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j ] ..FR ALASKA._• CARL -RASMUS? 'V _FL, . OR.
Fu '.ished every "Friday nt Ialmer, iilnska, for the Ma'tj^nnska Vt lley
Fa .r.ers Cooperating Association, for the purpose of giving news of 4 3
.c iqJL at ions work, problems and accomplishments.. And news_of 5 nt eras L
■ crlption by mail ■) 1,75 early. Box $ 1,00. Single Copy _ 10^. ,
CO-OPS CAM TO THU JOB B73ST.
1 "spite the propaganda being put out against the Co-ops by a group
of ot too well informed and often selfish and ignorant person^ who
s u to think that Co qrare dangerous to our American wa*y- of living t ‘ d
th they will eventuoly smother free enterprise, there is first hr( •
ev -’ence that Co-ons are really makeing it possiable to maintain th
be - traditions of life in America;
w well informed1 peopl-e doubt that the U.S. was at the crossroads
be -een .an economic nutrocrrcy, that would have to he maintained by
f ’ ce, like; the totalitarian governments of Europe or a radio 1 move ’lent
tl t might have led to anyt hing, in the* late 1930 ies and the arly .‘,2's
Tt required a lot of new thinking and tactful adminstrntion to prev nt
fv ipheavel, Whether the measures used to bridge the stream b tween the
ertv,eme radicals and reactionary conservatives was the best m.thod, is
si 111 a matter of debate, but we did'weather the storm.
■ ny of our younger people have forgotten about those times ■ nd s:ne
sc n to think that the present war activities are going to givj this
c: ntry a lift that will mablo us to keep on a much higher st-vndar • rl
t - i v;e have ever-had before. This we think is foolish or wishful think
i: for the immense quantities of material now beina shoved into t;
f• lacc of war, will mean just that much less in the long run, it n<v
nci affect us s'-riously for some time but in the end it is lest.
. oat war'plans are being made to keep our immense ogricultral and
ir ustrinl machine going, to produce to a large enough extent, so t t
f ,iers products can be sold for enough to provide a purchasing povv r
1 r,ge enough to be on a par with other workers, but so: far nothing i.as
b n dene about it to lead one to believe that it wlll.be worked.out in
t’-: to meet the conditions that will have to be met after the war,
ut in spite of the outlook from a nation wide standpoint tnere rre
t' ngs that can be done by individual communltys that will be helpful,
c "• community can and should strenghten our Cooperative activities, so
tl t wo can weather the storm.- The recent action by'the Co-Op in tie
m fter of securing seed and fertilizer for their members is just or. of
t: things that C! n help. The 10,o saving made by the farmers; by tr ' ing
t» se products right from the cars instead of going to- th-e- ex-renee of
h ' dleing and -warehouseing -and carrying them over a longer peroid o
t:‘ 3, ard adding to the farmers cost is a perfect demonstration of rhe •
p sabllities of good cooperation.
co we believe ‘that Co-ops offer the best method of protecting our
s ves from the troubles that may come after the war, indlviTr -'Is c: n "
1* e under the dog ‘eat dog system, but it i§ much easier and ratter .
u er the cooperative system. Nations too are learning that t y c; i -no1
p egress as well under \ solat ionost ’ s plans as under a cooper;.ting :-yst<
ti - t will enable them to share in the good things of this world, in
p. portion to their effort in behalf of the feeding end clothing of ill
o the people of the world. Co-ops can do the job, but it • will_requlre
1 'Ught and effort and an unselfish attitude tward their fellow mergers.
C -ops can preserve the American v/ay of life better than any other ny.