Montana labor news., 1947-10-30
CONSUMERS COOP
may BE FORMED
FALLS
Ry BARBARA WARMER
MFI. Great Falls

Seventy-fiye delegates from worker
and farmer local unions in Cascade
County me-, in Great Falls October %
and discussed plans for organizing a
cooperative retail store and meat
market. The meeting was arranged
under the sponsorship Of the Great
Falls Sm.ltermen's Union Coop com
mittee and ended with the election Of
temporary officers and committee
members Of "A joint educational com
mittce for promoting the Coop idea
among more people in the city and
county.
u w. Chapman. president Of the
Montana Farmers Union. invited 10
speak To the group on Farmers Union
experiences with co-operatiyes. re
viewed early development aud growth
OF farm Coops and said they arose
from a great need among agricultural'
people for better marketing and sup
ply facilities. He said there was no
mystery about a Coop a Coop is a
simple business institution that people
may have il they want II strongly
enough. Mr. Chapman stated that he
thought a consumers Coop in Great
Falls would do much to bring farmers
and workers together on "A common
undertaking.
Mildred Stoltz. state education di-
rector OF the Montana Farmers Union,
spoke on the need for adequate edu.
cation in maintaining a successful 60.
operative. The long history OF fail.
ures, tragedies and successes Of the
Coop movement was outlined by Mrs,
Stoltz and she said the obstacles ia
an effective cooperative are as real
today rs they We're one hundred years
AFRO when the first one was organized
in liochdalc. England. She made a
strong appeal to the housewives Il
participate in the Coop that was con
templated because they are the ones
who buy the groceries III women
are not sold on a cooperative store
it will not be a success. While she
spoke or the value OF circulars. post
ers. dramatics and other media Of edu
cation. she emphasized that the bes1
way to educate for Co-ops is by wore
OF mouth person to person contact.
Speaking as a union man, LAIR,
Price Of the Carpenters union, said IN
/, Coop is the only hope the laborin
: man has of stretching his dollar
Years ago he had lost money in Coop
that had failed. but he was still cor
yinced that Co-ops can be successful
Mr.. Price said he had acquired a shar
OF stock. patronage dividends and 200
quality merchandise from the f.. 7. ol
Coop in Great Falls without investin
a cent except his patronage.
A brief report on the activities q
f. the Smeltermen's Coop commute
was made by Louis Tonkavich wh
, said that the Smcltcrmen We're hopin
, other groups would join them and tina
, q Joint committee representing all II
terested groups in the county wonl
carry the Coop ball from now on. VI
/. Tonkavich ended his remarks by So,
ing THE corporations may nave IN
money. but the people have the powe
II they viii use IT,
Z The meeting was chaired by Ra
Richardson, president OF the Smelte
mems union and Coop entluSias
Elected to the temporary coop con
mittee were the following. I.arT
Price. chairman; Zoe Graham, seer
tary. and committee members, Ca
Holman. Helen O'Connell. Eileen Che
peski, Paul Sloan, Mrs. Charles Lose
Mrs. W II. Cummings, Gertru'
~Ffeyne, Hillary Butler, Ray Grahar
Bill Fahrman. Carl thinner. Robe
( Jackson, and Frank Messenger repr
senling several organizations in u
Is county and city. Others are to
Z added to the committee in the futur
Much interest was shown in u
proceedings OF the meeting on q
part OF those in attendance.