The people's voice. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1939-1969, 1948-06-04

needed for expansion by the purchase
of preferred stock in shares of 500
denomination, but only one share to
each individual. The plans of the
Central Exchange include more oil
production, development of a fertil
izer plant and other supplies essen
! tial to the farmers. Like the other
speakers, Mr.. Syftestad cautioned his
| listeners against feelings too great
security about the future; that watch
| fulness and action by all members of
co-operatives were essential to guard
against the selfish forces of private
business bent on the destruction of
the farmer cO-operatives. In this CON
nection, Mr.. Syftestad stressed the
need of constant efforts to educate
the membership.
Mr. Adams of the Bank of Coop
eratives traced the history of farm
credit agencies from 1928 on, and the
dangers posed now for curtailment of
operations. With appropriations
slashed by the present congress Mr..
Adams stated that it would probably
be necessary for the Bank for Coop
eratives to secure loans of from 10
to IS million dollars from private
sources to meet the credit needs of
co-Operatives during the coming year.
He called attention to the tactics of
the opposition to federal farm credit
J, agencies in proposing immediate re
turn of all federal funds, thus des-
: troying them
c. j. Mitchell. credit manager OF
the Farmers Union Central Exchange
was the first speaker on the program
of the second day of the meeting.
Mr. Mitchell ably discussed the i'm
mediate dangers confronting the OPP
erations of cO-Operatives, the need for
constant educational efforts II d
stressed the urgent requirement of
training young people in the prin-
ciples of cooperation and manage
ment of cooperative business enter
prises.
MILFORD Rumble, general counsel Of
the regional cO-Operatives in his dis
cussion, called attention to the plan
of the N.TE.A to present petitions
circulated by the organization for
signers in a large number of the
states, to the national conventions of
the major political parties, and re-
questing the parties to include its
destructive proposals as planks in the
national platforms. Mr.. Rumble stated
that he did not believe the political
parties would do so, but that a very
real danger of legislation adverse to
the interests of c0-operatives by CO.
operatives by congress in 1949 was in
prospect.
M. w Thatcher, whose talk high
lighted the second days session
that no free enterprise" ex-
listed; that control of all production
and distribution except through coop
eratives was controlled by mammoth
of capital and special
interests only concerned with private
profits. He displayed some of the
books and leaflets distrib-
tied by the N.T.E.A and other or
carnations opposing the further
growth and development of co-opera-
ives and called them plainly lies;
hat documentary evidence that they
we're lies was available to any i'm
PARTIAL investigator. Mr.. Thatcher
Urged the imperative need for polit-
cal action for self protection on the
,art of the cooperative membership.
Those in attendance were enter
aimed at a smorgasbord dinner in the
'vening of the first day and a ban
Iuet and dance closed the second
lays session.
A resolutions committee composed
If j. b. Garrison, chairman, Henry
LAY, L. H. Armstrong, George Frank
nd 0. N. Swanson, presented the
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