Palmer, /J.aska
Dorothy M, Bell,Editor
Published onco a neek at Palmer, Alaska, for the Hatanuska Valloy Pr.mors* Cooperating
Association for the purpose of giving nans of the Associations' rx>rk, problems and
accomplishments.
SUBSCRIPTION RATE $1.75 per year $1.00 for six months 10^ a topy.
WHICH DO YOU PPIFER-AUTOCRACY or DEMOCRACY
In the last six months a vital question has boon raised that rould certainly affect
oaeh one of us in the Hatanuska Valley and especially Tanners. This question is being
raised all ovor the norld. Savago uars arc boing uagod to dotonninc whether pooplo
shall be ruled by Autocratic governments or Democratic governments. What this really
rojons is uhothor pooplo ore capable of ruling themselves or should thoy be ruled by
self appointed persons, or bufcaucrats who seem to considor themselves God’s gift to
the common pooplof. Of courso, thoso kings and bureaucrats always'demand moro of tho
good things of lifo than thoy aro Trilling to allow their subjects, They evidently
fool that they arc boing goncrous to spend their time ruling those who arc incapable
of ruling themselves.
Locally, to havo two organizations oho oporatc according to both plans, Tho Co-op
members elect their Hoard of Directors and can recall them if at any time a majority
of tho mombors fool that tho said Directors are not capable or satisfactory. In
reality the supremo ruler of a cooperative is tho members, because they alono can
maico tho rules and select the men oho havo tho responsibility of conducting the busi
ness and adjusting tho complaints of the members. This is the Democratic nay' and it
is tno fmorican theory of government that all authority rests with the people. Wo
are even permitted to make just as big a fooi of ourselves as to want to, just so nc
do not bother anyone olso, which is a great privilege. Regardless of the nay no use
this ponor, nhothcr no are successful or a failuro in our endoavors, no aro still
fweo and have tho right to-mako tho policies that govern our lifos. Wo havo the
right to'soloct the men to nhom no nish to delegate the authority to administer these
policios.
In comparison, no hlso have an organization in our midst that is operated and run on
tho other oxtromo. This organization is supposod to boabcncvolcnt and charitablo
organization whose functions aro supposod to bo to provido guidance and assistance
to worthy citizens who rrcod help. Its bonoficiarics hold no stock in the organization
and havo no voice in its affairs. Its Directors arc appointed by politicians in
Washington who can not know and probably do not care a great deal about conditions
in the Valley. Just who selects theso Directors'and why the men whom they havo ap
pointed in tho past were so honored is a mystery. Truo it is, that dion somo of
theso men noro found wanting, in- timo they noro replaced; but in tho long run about
tho samo kind of men were appointed to take their placos so the sane policy has gen
erally boon followed regardless of who these mon noro.
An immense sum of government money has boon granted to thoso mon in the past in the
dovoi nprfiri'gt. of tho Valley and most of it has been lost according to the ordinary
standards of business practices. No restrictions mas placed on the activities of
these Directors and mhilo me have no direct proof of dishoncsty-yot some things not
ordinarily considered ethical by othor Directors in other similar organizations have'
bo^n common practico. 3br instance—it is not considered ethical to grant Directors,
business privileges such as giving the insuranco on a Corporation's pfrojperty to one
of the Directors mhen othor bids arc identical in prico and sorvicos, It mould socm
te us to have the Director resign and compete as a disinterested party. Than mhen
fat legal fcos dro being dished out, it seems to us that it mould bo mor o othical too
id tho Director,mho .is to get tho profitable business, mould lot a’disinterested
Beard decide mho should have tho job and horn much the pay should be.
Jfihoso aro some of the things that lead tb abuses of pomor and a Co-op has restrictions
that prevent theso things frem happening. Also tho Co-op has to make an audit of its
business to its members each year. This othor organization has an audit made, but it
is never made available to any one oxcopt the little group in the scat of poncr.Thoir t
mistakes can be hidden and no one is tho miser although mo all contribute to the fin
o.V'ial support of this Agency through the uso of government funds,
Norn tho question is—mould it bo miso to pormit an autocratic organization to take
over the management of an; organization that moans so much to the members as tho Co-op
doos. "ould it be sonsiblo to forfiot the right to cloct our officers or permit people
mno aro not directly interested in our affairs to nako our lams or formulate policies?
l£t us follom tho American may and run our omn business—oven if mo do make mistakes*
No have a lot more satisfaction in doing so. Even a benevolent dictatorship hue its
dangprs and a brutal ono is about tho morst thing that ebuld happen. If mo as .
Co-op members remain unltod and uso ordinary horse sense, nothing like this can happen
to us Think it ovor. Carl R. Rasmussen