Palmer, Alaska
Dorothy M, Boll, Editor
Published Once a woojc at Palmot, Alaska, for tho Matanuska Valley Farmers’ Cooperating
Association for tho purpose of giving nows of tho Associations* ork, problems and
ac comp 1 ishment s,
SUBSCRIPTION RATE $1.75 per yoar $1,00 for six months 10(7 a copy.
THIS CARELESS USE OF WORDS
In the last issue of the Alaska Weekly received in the Valley under the Column,"As I
8ee It," appeared an article in opposition to the Government PXs. This article came*
about as the result of an editorial comment on the complaints of the merchants of
Kodiak concerning the manner in which the Post Exchanges of the Armed Forces are enr
ging in unfair competition with local business houses and selling to civilians as weEL
as Service men.
He won't argue with the Kodiak merchants, because they, tn^y have grounds for their com
plaint. Our "bone of contention" is with the writer of^tflfe column who refers to the
PXs as "Giant Cooperatives.” The writer states that—"This is not an Alaskan question
although the activities of these ’cooperatives* are extremely dangerous to the economy
of Alaskan towns. It is a national question having to do with government competition
with free enterprise...and if the armed services refuse to correct the abuse Congress
should move to do so. "
It is very evident that the writer of the above mentioned article is very poorly in
formed as to what a cooperative really is. In the first place, as the name implies,
a cooperative is an organization in which the owners work together for the bonfit of
all those connected with tho enterprise. A cooperative is a form of Corporation in
which those who u_e the services of the Association benefit from its operations. The
patrons sharo what a corporation would call "profit," but what a cooperative calls
"savings."
Do the PXs divide their profits among the soldiers who uso them? Do the soldiers own
the PXs? If they do not, then tho organizations cannot bo classed as cooperatives.
They are rather government stores operated by the government for the benefit of the
soldiers—a form of coranissary. A cooperative form of set-up to benefit tho soldiers
in tho Armed Forces would be a vory inconvenient sot-up. Just supposo a groups of
soldiers did form a cooperative to handlo theSo articles for themselves. About tho
timo they wero woll started in their businoss, the government would move them to tho
tho other side of tho continont. Thoy could not tako their investment with thorn.Thoro
foro the government sots up storo s for them.
To object to tho careless use of tho term'"Cooperatives" in connection with the PXs
bocausc it tonds to givo tho Cooperatives,which arc a form of private enterprise, a
"black oyo." Cooperatives arc HOT owned and operated by tho government. Cooperatives
may borrow money from the government,as for example, tho REA cooperatives havo, but
thoy must pay ovory cent of it j>ack plus interest. Ho suggest that the writer of
"As I See It", confine his criticism to tho PXs, bccauso the cooperatives as private
enterprises belong on the same sidd as the other merchants montionod.
DANIELS' LIONS ARE ROARING AGAIN.
Yes, Denials1 lions arG roaring again, and to those who have been fortunate enough to
got a copy of Daniels* uniquo little shoot that comes out in various forms for the
oducation of tho pcoplo of tho Matanuska Valley, it appears that some one is trying to
food Daniels’ lions; and they are adverse to being fed unless they are consulted and
satisfied that it is their own plan of feeding. Howovor, we doubt if any of tho food
will bo wasted, as tho Lions arc always ready to stick their snouts into tho feed
trough os soon as it appoars that any gravy is forthcoming. However, if they foci so
insulted by not being consulted, thon it will not bo difficult to get someono else to
oat thoir part. They all socm to agroc that it should be done, but it appears that
thoy they fool it shouldn’t be dono unless they give it their blessing.
It might bo interesting to tho fair-minded people, who want to know the truth of tho
matter, that tho Anchorage papor misquoted the spokesman for the Co-op on this matter,'
They should not be surprisod, because this has booh the rule rathor than tho oxcoptiofl,
as most of us havo learned by past expcrionco. But, to say that tho Dairy Producers ,
wore not consulted is indood crronlous - as four of the prosont Board of Directors arc
Dairymen and thoy in turn consulted othor dairymen; but os it is the duty of the Board
to conduct tho business of tho Association, thoy took tho responsibility. If the mem
bers aro dissatisfiod, then they should got in touch with the Board. Just how tho
laattor can be handlod outside of tho Co-op and through" on unfriendly newspq?cr is a
question that wo doubt can bo satisfactorily explained.
Evidently Drniols* Lion Den must havo boon oponod and some local animals pist have
gotton in—and it souhds liko wolvos to mo. ' • •
Ywo of the persons quoted havo boon suspandod from taking part in the government of
the Co-op for somo time, and tno of thorn got up and walkod out when they’wore unable
to cloct Directors favorable to their idoas at tho mooting last Stbruoryi All three
of thorn havo had prominont placos in all of tho movements diroctod (Cont. on pp. 3)