VALLEY SETTLER
Published once a week in Palmer,
Alaska for the Matanuska Valley
Farmers' Cooperating Association,
for the purpose of giving news of
the Association's work, problems
and accomplishments.
By... Lucille Le Due
$1.75*•••• per year
10</.•••• per copy
CO-OPERATION all the way
One thing that the average Co-op
member does not usually realize, is
that Co-operatives have become so
large and complicated that it re
quires a lot more know-how than it
formerly did to keep them on the
right track. Not only does this
apply to financing, management and
purchasing, but also to promotion
of the movement as a whole. By this
we mean the relations between the
Co-ops themselves, and also between
them and the public and the corpor
ations from whom they purchase their
supplies. The need for a solid
front on the part of the Coopera
tives in their relations with the
supplier and purchaser is evident
because there is 30 much malicious
propaganda directed against‘the Co
operatives from the other business
organizations with whom they have
to compete, that it usually has
come influence on the organizations
that we have mentioned. As Hitler
said, if you tell a lie and then
continue to repeat it long enough,
it finally gets to be accepted as
the truth by a larre number of peo
ple. This has been true in the
campaign direc.ted against the Co
operatives.
The best way to combat this type
of action is to. combine.the strength
of the many organizations affected
and lay down a barrage against the
enemy. It is not too difficult to
combat the untruths of the local
prevaricators because we can meet
them on even ground, but when it be
comes national in scope, we run in
to difficulties because we cannot
reach enough people to put our side
of the argument over.
So it appears that we must have a
combination of little organizations
into q big one that covers enough
territory so that we cap, put on an
effective campaign. This can be
done by working and supporting the
big consolidated movements. This
can be done through the Nationa'l
Co-operativo Council and other large
and powerful organizations directed
toward this aoal.
It seems to the writer that when
any individual member foel3 that
the only thing necessary to promote
his Co-op, is to think of it alone,
is a great mistake, for it is lim
ited to a very small field. Since
some of the big Anti-Co-op organi
zations are concentrating on Con
gress and other Government Agencies
it is necessary to present the side
of the Co-ops to the members of Con
gress. This requires funds, com
petent organizers and people who
can get results by lobbying for the
Co-ops. The v/orl lobbying ha3 an
oderous sound but actually there
are good lobbyists and bad onoe.
This is also true about propaganda.
There is truthful and helpful*prop
aganda. .It only beconos evil when
it is used to deceive or hurt some
useful cause. When and if, the Co
ops fail to present their side of
the case, it is almost sure to be
lost by default. Too many Co-op
jmembers arc suffering with an in
feriority complex and there is no
!justifiable reason for this. Co
ops are not only entirely legal
in nearly every country in the world
but they have proved their worth
many’times over. Of course anyone
can find selfish, a'rro.gant Co-op
members, but this is also true of
any organization. It‘cannot be hold
against the members as a whole.Most
ipeople who become mo'mbcrs of a Co
'op think that they are joining a
movement that will benefit them and
their neighbors or friends. It
will be just that, if the feeling
continues and they: observe coopera
tive principals in their organiza
tion. Co-operation is consistent
v/ith the principles of religion in
nearly every case. The only fund
amental difference is that in the
Cooperative, everyone is welcome to
receive the benefits; in most re
ligions this is narrowed to the mem
bers of that particular religion.
Co-operation ‘is universal in scope,
and when properly used, offers the
same benefits to all races, colors
and people of any religion. It dis
courages selfishness, reduces the
need for‘charity and promotes trnc
equality for'all mankind.
Perhaps you will ask then, why is
anybody opposed to Co-operation? We
would say this. The reason seems
to be,that hurtan nature (in many
cases) is selfish, greedy* and ego
tistical, for we can’t discern any
other important reaso*ns. When the
billennium is reached and everyone
becomes perfect, everyone will bo
favorable to cooperation, because it
is thebost medium to promote ^ood
will and human kindness. Of course
continued on page 3