The people's voice. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1939-1969, 1945-06-29

SeCreC IL VIII give you an mixing OF
the real purpose behind this latest
complaint. The day before the order
from the commission was served on
Farmers Union GTA, it already had
been given to the newspapers in the
Twin Cities The first information
that the farmers co-operatives had of
this action came from newspapermen.
1t is also interesting to note that an
expensive press-agent firm has been
RETAINED in Minneapolis by certain pri-
vate grain commission firms to dis
seminate the charges against the
farmers cooperative around the
whole northwest These press agents
already have sent out a story to all
newspapers. There is every reason
to believe that they will send out
other articles for these grain commits
sion firms. You do not have to be
told that it costs a lot of money to
do thisl
Does this represent part of an or
ganized campaign against the farm
ers' co-operatives? Is this a continu-
alton of 80 years of war against the
farmers co-operatives in the north
west? Is this the same fight that the
federal government tried to stop with
a cease and desist order % years ago?
This is what your government ordered
% years ago. The order was issued
at regular session of the Federal
Trade Commission in the city of
Washington, d. c.. on the 28th day
of December, 1928 The commission
ordered that all the private grain
traders named in the order to "for-
ever cease and desits" from com
bining and conspiring among them
selves or with others, directly or in
directly, to interfere with or iniure
or destroy the business or the reputa-
ton of the st. Paul Grain Exchange
or the Equity Cooperative Exchange
or it's officers and stockholders"
The commission also ordered the
private grain firms named to "for-
ever cease and desist" from 81. Pub
fishing or caused to be published in
any newspaper, periodical pamphlet
or otherwise, or circulating, or caus-
ms " 10 Sii OulolCQt OIIdllY Ut OIQoT-~
wise, among customers or prospective
customers of the members of the st.
Paul Grain Exchange, or the public
generally, any misleading statement
the financial standing, the
business or the business methods of
the said exchange, it's officers or
members, or concerning the said
Equity Cooperative Exchange, its Of
'icers or stockholders. g. Instituting
yexatious or unfounded suits (either
At law or in equity against said
Equity Cooperative Exchange. with
he purpose or intent, or with the
effect, of hindering or obstructing the
business Of the said Equity Cooper
tive Exchange, or injuring it's credit
md reputation" A number of the
irms named in this cease and desist
rider by the Federal Trade Commits
ion are still doing business. The
question fs-Are any of them doing
in the same old way? Is history
epeating itself?
The cooperative movement stands
n its record. Every farmer is proud
0 be member. The cooperative is
he freest kind of free democratic
Enterprise. 1t is the answer to those
Tho ask how the farmer can have a
DICE in the marketing and handling
what he raises. 1t is not the whole
nswer, of course. There must be
rganization. There must be educa-
on. But these are the things that
clip to make co-operatives bigger and
Lronger In the interest of the people
-ho raise the food this nation needs.
THAT is the answer? The answer is
lat your Farmers Union GTA will
OF settle for a soft or half-baked
lctory. 1t will not compromise the
lings that farmers have fought so
ard to win. Your Farmers Union
IA is ready to meet the challenge.
This is economic war that has been
sclared on your co-operatives. This
one economic war in which there
i'll be no Munich pacts. The answer
as given just last week by the gen
al manager of Farmers Union GTA.
is backed up by the farmers who
axe up the board of directors. 1t
backed up by resolutions from coun-
y elevators pledging 100 per cent
pport Of GTA in this fight. GTA is
ady to spread the cooperative
ovement throughout the northwest
sneral Manager Thatcher told the
embers that GTA will build a two
illion dollar terminal at Grand
,rks, North Dakota. The elevator
II have capacity between four and
re million bushels. 1t will be started
soon as materials and labor are
ailable. The elevator will be a
in to the huge elevator the farmers
N at the Head of the Lakes at
perior, Wisconsin. He said that he
d his associates and the farmers
10 own Farmers Union GTA are
xious to increase the structure and
Lbility of the largest farmers mar
ting system in the nation. And in
1ition Che said) this will be very
Unite and concrete and convincing
swer to any member of the Mime
a Railroad and Warehouse Com
ssion who, according to the news
)ers, seems to be disturbed by our
operative way of doing business.
lie said that the farmers want no
cial favors. They only want fair
atment on the same basis as any
er business firm. He minced no
rds when he said that some of the
vate grain firms must be held re-
nsible for this changed marketing
gram forced on GTA by political
ksters. But there is no political