Palmer, Alaska
Dorothy M. Bell, Editor
Published every reek at Palmer, Alaska, for the Motonuska V-lley Farmers* Cooperating
Association for the purpose of giving news of the Associations work, problems and
Accorplishme nt s.
SUBSCRIPTION RATE $1.75 oer year $1.00 six mos. 10?r a copy
LETTER
TO THE EDITOR.
EDITOR: VALLEY SETTLER:
Tho necessity of having a reliable source of information for the members of a Cooper
ative Association has been shown by recent events. First, because a proprietor of a
Daily Newspaper in a nearby city in which the Co-op has its principal market and with •
whom it should have friendly business relations, called the Secretary of your Associa
tion over the telephone and asked about weather and crop conditions for publication in
his newspaper. It had been reported,ho said, that cut worms and drougth had nearly
exterminated the Valley crops and naturally this would bo news to the readers of his
paper. He seemed to be unduly excited about the conditions, so the writer sensing
tho fact that the Editor was trying to get something that would make headlines to in
crease his circulation, made it a special point to inform the said Editor that the
overall picture was not too bad, but that considerable damage had been done to certain
early gardens that would hinder the Valley farmers from-getting produce on the market
at an early date. However, intentionally, or otherwise, ( and it happens so often
that it seems like it is probably otherwise) the next edition of the said newspaper
came out with startling headlines to the effect that 60$ of tho crops had been lost
from drougth or cutworms. r’hen a protest was made, an article was run on an inside
page stating that a mistake'had been made and that tho writer had been quoted and was
responsible for the mistake. Knowing the source of tho trouble and believing that it
would be of no use to protest,the writer let the matter drop. For 'if tho reputation
of the writer rests with quotations from a newspaper of this kind, then may we seek
Divine aid, as we will surely need it.
Then—this we ok, our local bi-wookly nows shoet came out with an article unsigned by
any individual, purporting to state certain facts in regard to tho Army Contracts
recently made at Fort Richardson. Tho writer makes a pretty good case for his organ
ization and a certain firm with which wo compotod for the Army Contract —if his facts
woye truo, but here again distortion becomes the motto of the day. Co-op members should
be careful about accepting statements as truth without investigation. He have now
entered the stage of strong competition and some of our competitors will not bo gen
erous. Every effort has been made that was possible to maintain friendly relations
with our co:ipetitiors so far, but if they feel that they can gain more by using de
ception and underhanded methods, then we will have to accopt it as a fact and meet it
with firm and effective opposition. It’s up to them-and during the meantime, let
us not forget that wo are members of a cooperative Marketing Association and banded
together for the purpose of helping *■ oufcsolves by helping each othor. Remember that
a Co-op is just like anything else. You get as much out of it as you are willing to
contribute for its success. Lot us be tolerant with people who honestly disagree
with us, and work with those who are fair and play the game that way. Let the soro
heads rave and remember that in the long run ” nothing succeeds liko success.”
Curl R. Rasnussenn
Secretary of the H.V.F.C.A.
CO-OPERATIVES: ECONOMIC YARDSTICK FOR MAKING
AND KEE PING—OUR ECONOMIC SYSTEM FREE.
Cooperators believo tho best ( and maybe the only) ray to make a freo economic system
rork is to have part of the business --perhaps 15# or 20# of it-actually belong to
tho very people rhoso needs it servos.
That is all'a cooperative is-a business that belongs to the people rho use its goods
or services, such businesses constitute a'yardstick by rhich tho efficiency and prac
tices of other businesses nay be moasurod.
Cooperatives arc not aimed at driving anyone out of business. On the other hand, it
cannot be denied that competition from cooperatives does threaten the continiied ex
istence of businesses rhich exact exhorbitant profit margins from tho people, or rhich
exploit the people by selling thorn goods of shoddy quality or services rhich do tho
peoplo no good- But the effect of cooperatives en business conduct ed i airly vim a
v.ior to real public scrvico is primarily'to ii.cr.as.- tho lie : c ' b.i\ iug pot. j.o, uo serve
as a hoalthy regulator of profit margins, and ta-e to ere idea the field oi uotal busi
ness done, Tho Cooperative leaguo of the U,S,.l,