PALMER, ALA.SKA
Dorothy M. Bell, Editor
Published every week at Palmer, ALaska, for the Matanuska Valley Farmers’ Coonerating
Association for the purpose of giving news of the Associations Uork, Problems and
Accomplishments and dissemination of information of a Public Character.
SUBSCRIPTION RAJB $1.75 per year
Single copy 10/
4
THE CO-OP flnO fllR. & DIRS. AVERAGE AOlERICAn
Alfred D. Stedman, Associate Editor of the St.Paul Dispatch-Pioneer Press, has won
wide acolaim as a writer on agricultural subjects. In a recent circular put out by ,
the Fanners Union Grain Terminal, Mr, Stedman points out that it is about time we
look at our Co-ops through the eyes of the public. 'Co-ops are being attacked all over
the hat ion as a result^NTEA propaganda against them. Co-ops need the GOODWILL of
the publi# if they are to survive according to Mr. Stedman.
"Isn’t it Tine to consider how the co-ops look to Mr. and Mrs. Average American? It
is in their hands that the cooperatives* fate lies.
"The eo»op movement can*t advance indefinitely on its own steam alone. For a nation
wide publicity attack is generating resistance to it. That attack is aiming to'arouse
hostility to the'eo-o-DS on tfie part of businessmen, labor, white collar workers, pro
fessional people, housewives. If the attack should gain definite success, the co-ops
would lose their case before the bar of public opinion.
"The result would be very tough going for ■fchem everywhere — in Congress, the courts,
the state legislatures and the marketplace.
"So the co-ops'must strive for public good will and understanding. That's the think
ing of the wisest heads in the cooperative movement," says Mr. Stedman.
H0T7 DO THE COA0PS STAND TODAY? asks Mr. .Stedman, Publicity has been coming through
over the air and through the mails. " A key to good will is to get inquiries like
these fairly answered," Mr. Stedman says,
1, That is a Co-op? Answer: A co-op is a group of people forming in ef,fect a partne'r
ship to cqjduct a business. They may sell or process crops they produce, buy things
for thanselves, or supply themselves with needed services,
2. Are co-ops only for farmers? * Answer: No. That's just the'-way things sometimes
seem, not the way they really are. Actually, city people have co-ops serving them
all the time. Only, they do not'associate the name "co-op"’with their many coopera
tive enterprises, such as clubs, lddges, grocery, hardware, drug and other'etores
that do their buying cooperatively, and the many mutual insurance companies, great
and small. The co-ops,really are friends whom city people long have known but just
haven’t recognized by name.
5, Is cooperation state socialism or communism? Answer: No, State socialise is gov
ernment ownership of the essential means of production and distribution. Communism
is government owaBrship and operation of business in general and is the opposite of
free enterprise. The government does NOT own the co-ops, and they AE3 private enter
prise. In Scandinavia, they are the main bulwark against communism,
4, Are the American co-ops radical or conservative? Answer: They are just a cross
section of the people, made up of ordinary folks from all walks of life. So they re
flect all ordinary variations in opinion. There are conservatives and liberals, left
wingers, right wingers and middle-of-the-roaders in the co-ops,
4, 111 at ’ s the main basis of co-op growth—government favors'or other factors?
Answer: The main factor sesr.s clearly to be their usefulness., to patrons and customers;
That has included elimination of abuses in marketing grain,; livestock, dairy products,
and other things'; savings on marketing and transportation costs; the production of
better and safer milk, butter, meat and other foods; a lowering of costs of fertili
zer, seed, feed, fuels and machinery. That’s the record of the great co-ops of the
central states; the Farmers Union Grain Terminal Association, Land 0’ Lakes Cream
eries; the Central Cooperative Association; the Twin City Milk Producers, and the
supply co-ops affiliated with*the Farm Bureau, Farmers Union, Midland Cooperative
wholesale and Other regionals. Protective laws and credits undoubtedly have helped
co-ops greatly, as they long have helped other business, especially during the de
pression, The co-ops had to fight hard to break*through discriminations and share
government protection fairly with ptber business,
, Continued on page 3