Palmer,.Alaska
Editor.Lorothy lu. bell
Advertising....Harriet Z. bell
Published once a week at Palmer, Alaska, for the i'e.tcnuska Valley
Farmers’ Cooperating association for the purpose of giving news of the
sociations work, problems and accomplishments.
3UI ECRIPTION R.'.TE v1.75 per year vl*00 for s^x months_10? a copy
A HA f
Ey F.L
> P y E V F. N T
. Kerzie, C.P.A.
Years ago tho present Rational Grange Master and cho writer had office
together in Seattle, fie planned many of the measures that have made
life better and happier for .-ashington agriculture. I any of such mea
sures we discussed in common. One, however, was outstanding, viz., the
Credit Union. In those days the Boston millionaire, Mr. Filene, one of
our rare millionaire social builders, had been spending part of hio
fortune in propagating the European Credit anion in this country, I mean
the Raiffeisen bank. "i had been intensely interested in the subject be
fore Master Goss heard of it. But even though it.w&s so, and he got to
know of it through my interest in the matter, it is exclusively his.
credit in finally licking Gov. Hartley and getting Gov. Martin to sign
the Credit Union Law which Goss,two other gentlemen and myoelf^had pre
pared and is now the law in Washington. Today in the City of Seattle
alone more than 75 credit unions are operating for the good of the little
man who needs help and credit mostly when nobody else ' ould look at him.
Goss helped to spread it all over the nation, federally where no state
law covered it, and locally by states, where a state law was brought
about.
For some years several of the members of tho local Co-op were interested
in this step forward. It was my good fortune, when.I reappeared on the
scene locally last year to have interested the Credit Union official by
tho name of Mr. Lance Burden to pay a visit to Palmer ''.here ho started
this thing a year ago. It was finally perfected last July when the
Credit Union examiner, Mr. Y.O;’..’right, helped to start the ball rolling.
T-.o first real annual meeting was held last Saturday, January 14. Of all
the meetings in which during my life I v\»s a participant, this one'gave
mo more pleasure than any I have ever attended. It. was harmonious,ably
conducted and lilistenedvto tho tale of creditable initial progress. I
may add this much. This credit union is one of tho tens of thousands
operating all over the world for the common good, not for the exploita
tion of your follow man. It is designed first of all to help the little
man in his financial sudden troubles if he is worthy of help. It can
rro* into a mighty tree ana help local producers, employees and people
in the valley on the basis of their own contributed funds, something
w;-ich at any time should and does command respect, I foresee powerful
future growth for the credit union. I would like to see your respectable
vall^yites literally flock into it, would like to see all the local
clergymen eventually participate as they do in other parts of America
anc; the world, I ish to see it grow into an institution which will soon
co mend a fund of 4-100,000 at least and I certeihly v ould like to see it
r,i ain as careful and as conservative, yet helpful, as they started out
to tj, So, many thanks for the privilege of having attended this meet
ing and please may I state, I feel all the better as respecting the a
bility and goodwill, likewise common sense of the members. I would like
to see it grow inside of one year from a membership of over forty to a
membership of at least two hundred. This is one institution in which'
all valleyites could join and v.'hich is not stepping on anybody’s toes,
but working only for the greatest good of the greatest number. There
m y be some who,like they condemn your co-op as communistic in their
ignorance, would also condemn the credit union. But you who know better,
march forward and cover this valley with the good deeds which will ne
cessarily follow such valiant and manful self-help. Long may you prospei
******
GALSj If YOU SMOKE CIGARETTES, READ THIS
By F.L.Kerzie, CPA
If you still smoko cigarettes, gals, reafl this through, might do you a
world of good. The writer in conceit congratulates himself for a some
_ _ ___Cont. on page 3_