
court. So there was devised a Soil
Conservation Program, calling for
benefit payments together with appro-
priations to take care of the estab-
lished basic commodities; such as
wheat, cotton, etc.
In putting this program into effect
there was much criticism regarding
acreage reduction. For what success
the program has met, critics prefer to
give credit to adversely of weather,
the war and the grasshoppers, rather
than to the program.
The people's voice. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1939-1969, 1941-10-15

JUNGLE LAW FOR
FARMERS

Considering the foregoing state
it will be noted that the opposition
to the plans of the Federal Farm
Board considered it unfair, resented
any aid to agriculture for the acquisi-
ton of facilities or the use of funds
at low interest rates and contended
that the laws of the jungle should
prevail
Furthermore, they contended that in
order to reduce production it would
be necessary to reduce the number
of farmers-which means, in sub
stance, that if agriculture were per-
mitted to produce freely and abund-
antly, prices would finally reach a
point where the survival of the fittest
would prevail.
Since the time those statements
were made, farmers have experienced
25c wheat, &c oats and &c hogs. Thus,
when the present administration took
office, it was necessary to close the
banks throughout the entire country.
At the time much needed help was
extended the railroads, banks, insur-
ance companies and others. 1t was
accepted. 1t helped. Agriculture was
in dire need and methods were de-
vised to extend like aid to agricul- !
Lure.
The people's voice. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1939-1969, 1941-10-15
M. w. THATCHER TO
WASHINGTON

Getting back to the business OF CO.
operative grain marketing, the Farm
ers National Grain Corporation was
moving along and doing for agricul-
ture what today is beginning to be
more and more understood. Mr..
Thatcher had moved to Washington
as fiscal agent for the Farmers Ma
tional Grain Corporation, a position
that afforded him an opportunity to
keep posted on legislation related to
agriculture.
No better man than M. w. Thatcher
could have been chosen for the post.
His entire background from 1915 was
identified with the cooperative move
ment. 1t was in 1915, at the hearing
of the case against the Equity in Far
go, that he proved himself to be the
man for the job. 1t was he who made
the audit showing the Equity to be
solvent. 1t was he who contended
that cash in transit from home Of
flee to branch office was an asset
and that the organization had good
will. Did not the farmers attending
the trial put up bond of approx
mately $4,000 to prove that conten-
ton? The Fargo Forum of Wednes-
day evening, May 10, 1915, prominent
ly displayed on its front page the fol-
lowing.
The people's voice. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1939-1969, 1941-10-15

This organization was made up of
regional organizations covering the
entire United States, and one OF its
largest stockholders-bot in volume
and financial contribution-was the
Farmers Union Terminal Association.
It's leadership, together with the lead
ership of farm organizations through
out the agricultural area, did what any
group striving earnestly to assist the
agricultural industry would do. 1t ac-
cepted the plan and obtained for the
farmers all the benefits it offered in
the face of a tremendous tide OF OPP
position from the fields of Finance,
Transportation, Professors and Deal
ers.
1t is interesting to review some of
the statements made regarding the
efforts of the Federal Farm Board.
Again quoting from one of the 1881
national magazines:
The people's voice. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1939-1969, 1941-10-15
EQUITY BEGAN AT
MOORHEAD

The vicious and ruthless experience
to which this small group of farmers
were subjected, did not serve to dam
pen their ardor. Rather it strength
ened their determination to carry on
because in this same city of Moor
head, in 1908, the Equity Cooperative
Exchange was established as mar
keting branch of the American So
ciety of Equity, and ON February II,
1911, the Equity was incorporated,
with home offices at Fargo, North
Dakota. Like it's predecessors, the
Equity was Immediately subjected to
most vicious attacks by the opposi-
all knockout blow to those groups
of farmers who sought to overcome
the inequalities and injustices of the
marketing system.
You are familiar with the Equity
battle of 1915, when that organization
was charged with insolvency and the
court was asked to appoint receiver.
The case was heard in the city of
Fargo, and finally on August 4, 1916,
a judgment of dismissal was signed
by Judge Chas. A. Pollock. This was
an outstanding victory for the farm
ers. However, the abuse and relent-
less attacks on the organization con-
tinued and caused no end of trouble,
expense and embarrassment. This so
its credit and affected
that it was eventually
forced into an operating receivership
in 1923
The people's voice. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1939-1969, 1941-10-15
THE FARGO FORUM SAID:

"That there are some farmers in
the state of North Dakota who still
believe in the officials of the Equity
Cooperative Exchange, and are will
ing to come to their support with
their hard-earned money, is made
evident by the following bond,
which is signed by III farmers by
which they agree to contribute sums
ranging from 800 to $4,000 each
and by which $4,000 has been Sc
cured to back up the finances of
the institution that is now being
probed by the state officers in the
district court here A large part
was subscribed last night after
meeting at Equity Hall.
These bonds were brought into
the courtroom this morning by
George S. LOTUS, sales manager of
the Equity Cooperative Exchange,
and deposited on the press table
for the perusal of the representa-
tives of the press attending the
hearing"
1t was natural that Thatcher, with
ais close association with the grass
'oots and his understanding of the OBJ
'tacles that retarded the advancement
If cooperative marketing, should
prove himself a most able and worthy
for the cause of agricul-
tire in his stay at Washington, D. c..
The people's voice. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1939-1969, 1941-10-15
F. u. GIVES PROTEIN
PREMIUM

Among many things accomplished
by the Farmers Union Terminal Asso-
citation was one which is outstanding.
It has been reiterated by the oppos-
ing interests that investment in CO.
operative marketing was folly and
disastrous. Farmers have been adj
vised to beware of any further invest
ments of such character.
Now, the investments which farm
ers have made in cooperative mar
keting have prvoed most valuable and
in order to justify this statement, if
that be necessary, just one of many
instances is cited:
For years the farmers in the north
west had been marketing Spring
Wheat with very desirable protein
content Throughout the years they
never did receive any return for this
valuable ingredient until the year
1928, when the Farmers Union took
up the fight and successfully procured
premiums for protein. 1t was bitterly
assailed by its opponents because 1t
was bringing into being a factor in
grain marketing that would "incon-
venience" the handlers of the COM
modify.
How did we get this premium for
protein? BY soliciting direct ship
ments which aggregated some eight
million bushels of wheat and return
ing to the farmer the full market
value of the sale of his product, which
reflected a value to the producer far
in excess of his local country price.
Since then, over the years, farmers
have received premiums for protein.
is said about this any more.
1t is just taken for granted. When
this benefit is taken into considera-
ton it will be found that it runs into
millions of dollars, that heretofore the
producers never received. This in
crease in returns to the producer has
him far and beyond his
contribution to cooperative
The people's voice. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1939-1969, 1941-10-15
CROP INSURANCE
is A HELP

| We have Federal Crop Insurance
today, possibly not as perfect is it
might be, but reality nevertheless.
Something to keep and to be i'm
proved.
Does that piece of legislation have
any relationship to any experiences in
the past? Recall the drouth period of
1881, with its devastation so severely
felt in the northwest and southwest
areas. In this section, where much
criticism had been leveled at the CO.
operatives for not paying out cash
patronage dividends, the Terminal
Association during the severe drouth
Of 1881 ground some hundred thou
sand bushels of wheat into flour, dis
trlbuted it free to the farmers who
were in dire need of it, and shipped
hundreds of carloads of clothing and
vegetables of all varieties into the
drouth area and paid the freight and
all other expenses incident thereto.
That was substantial patronage div
idend right where it counted. The ex-
periences of that period and the Sc
we're suffering of farm families can be
definitely linked up with the legisla-
ton which brought about Federal
Crop Insurance.
The philosophy of this type of leg
Islation is that society as a whole can
better share the shock of agricultural
diversity beyond its control, than to
nave agriculture without income.
The people's voice. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1939-1969, 1941-10-15
F. u. TERMINAL
CARRIES ON

The marketing of grain cooperative
ly was not halted but carried on until
1926, at which time the Farmers I'm
ion Terminal Association was organ
lied, and as proof that the roots OF
cooperative effort were deep and
lasting, it is sufficient to state that
by 1880 the Terminal Association had
become the largest grain cooperative
marketing organization in the United
States.
This achievement was not merely
the outgrowth of fresh start in 1926.
This progress was made out of the
depth and understanding of the people
whom the institution was to serve.
The progress achieved was in re-
Spouse in no small measure, to the
early and bitter experiences to which
farmers were subjected in their fight
to overcome what they had reason to
believe was gross injustice.
The people's voice. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1939-1969, 1941-10-15
RAISE INCOME,
REDUCE DEBT

First: Since the gross farm income
had dropped to an all-time low OF
81 billion dollars in 1882, it was a
matter of extreme urgency to in
crease the farmers income.
Second: Not only must the income
be increased, but the terrific debt load
should be adjusted. If the income
could be raised and the debt reduced,
it would go long way toward allie
waiting the difficulties of agriculture.
What has all this to do with coop
erative marketing and farm organiza-
ton?
1t is through cooperative institu-
lions and farm organizations that at
tention is directed toward farm needs.
If it were not for this medium of ap-
proach there could be no active and
constant representation 1t is as i'm
portant to have this representation as
it is for Labor Business, Industry and
Banking to have it.
The people's voice. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1939-1969, 1941-10-15
OFFERED NO REAL
RELIEF

Again, quoting from a 1880 trade
journal:
Percentage reduction of acreage,
and of all other farm production,
could not, by any stretch of the
imagination, be considered form
of relief, for such a plan could not
be forced upon the farmers and
voluntary agreements would, under
the stress of financial needs or de-
sires, hold but few of them. Furth-
ermore, unused acreage and unused
farm facilities would simply add to
production costs, without adding to
farm profits land that is true be-
cause that administration did not
provide for payments to compensate
for reduced ACREAGE.
offering a substitute relief plan,
therefore, that does not call for a
reduction in the number of farmers,
and a consequent reduction of farm
overhead expense, must fall flat. No
liquidation, and no Farm Board are
needed for the working out of that
rropran, -
The people's voice. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1939-1969, 1941-10-15
WITHOUT A FRIEND

"The board stands today practi-
cally without friends or believers,
not even among those who spon-
sored it, and probably also not
among the officials who are leaving
it, or in the White House itself.
Publicly, only the cooperative Off
Gals and job holders who benefited
by the funds it has dispensed, have
a good word for it, and privately
many of these have doubts about
its value or permanence.
1.-THE great mass of farmers who
have not been brought within the
circle of it's cooperative machinery
are Indifferent, or blame it unJustly
for the troubles the drastic price
declines have brought them.
"The commission trades, textile
manufacturers, millers, commodity
exchanges, exporters, even the gov
ernments of foreign importing ma
tions are arrayed against it-deter-
mined to obstruct or destroy.
"Only board of supermen could
bear up and function successfully,
and only a congress of fanatics
driven by fearful political pressure
could protect and preserve it against
such antagonism.
Whichever way it now turns, it
will be damned in the eyes of vast
groups.
IF it hews to the lines laid down
for it in the law, as it has done,
though with doubtful discretion, the
taxpayers will balk at the cost, and
the private trades will cry for its
hlnnd ~
The people's voice. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1939-1969, 1941-10-15
SUMMARY OF THIS HISTORY

Exchangrst
citation, killed.
Equity
Federal Trade Commission Minneapolis Chamber of Com
o
Protein Premium~ho started 1t and how 1t
Boad-and attacks
loyalty cooperative
organization.
Commodity Act) the
permit farmers organizations
sell the floor.
insurance-and how 1t
Adjustment-what got
moratorium farm debts
saved the F.. A. andi rehab of farms
A. interest
on
In every avail
PROVIDES
munitions of preparedness
The people's voice. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1939-1969, 1941-10-15
The Story of the Cooperative Grain Marketing
Movement i'm the Northwest
By JOHN ANDREWS

If, as a cynic has asserted, history
is lie commonly agreed to, the
writer of history of the cooperative
grain marketing movement in the
northwest, may subject himself to the
suspicion of inaccuracy. This posi-
bility is met by the fact that the
history of the grain marketing or
CARNATIONS by farmers is not one that
goes back centuries. 1t is not yet
written record but lives in the minds
of men now living who have shared
in the making of that history for close
to half century.
There remains yet the historian
who, while documents, data and living
men are available shall write book
rather than brief historic sketch
such as this is, and for once disprove
the skeptic's derision of history as a
whole. 1t should be a text book to
which not only we who now live, but
those who follow after us, can turn
for the information and guidance
needed in all generations. When our
political liberties are menaced, we
turn to the u. S. Constitution for
that assurance and guidance. When
our religious faith is questioned, we
turn to Holy Writ for like assurance
and guidance. When the history of
the Farmers Union and the coopera-
tive movement in the northwest is
written we shall have a book of in
struction, of reference and of assur-
ance in the economic faith we hold.
Short of that, the brief history
which follows will serve to enlighten
and encourage. The facts, data and in
formation which appear are the re-
suit of careful research by Thos. G.
Croll, production manager of the
Farmers Union Grain Terminal Asso-
citation, who has done a master job in
assembling from federal, state and
local archives a story of alternate
triumph and defeat and who has
shown that even the stumbling stones
have been used as steps to higher and
better things for the farmer of today
and for those who shall come after
him.
The people's voice. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1939-1969, 1941-10-15
1T STARTED AT
MOORHEAD

The history of the development OF
cooperative grain marketing began at
Moorhead, Clay county, Minnesota. 1t
was in Moorhead in 1903, SO years
ago, that the Minnesota Farmers Elk
change started in business in an eff
fort to market it's grain at the term1-
nal markets. A mere handful OF
farmers went into the business of
marketing, not because they thought
there was an opportunity to make
money, but for the purpose Of trying
to correct some of the practices which
they had come to believe were I'M
fair. Quite naturally embarking on
such an ambitious mission was sure
to bring, if nothing else, experience.
That's exactly what they got. Their
baptism was most cruel and costly,
and in their hour of dark disappoint-
ment, little did they dream that out
of their frustrated efforts would arise
a far-reaching, irrepressible indigna-
ton, destined to ignite the latent fires
of progressive thought.
On July IS, 1905, the secretary of
the Minnesota Farmers Exchange re-
ceived the following communication:
Your application for corporate
membership for the Minnesota
Farmers Exchange was considered
by the board of directors of the
Chamber of Commerce of Minnea-
polls at meeting yesterday, July
II, 1905, and the application was not
granted C. D. ROGERS, Secre-
tary."
An interesting story is connected
with this letter and some very illumi-
mating testimony was recorded before
the Interstate Commerce Commission
and before a committee of the Mime
sofa House of Representatives in 1913
that is worth hearing and telling-but
space forbidS it here.
The people's voice. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1939-1969, 1941-10-15
A BACKGROUND OF
COURAGE

This is, indeed, an outstanding and
remarkable achievement. Such an ac-
complishment could not have been
possible without background of rich
fertility-a background studded with
courage and sacrifice, defeat and vic
tory.
To insure and continue the develop
ment of programs vital to agriculture,
there are the National Farmers Union
Legislative Committee, the Farmers
Union state organizations, and the
National Federation of Grain Coop
eratives.
The Farmers Union Grain Terminal
Association with other cooperative
grain marketing associations make up
the membership of the Federation,
which includes the major part of the
Continued on Page Three)
The people's voice. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1939-1969, 1941-10-15
THE GREATEST
EXPERIMENT

About this time there was grea
deal of agitation for farm relief. T
refresh our memories, here is a quota
ton from one of our 1881 nationa
magazines:
1.-THE Agricultural Marketing Act
signed by President Hoover, June
Is, 1929, and administered by the
Federal Farm Board, is the greatest
experiment ever undertaken by gov
eminent in this country in behalf of
a special group. The experiment
was necessary and inevitable.
Agriculture in this and most
other countries has been in a state
of chronic depression ever since the
war, in face of unparalleled pros
perity in most other business.
'The political unrest aroused by
this contrast finally threatened to
disrupt the Republican party and
forced it to pledge some definite
action to help the farmer.
mo party could have evaded the
demand of 1928. The legislation was
compromise with the extreme de-
mands of those who wanted to try
the McNary Haugen plan which
President Coolidge twice vetoed"
The Federal Farm Board, comprised
f nine members, was duly set up,
nd in connection with the co-opera-
i've marketing of grain, it caused a
difference to be called in Chicago,
hitch resulted in the setting up of
that was known as the Farmers Ma
onal Grain Corporation.
The people's voice. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1939-1969, 1941-10-15
THE ORDER CAME
TOO LATE

In the meantime, however, the Fed
eral Trade Commission was making
an investigation of the grain trade,
and the Commissions report, issued
in 1928, revealed the conspiracy and
boycott practiced against the Equity.
At regular session of the Federal
Trade Commission held in Washing
ton, D. c., in December, 1923, the
Commission ordered that the respond
ents. the Chamber of Commerce of
Minneapolis, forever cease and desist
from conspiring among themselves or
with others, directly or indirectly, to