*
rubllshed cnce e. week In frlner, Alaska, fcr the
ilp.tanuska Valley Farmers' Co-operating Assccla
tlcn, for the purpose of giving news of the As
sociation's work, problems and accomplishments.
mUDSLIIlGIflG
In the recent campaign t; incorporate the town of Falser into a first class city,
the Co-op c*id not take any special part until the hearing came before the District
Court. The Beard cf Directors asked the acting manager to appear before the Court
and request that the Co-op be excluded, as they could see no special benefit to the
Cc-cp, because of the fact that the Co-op had practically all of the benefits which
the people in the district seem to expect. There was no. disposition at any time to
criticize the proponents of incorporation. The motives cf the people who were spon
soring the movement were not questioned at any time. It was always Just a natter of
asking that the Co-op be excluded, because the benefits that it would receive, would
n:t be commensurate with the cost.
The writer hoped that the movement cculd be maintained on that level. That re
gardless -f the outcome, everyone would shake hands, when the campaign was over and
forget the differences of opinion that had developed during the campaign. This was
what really happened until the court ruled th^t he would give equal consideration to
the persons who desired, to be excluded, because It might not be to their interests to
be included, as well as the benefits that might accrue to the persons who were in
cluded. Vie still feel, regardless cf the decision cf the Court, that the Co-op has
sufficient reasons to be excluded and the decision to Include it is indeed unfortun
ate for the Stockholders. Time will tell.
When It appeared that the court might exclude the Co-op, the attitude of the in
corporators Immediately changed. The glcved-hand approach was abandoned °nd the true
feelings of the two principal leaders of the incorporation project were exposed
through the oratory of their Attorney. Practically everyone knows, that nearly any
Attorney will do what his clients want him to do as long as It is not unlawful, in
order to win his case. We hold no brief against him. But, we do object t- people
with when we have had contact through business end fraternal relations, when they
prompt their legal representative to make malicious and slanderous statements, broad
eno'ugh cf course,that nothing can be done, except to protest.
In the final statement vf the Attorney for the two individuals who were directing
one movement, ana, n: ccuct at tneir suggesti-n, it statea as nearly as we can remen
ber, that the "Cc-cp should start to bear their fair share of the taxes In the com
munity. That the Co-op had been living at the expense of the government long enough.
That they were Just reliefers, anyway," cr words t: that effect. Testimony h~d Just
been offered under oath previous to this time, that the Co-op pays Just as many and
the same kind of taxes as any :ther corporation. That the funds advanced for the c.;n
structlon of the Co-op had not been granted t; the members, but, that It was In the
form of a loan, and had tc be repaid with Interest. If any of these Individuals can
locate and prove that anything was given to the farmers lntentlonally by the govern
ment, we will reward them with a nice big fat prize. No farms are being given away
In the Matanuska Valley, nor have been In the history cf the present development.
It Is true, as the writer has often stated, that when most of us came to the Valley
we were practically broke. And, as has been stated, this Is not a disgrace, but Is
awfully Inconvenient. We have had other Inconveniences too, but most 'f us managed
t: overcome them and. make a living and bevel ope homes In the No tanuska Valley. We
wonder Just how l:ng the banks and moving picture shws and ether types cf business
would prosper If these selfsame "ncn-taxpayers", government kept reliefers" were to
quit patronizing the superior persons wh- consider themselves the elite of the comm
unity. If the 140 Cc-cp members were to refuse tc pay any taxes, Just how long could
the schools In the Valley operate. We wish tc assure our detractors that there would
be an awful hole In the eaonemy of the Valley, If this were to happen.
At the hearing, the question was brought up about the difference between the two
sections of the town, as divided by the railroad tracks. Our opponents tried to make
us believe that we are Just one big family. There has been a trend along this line
for some time by responsible people In the community, and It Is with regret that we
now face the fact that this Is probably not true. Except for the fact that the Co-op
area Is owned and-supported by the farmers and the employees of the Co-op, there Isn’t
much difference. We do not believe that many cf the Co-op members or employees are
prejudiced against the merchants and professional people on the opposite side of town.
We see them ever there Just about as much as we see them on this side, and the fact
must be considered that the1Co-cp sells a lot of their products to these same mer
chants. It would be poor policy tc Insult or deride these customers, and we In turn
feel that only a very few of the people ever there would dc anything tc hurt us. But,
we always have to make allowances for a few Individuals cn both sides, who are carry
ing "chips cn their shoulders."
Now, that we have had cur say, we want to assure you, tlrt regardless cf how the
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