; i I 1 : . . . •• M TO - KOURI-S, Of! FROM: Hi R i AM COHCH .': Ill DATE; '. ' •

• • - . )':•;

! . COMPAM . I !i; AFRAID YOU ARE ( . TC PU'I ME ON YOUR DART BOARD WHEN YOU HEAR WHAT I HAVE. ! HAVE A COPY OF THE 1962 Ml SS IS D>REC'1 ' ' WE *VE :B 1963's). UH HUH, YES, FT HAS IN ST ALL THE SAME STUFF YOU JUST SENT. i FEEL TERRI8LE THAT YOU WENT TO ALL THAT WORK! EASTLAND'S 0 GOT THE DjM LOR HE. (SMILE)

IF WE ARE ONLY ABLE TO USE INFORMATION .., THE RACE OF EMPLOYEES CF EITHER NATIONAL COM AMIES OR LOCAL COMPANIES ON FEDERAL CONTRACT, THIS KSHOULD SAVE YOU SOME WORK. I'LL TRY TO COMPILE A LIST OF THE COMPANIES FOE WHICH WE NEED RACIAL i NFORMATI "

ACTUALLY, WE WEILL NEED MORE THAN I FORMATION FOR THESE COMPANIES, WE WILL HEED AN . AGGRIEVED PARTY. (FUN!)

2. UNIONS: i TALKED WITH HERBERT HiLL OF THE NAAC WHEN i WAS IN NEW YORK. HE SAID THE AfL~C!0 CIVIL RIGHTS DEPT. WAS LYING -IN SPITE OF ANY CLAIM?: , THEY MAKE, THEY DO HOT ACT TO AMELIORATE DISCRIMINATION IN THE IR UNIONS. IF THIS IS SO, -, . : , A SURVEY WILL HOT HELP. ANYWAY, HILL FELT A SURVEY WASN'T NECESSARY LEGALISE WITHOUT MARKING ONE WE COULD FA! ELY ACCURATELY STATE THAT 99,A OF THE I LOCALS IN MTSS. ARE EITHER SEGREGATED OK' KXKM EXCLUDE NEGROES ALTOGETHER,

WKXX HILL SUGGESTS ICXXTHE FOLLOWING WAYS OF ATTACKING DISCRIMINATION IN UNIONS: A. NON-LEGAL (I.E. NOT REQUIRING A LAWYER OF LAW STUDENT) K1. FILING COMPLAINTS WITH THE PRESIDENT'S COMMITTEE OH EQ.UAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY. (IT WOULD DE OF UTMOST IMPORTANCE TO FILE SIMULTANEOUSLY AGAINST THE COMPANY.) 2. PICKETING THE INTERNATIONAL HE ADO.UAETERS, ALSO., OTHER METH20DS OF PUBLIC PRESSURE SUCK AS MAKING PRESS RELEASES, B. LEGAL (I.E. REQUIRING LEGAL KNOWLEDGE) £. REQUEST DECERTIFICATION BY THE A:L:13 2, TAKING A COURT CASE NOTE: HILL SAID THE NAACP (OR HERE SPECIFICALLY, THEIR LAWYER ROBERT CARBTER) WAS XMXXKE TRYING TO DEVELOP A NEW AREA OF LABOR LAW IN THE FIELD OF UNION DISCRIMINATION. "E SAID THEY HAD WON AN NLRB DECISION IN TEXAS, BUT LOST A COUPLE OF OTHERS. H|LL SAID THE BASIS FOE THE COURT CASES WAS OFTEN THE 14TH AMEN . ;NT, SOMETIMES IT WAS THE NATIONAL RAILWAY LABOR ACT, SOMETIMES OTHER THINGS. HILL DIDN'T SAY IT, BET ! HAVE THE FEELING THAT THE NAAC? WOULD TAKE AMY NLRB AND COURT CASE; E rED To BRING.

3. PRESIDENT'S COMMITTEE OH EQUAL EMPLOY; I-UNITY FOR BOTH COMS \ND ; I is IT IS NECESSARY TO HAVE AN AGGRIEVED PARTY TO FILE, THE MORE COMPLAI ITS r~~; cc . • : THE BETTER. 'HILL FELT IT WAS HOT ENO

IT IS ; - p -' ; r , - y ~. -. p p p - ,. ,.p [ ir,;?i ,-: ro FILE A COM: 1 > ! —' Ilk If I I : , . -J — i I ' t I ' w t t\ _ o O w r* ;}r:\ PRESS RELEASES, REOP!;;TS E. .'5, FILINC OF A i 3H THE OVEI DISC V E / T T .: DR UNI 01 I ED, GIVI NG THE 0 : LAI -2-

II rlOBARl IAYLOI , Fll A COMPLAI FEDERAL AGENCY WHI Ci . iADE THE CONTRACT XM WITH THE COMPANY.

D. SUMMARY: IN OTHER V. IT IS HOT GOING TO BE AS EASY AS ! HAD THOUGHT. SOMETHING TELLS ME THAT GETTING PEOPLE IN HiSS„ TO FILE COMPLGJNTS IS GOING TO TAKE A LOT OF CAREFUL WORK. AS WILL EACH COURT OR NLRB CAc 1 TSli S HAY BE WHAT WE lLL J! HAVE TO DO, Council el Federated Qrganlzatlc BoS 2896 Jackson, Mississippi 2J July 1?6*> •

Co< ;• ratlv* Lia

Gaht3arat)• i"X;"?o Bond "r; Informi "c i•% of technical -^list- »noe for groups wishing tc for:: f.srwra ooogarativtc* In r = rtlc- ular I ~r. in* irected Li i 1 tance provided bj the Cooperative L«agu*.

four8 truly, M-it; . •••

lex 2896

y»L^ "/T \\A I Jackson, Ifi-ssissippi *A a9" • l 2a 3mwil9$k

Mississippi Ooopsrativ® Extension Service

Mississippi Stat® Snivarsity

Stat® Callage, Mississippi

Gentleman:

Please sond is® one copy ©f each of the foUesting B&tsnsis

an< Public ationsj- numbers 3%h$ k$ys 3.

r tr Ji " °^. W^(,V'J / <-• / CONSUMERS COOPERATIVE OF BERKELEY, INC.

/ THornwall 3-6784 U 1414 University Avenue, Berkeley 2, California

September 29, 196k ift /-UP- Kiss Ellen Kaslow

101? lynch Street Jackson, Mi si Lppi

Dear Miss Maslow;

A letter from Jerry Voorhis, Executive Director of the Cooperative ue of the USA, has called our attention to your request for contributions of non-perishable food for distribution to residents of the state who are suffering deprivation because of their part in the civil rights movement.

; our Contributions Committee to con­ fer this request and it may be that we will be sendir ; fu ids rather than food as a corporate gift. We presume you would find this accept-, able, even preferable, since the expe of hauling lorn; distance would be eliminated. Ihis committee will be meeting in October,,

We shall also make inquiries of various agencies which might provide hauling with little or no charge so that it would be practical to ask our members to make contributions in kind. If you are aware of any existing arrangements we would be pleased to know about the ..

A*1? suggestions from you concerning the kind of food most, needed, or to be avoided, would be appreciated. We can see possible problems entailed in collecting a wide variety of foods - store-bought - and home canned, in a variety of sizes, shapes, and containers, and packing them suitably for efficient and safe hauling.

djneerely Hours,

^uiP

S:s Education Director cc: Jerry Voorhis

•.".. -€l : Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee National Haadquartom 6 Raymond Stroof, N.W. © Atlanta 14, Goorgia • Ar.a Cod* 404 - o88-0331

Tel. 387-7445 3418 Eleventh Street, N.W. Washington, D.C., 20010

July 29, 196k

Jesse Morris 1017 Lynch St. Jackson, Miss.

Dear Hesse:

Concerning your request for information on technical assistance from the outside to form a consumer cooperative, I have not been able to get any information for you. Norm Kurland says that the Poverty Bill provides loans to low income family coops, but it needs to be passed first. If the Department of Agriculture has nothing, we need further information before we can check private sources. What do you mean by West Coast?

Norm hopes that you are coming up on Friday.

FREEDOM,

Karen Treusch

tt \Jne Ulan, CJne L/ott Bos 2596 ' Jackson, Mississippi . , 30 July 1964

Research and inforratiai Bfcfi rffl Credit Administration ' Washington 25» 0»C

Gentlemen* redit Administration Circular 6, Pleaaa B«««S &« a c0??"

TftYiKftrs* _fiOfiJ

fairs truly 9 /' • Box 2696 Jackson, Mississippi

. 30 July 1964

Eca®areh and inferrj&tien Division Farm Credit Adn&n&fcration Washington 25, B.C.

[email protected]' Flcas© send ase a copy of Farm Credit Administration Circular 6 3&A*

Yours truly, a L lAllu-k.

3 Box 2896 '

Jackson, Mississippi ..

3 August l°6ii

Continental Cotton Gin Mfg. Conpany Dalles, Texa3

Gentle man: Please send me your latest catalogue and price list.

Yours truly, Box 235*6 Jackson, Mississippi 3 August 196h

Murray Cotton Gin Manufacturing Company Dallas, Texas

Gentleman: Please send aa your latest catalogue and price Dist.

Yours, truly,

i i ,

- • I 4 Council of Federated Organisations •.101? Lynch Strset Jeokson, Mississippi 3 August 1?64

f nit 3d 'States Department of Labor Bureau of Labor Statistics

Washington, v.G,

(Jentleaeai Please send no s copy of the BU of Labor Statistics 3ullstin nuHb«r 665, Organisation^ and Msnsgssant cf Conauja^r's Cooperatives2

Yours truly, Box 2396 Jackson, Mississippi 3 August 19Ox

Lusdno!.-g Cotton Gin Company Coluabua, Georgia

Gflntlerssn: Flosse send, ma your latest Gata^Lgua and prica list.

Yours truly,

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..•'•• • .. • Eta; i ra St« '? J All.* • Kr« Voor] ia It is poj la t at 01 r paths ad at ore point or ..or, since 1 marked for \ j« ars in ftmi .ffovarfl. Foac,g * ' and thas this rith A#J*Kosto* Your Pia vor.r familiar to m@« I c slppl to \ V for r. or two, ] to stay sa long as 1 car. t la a sing an -\tivo '.• to tj slssippi, nonvlolatttly* Lr&tloi tg~ s, food nod clothing do. butIon, aad re i to m of ! . The pre of are raall • •...•' . .. contributions of « o from . *rs, sut liars, s, to ' ' % o; a will ©d, alo ng and otl^or I dad s to t: • it here, Vot particularly to those cf ti- ofe red because of their pnrtlclpatioa in t-\ o civil ri mt» f^\ 1 asi writing to you I I for advice em how- ut collecting food contributions, to seo if rsonall out a utlon of this sort, no], ^ -, to ";oe if you ': tact vo r you is In contribute lr" cuhta of d for this J ft sBciosing cor-c haeie about the Mississippi Joct* I or; you ocon,

: S3 ..'"s :

Ellr "low The COOPERATIVE LEAGUE of the USA . a national federation of cooperatives t. Jerry Voorhis, executive director SSSem^ft?'?^

Mr. Ben Rosenzweig, President Greenbelt Consumer Services, Inc. 1050) Rhode Island Avenue Beltsville, Maryland

Dear Ben:

Probably you have heard of the C0F0 which means the Council of Federated Organizations which have been doing work in Mississippi and with which a number of church organizations are connected as well as some other groups. *

We have a letter from the COFQ in Jackson, Mississippi, which reads in part as follows:

"I came to Mississippi to volunteer for a week or two, and now I find myself planning to stay as long as I can. The Mississippi Project is a truly amazing and creative effort to transform the state of Mississippi, non-violently. The inspiration for their Freedom Schools, voter registration programs, food and clothing distribution, and so on, seems to arise from a profound under­ standing of the social and human fabric as a whole. The problems of Mississippi are really being dealt with.

"I am beginning a massive effort to request contributions of non- perishable food from manufacturers, suppliers, sellers, Individuals and organizations. The food will be distributed, along with clothing and other urgently needed items, to those who need It here, but parti­ cularly to those Negro and white residents of the state who have suffered because of their participation in the civil rights movement."

I do not presume to say in this letter what you or your Board of Directors or your cooperative might feel it wanted to do about this appeal. But I thought I should write to tell you about It and to say that if you did want to make a contribution of food stuffs to these people In Mississippi, the person to whom you should write about the matter Is Miss Ellen Maslow, C0F0, 10)7 Lynch Street, Jackson, Mississippi. Please send me a copy of anything you may write to her.

Sincerely yours,

Jerry Voorhis Executive Director JV:cs bcc: Miss Ellen Maslow

GENERAL OFFICES: 59 East Van Buren Street, Chicago, Illinois 60605. 922-0667 Murrey O. Lincoln, president • J. W, Koski, chairman of the board . Harold Hamil, vice-president WASHINGTON OFFICE: 1012 14th Street Northwest, Washington, D. C. 20005 393-8425 The COOPERATIVE LEAGUE of the USA a national federation of cooperatives

Jerry Voorhis, executive director Chicago, Illinois September 2k, 1964

Miss Ellen Maslow COFO 1017 Lynch Street Jackson, Mississippi

Dear Miss Maslow:

We want to help as much as we can with your collection of food for the people in Mississippi. The Cooperative League does not have any commodities itself but I am writing the enclosed letter to some of our major consumer cooperatives throughout the country in hopes that they will respond as much as they can.

Sincerely yours, W^fljO^Lfcco Jerry/Voorni's Executive DJirector V v JV:cs

encl.

GENERAL OFFICES.- 59 East Van Buren Street, Chicago, Illinois 60605. 922-0667 Murrey D. Lincoln, president • J. W. Koski, chairman of the board . Harold Hemll, vice-president WASHINGTON OFFICE: 1012 14th Street Northwest, Washington, D: C. 20005 393-8425-

- • • Ccptaribor 2£, l$6h Mr* Dill Doyle 233£ Corona street Dorkoly 8, California

Dear Bill*

Please forgivo no for taking this Ion;; to write* It ia olrsost irroossiblo for aa to uit down and write a latter. SMa, coupled with tl)o fact that ITO ore severely understaffed hero and no oho has had any tine to do any thinking about co-ops, eaplslns "why I haven't written sooner* lot no Indicate nvhat has boon dona on the co-op thinking sineo I can- you last: (1) T/o have dona nothing about the Polacr's Crossing possibility. I asked tlio GOTO workers in II atticsburg to cot soae of th e local people toge­ ther in order that I Slight talk to thecu but the ejecting never took place* The interest ia K olnes County kept so from, really pursuing too terribly ox' poshing hard for something in H atticsburg* (2) m Iblxies County* we held about four meetings with th © pooplo there* There is a store there now which is a co:isitr.ior*s co-op* 3a thought about cither expanding that one or developing a new one. Linda Seoso and Joe White* two suauor volunteers* ware assigned to work on organizing th o people there for this* When they loft, th o work there, of course* ceased* Th e people arc very interested in doing scoothing along the linos of starting a co-op there* so we will definitely follow up what has boon started there* (3) In Bolsoni* a local person nho eras a store rants to rotire* She has of­ fered to loaso her store to COFO for 0200 a raonth* T/o cannot afford It* but are going to take it and turn it over to the local pooplo as soon as We got the informed as to what a co-op is, This is roolly Tihoro TJO are at tliio point* Jerry Voorhoos called once and, also wrote a .totter iix-Han-ML*** ***** J»* »**<*^ 2*

17c -..ould lita you to hold off on sending a League person until wo progress a little nore on this end* I I shall keop you informed of all dsveXopasnts that take place in regard to our co-op activities* In tha future* if I don't indto it noans wo are not doing anything* Sincerely, « Jesse Ibrris EimrsiraraninHHHSIsnSQ Jo i M i • i rpfa^-Mialiisaieu™sffl:IUlUJIII I T'1 ' " '^-nu^ v Consumers Cooperative Association of Eau Claire 2221 HIGHLAND AVENUE EAU CLAIRE, WISCONSIN PHONE TE 2-8311

September 30, 1964

Miss Ellen Maslow C0F0 1017 Lynch Street Jackson, Mississippi

Dear Miss Maslow:

We received a letter dated September 25th from Jerry Voorhis of the Cooperative League of the USA, in regard to possible assistance we might be able to give you, for what appears to be a very worthwhile cause.

I took this up with our Board of Directors at our meeting last evening and they requested I write to you. We would like to know more about your organization, with as much detail as you can provide, so we may guide ourselves to making a proper decision to help you.

Cooperatively yours,

CONSUMERS COOPERATIVE

Ray J. General- :JT7n^

cc: J. Voorhis October 1, 196-U

-ry ¥oorhis, Exec* Mr* • " Cooperativ -10 of the 031 last Van Duron St. », 111, 60605 r Jerry Voorhis, raid have responded ioBiedlately to your lottor, but I first wanted to .show it to Jesse JSorria, and Efrie Eorton, Coordinator of Gupplios and ributlcn in iissiaslp d* 11. ,tO 0 iy, yowr action has gratified roll of us mere than I can say. 1*11 rd.it I feel qolte embarrassed, .about ting you the "r. .dy not realising to to 1 extent the Cooperative ue had been Involved .isith C . . 1 c: ly hope to havo.soas res consumer cooperatives* • are launching to distritata food and clothing on a 1 srga • hs 1 boon vory short, 00 far, on the food end of it. The more progress made here, t3 sis, o: tha core families in need of :. Our plan is to have each project in the state bring applications for food and clothing to tl t need it the moat* because of reprisal or/and economic need, and to have those applications filled according to Lon« The boxes "srould bear a seal saying ,r0no Kan-One Vote"* From ), to (the par -.on it's going bo). 7i"o sould be distributed hf local eoEsaitteos set up by each project, fa hope, in this way, to got lias to those tjho need it tha most, with the minimum of "grabbing" along the way* fo seed food in great ty# If you have farther eonsaents or suggestions as to how ire might obtain food, please let ma know immediately* I'm nersr at thia gaae, and Mississippi needs GO much* Sincerely,

Ellen Maalow I AdOO XciOJ i OtiJX JOW3X /

The COOPERATIVE LEAGUE of the USA a national federation of cooperatives

Jerry Voorhis, executive director , * ; Chicago, Illinois ' January 13, 1965 - air spec. Mrs. Maurice Wheeler 3^20 Longfellow Blvd St. Louis, Missouri 63104

Dear Doris: •

Thank you very much indeed for your letter and the enclosed check for $5-00. We are sending you a quantity of material concerning farmers cooperatives as well as cooperatives in general so you can pass it on to your nephew. I only hope it will arrive in time.

In addition to the shipment of material, however, I am sending you here­ with a copy of a general form of a letter which we prepared at the re­ quest of the National Sharecroppers Fund to provide advice and guidance to groups of people interested in forming farmers cooperatives.

It so happens that I have just had an appointment with the Secretary of Agriculture, during the course of which I discussed with him the question about getting help from the Agricultural Extension Service or other agen­ cies of the Department for farmers in the deep South, including certainly negro farmers who are interested in forming cooperatives.

The Secretary has assured me that the Department of Agriculture is committed to providing such assistance and tnat he will see to it that this is done.

I nave advised a number of people interested in this matter in Mississippi and elsewhere to ask for the assistance of the Extension Service. But so far as I know none of them has as yet done so. I do understand some of the reasons why they have hesitated. But it is to my mind most important that we develop channels of getting help for negro farmers interested in cooperatives which will not be dependent upon temporary assistance from organizations like our own, for example, which could not afford to send 'i , anyone down to give guidance and help for the extended period of time which will probably be necessary, if the cooperative is to succeed.

Now to answer some of your specific questions. There are no cooperative wholesales in Mississippi or even close to it which are members of the Co­ operative League. However, I have talked to people in Mississippi Chemical f Corporation located at Yazoo City and Mississippi Federated Cooperatives in Jackson which is connected with the Farm Bureau, and so far as i am able to ascertain, both of them would welcome negro farmers as members.

I must confess I do not know how many negro farmers are now members of either of these organizations. If these organizations are not willing to service negroes then we would be up against a pretty severe problem trying to get.' from a cooperative wholesale from some other area to do so because they do not like to invade one another's territory.

GENERAL OFFICES: 59 East Van Bufen Street, Chicago, Illinois 60605. 922-0667 Murray D. Lincoln, president . J. W. Koskl, chairman of the board . Harold Hemll, vice-president <€?>' WASHINGTON OFFICE: 1012 14th Street Northwest, Washington, D. C. 20005 393-8425 •\ \y, ^Jm

The COOPERATIVE LEAGUE of the USA •2-

Mrs. Maurice Wheeler January 13, 1965

There is.of course, the possibility that I may be wrong in my belief that the established cooperatives would welcome negro members. But I think at least the farmers should try this course before they undertake to form nev; cooperatives, since this is never an easy undertaking.

With very bes^t wishes,

Sincerely yours,

Jerry Voorhijj Executive Director

JV:cs

encl.

i, I"!

*w * -» N (A C

CAMBRIDGE NON-VIOLENT ACTION COMMITTEE AFFILIATE OF THE STUDENT NON-VIOLENT COORDINATING COMMITTEE OF ATLANTA, GEORGIA 622 PINE STREET CAMBRIDGE, MARYLAND 22;f - 4526

Jesse rooms 50?r M. Farrish Jackson, Mississippi Kav 6, 1965 Dear Jesse, We are in the planning stages of a cooperative venture here on the Eastern Shore of Maryland, This area is extreme­ ly depressed; at least 29.-> of t\ e Negroes are totally unem­ ployed, and what employment does exist for the tbegro is both seasonal and lov: paving. About 63fo of the Kegroe^f^n^Dorche ten County uiake under y3o00 per year, he feel that there is a reed and a. duel ouroose for the co-op venture. Mot onl*_ will tv e people benefit from such a program, but this woulo also bring pressure to hear against the economic structure on the has" rill you kindly" send us a copy of your study on co-ops, and anl?y otoen information that vou mi~nt have, whicn would be beneficial to us. Thank ~rou for "our assistance.

-1

-1 , 1 , ; , r

con rautist SI CC Staff

JB/nlr REDDING AND WILLIAMS 337 DELAWARE TRUST BUILDING 900 MARKET STREET

WILMINGTON, DELAWARE I9S0I LOUIS L. REDOING LEONARD L.WILLIAMS DLYMPIA S-SSSB

June 3, 1965

Mr. Jesse T. Morris 538 1/2 N. Farish Street Jackson, Mississippi

Dear Mr. Morris:

Ever since your telephone call to my home a couple of weekends ago, I have been awaiting further word from you with respect to the decision as to the corporation you indicated you wanted formed. You also indicated that you were going to send me copies or extracts from Mississippi corporation law.

It is my understanding of that conversation that you were going to discuss with attorneys in Mississippi representing your organization whether we are to go forward with the formation of the corporation. I am prepared to do this and can accomplish it com-,, pletely any time it is desired. The delay has been occasioned solely by my awaiting word from you. ;' Very truly yours, .illhl vM Louis L. Redding LLR/vpm

•

• Vaiden Ave. F.D.P. Office Carrollton , Miss. June 7i1965

Poor People Oorportation P.O. Box 977 Jackson, Miss.

Dear Mr. Morris, I am very willing to work for the poor people oorp. I also have a friends' that is also willing to work. ALL I want to know is do you senfl us membership aards, so if not I oan start to work now.

Prom the way this program sound I think it will# take affeot on the people around here. Send me more Information on the P.P.O. Here is my home Address Lou Emma Shipp, Rte.l, Box 51 Ooila, Miss. And this is my Friend Address Mary Louise Keys Rt3. Box 84, Lexington, Miss. Thank you,

Your for. Freedom (Miss)Lou Emma Shipp,

1 • rm ., liyji •—r" r l7.,j..,., iv i - • 1 : •Th- «A Of ALL

NATIONAL SHARECROPPERS FUND 112 EAST 19th STREET • NEW YORK, N. Y. 10003 • GRamercy 3-0284 Atlanta Office 5 FORSYTH ST., N. W. ATLANTA, pA. 30303 June 9th, 1965 Tel. 404/525-6468

Dear Jesse:

national board Hiss Clementine Douglas, 1092 Hendersonville Road,

FRANK P. GRAHAM ''Asheville, N. C. has offered her advice and service to any chairman group* that want to produce and market handmade quilts and A. PHILIP RANDOLPH other handicraft. vice-chairman

ELIOT D. PRATT secretary-treasurer If there is any real interest in this, it might ANGELA BAMBACE be a good idea to bring her down to meet with the women who BETH BIDERMAN ALBERT SPRAGUE C00LIDGE want to work on quilts so that she can advise them on design,/ MAX DELS0N quality of work, etc., and--to-g€ttJier help in msrketxngax-^^ EVELYN DUBR0W MANET FOWLER MARTIN GERBER H. L. Mitchell, founder and secretary of the old I. CYRUS GORDON u SIDNEY HERTZBERG Southern Tenant Farmers nion during its entire existance is ROBERT W.HUDGENS GARDNER JACKSON now an International Representative for the Agricultural and ROBERT B. JOHNSON LEWIS W. JONES Allied Workers Union, affiliated with the Amalgamated Meat JAMES LIPSIG Cutters and Batchers Workmen of North America (ji). Hitch's FRANK McCALLISTER EMANUEL MURAVCHIK address is Box 91^9, Metairie, La. 70005 (Tel. 50l|/o33-0275). ARTHUR RAPER IRA DeA. REID VERA RONY I think it would be an excellent idea if you could LEON SCHACHTER get Mitch to go to Mississippi to meet and talk with the woriers CLARENCE SENIOR u PATRICIA CAYO SEXTON involved in the Freedom Labor nion and to tell them something NORMAN THOMAS ROWLAND WATTS about their experiences in days past,3nadx as well as to give CHARLES S. ZIMMERMAN any advice and assistance that he can. I feel "that his Union FAY BENNETT should be able to give both moral and financial support to the executive secretary u JAC WASSERMAN Freedom Labor nion, and perhaps even arrange for affilitaion. project director I think that this strike is one of the greatest things that OCIE LEE SMITH has happened in the South and I am anxious that it not fail, Louisiana-Arkansas representative but that this organizing effort spread everywhere. It is the

L. S. JAMES only thing that makes sense for agricultural workers. Please South Carolina representative pass this information along to the people in charge. Mitch

ART EMERY can also probably arrange to bring some of the old Negro members Tennessee representative and organizers of the STFU to Mississippi also. They are now living in Arkansas and Tennessee mainly. Gene Cox knows some JEANETTE ALLEN GAIL HERSHBERGER of them also. I will be glad to do anything I can to help. administrative assistants

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L£t>>\ A* ££TVfl 1714 Juverett Avenue Jackson, Mississippi June 12, 106*

Poor Peoples Corporation P.O. Box 977 Jackson, Mississippi

Dear Sits: This letter is to submit my resignation PS treasurer of the Poor Peoples Corporation. I do not feel at the present time that my interests or those of the Poor Peoples Corporation would be served best by my remaining in that position.

Yonrs very truly,

Richard A, Jewett

. • LAW OFFICES REDDING AND WILLIAMS 237 DELAWARE TRUST BUILDING SDQ MARKET STREET WILMINGTON, DELAWARE I9B0I LOUIS L. REDDING LEONARD L.WILLIAMS DLTMPIA 6-2586

June 17, 1965

Mr. Jesse T. Morris 538 1/2 N. Farish Street Jackson, Mississippi

Dear Mr. Morris:

Your uncle, Mr. Jesse Morris, telephoned me a few days ago and saidthat he had had a telephone call from you about the non­ profit corporation for which you stated that you would wish me to prepare a certificate of incorporation, or charter, and effect the procedures necessary to have the corporation created.

He said that you had telephoned him the night before and that you were to telephone him the following night. I requested him to ask you to state definitely the name you wish this corporation to assume. I also told him that I had written you on June 3 and that I had had no reply to that letter. Your uncle did not telephone again.

I tried to make it clear with you that I am ready and willing to come ahead with this matter if you desire. However, I need inform­ ation as to the exact name and I think the extracts of the Mississippi law concerning which you telephoned me should be sent.

If I have not heard from you within the next tencdays, I will assume that I am not to proceed with this matter. f Very truly yqurs, V -L. Louis L. Reddin

LLR/vpm

SENT BY AIR MAIL SPECIAL DELIVERY KARL KARSTEN 7400 BRADLEY BOULEVARD WASHINGTON, D. C. 20034

June 17, 1965

Mr. Jesse Morris P.O. Box 977 Jackson, Mississippi

Dear Mr. Morris:

Since writing my letter of the 11th to you (enclosing my check for $2), I have found your project to be so intriguing that I am impelled to offer whatever I can in the way of advice. This advice is based on ray own experiences in organizing "self-help barter" organi­ zations of the unemployed in New England in 1932 and also upon subsequent work in the Washington headquarters of Mr. Harry Hopkins in the New Deal.

It seems to mo that you are in danger of letting your own high ideals for this project entrap you into attributing the same ideals to others. This is, of course, a conraon conceit among idealists. One forgets that the poor (as is equally true of other groups) include selfish realists and some who are skiled in deceit.

In the period of growth of the project when there is no money or property and only high hope, the members all pull together splendidly, with a co­ operation and loyalty which is very inspiring to observe.

It is when there is a divisible property or cash from the group efforts that those in charge may tend to go just as far as they can in appropriat­ ing it to themselves, volubly (even indignantly) proclaiming their rights as deserving, on one pretext or another, if challenged.

I think the trouble lies in the common concept of the duties and preroga­ tives and responsibilities of the president and other officers. In the nature of things these offices tend to go to the most aggressive or helpful in leadership in the period when the project needs organizing and getting all to pull together.

It seems that the principles of democratic organization adopted by many projects for, of and by the poor (as has also been the case in soma labor unions) are not the same as those included in the U.S. constitution where power is carefully divided between the legislative, executive and judicial.

Instead you will find the president and other officers assuming power in all problems to decide and to act as if their powers were close to limit­ less. They will suppress any objections ruthlessly and when money belongs to the group, they will assume and seize power to appropriate it to them­ selves upon any plausible pretext.

I think an organization of the poor should very strictly limit the powers of the officers and their terms of office. The limitations should be in black and white, and should prohibit in so many words any use of organiza­ tion money and property not specifically ordered by a twowthirds quorum of i ! H oo ; :u/•"• "*; ;h ivh \\ V' i: )y\l(b

Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee Silas Herman,

W/t Franklin St. Selma, :. " la Slate Project Director ionc: 872-1426 872- 22 June 1965

Poor Peoples Corooration P.O. Box 977 Jackson^ Mississippi

Dear Sirs:

When my husband Elmo and I were in Jaekson about three weeks ago, we spoke to Jessie Morris about the possibility of people in Alabama participating in the Poor Peoples Corporation. Both of us thought it was a good idea to get people in nfchsac Southern* states otl: th TJOX )artiCxpat3J2£ in the Poor Peoples Corporation,

•Scr.32 ladies in Selua had been talking about starting a laundary. I tall with a few of then about starting some kind of handicraft industry^, ins head c a laundary, which would take less capital to get started, and about joining the Poor Peoples Corporation from which they could borrow the original orpi'u They thought this sounded like a geed idea, VJhat I would Dike to Bnow no./ is how they become members of the poor Peoples Corporation (are issue thei'e membership applications or certificates they receiue upon paying their cuafcte when and fecsa where the next meeting of the Poor Peoples Corporation isj and how they go about borrowing capital from the Poor Peoples Corporation, The impression 1 got was that they would probably decide to start some kind of sewing cooperative because some of the women can sew very well. Should they ms 3 up an estimate of how much they will need to get started, broken down by items3, and submits to the Poor Peonies Corporation either "erf mail or the ne :Ging.

I would appreciate your sending sry me this concrete information as scon as possible so I can talk it over with the women in Selma who are interested in XT.,

Thank you for your consideration.

•reedom, / '-ah. a:h •••-...f'. '.' Susannah Holder STAf I UK

•ty^jH,lAt DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL WELFARE 112 STATE STREET X • ALBANY FELIX INFAUBTO COUNSEL AND BOARD IECRCTAKV June 22, 1965

Poor Peoples Corporation 117 West Church Street Jackson, Mississippi Attentioni Jesse Morris

Dear Mr. Morrisi This is to acknowledge return of the completed question­ naire which we sent you on May 21, 1965. Please be informed that after considering the answers submitted by the organization we have determined that its registration with this Department is required. Therefore, enclosed herewith is a set of the registration statement forms and other related materials. May we request that one copy of the registration state­ ment form be completed and submitted with the prescribed fee of $5.00. If we may be of assistance, please do not hesitate to contact us. Very truly yours, OFFICE OF COUNSEL ^&*~^ £ //yjc*— ARHE E. HEGGEH ***"• AEH/gts Chief, Charities Registration Encs.

:..*/' • • • ,1 ... • JOHN E. MARQUSEE 25 WEST 43RD STREET NEW YORK 3

OX 5-5050

July 22, 1965

Mr. Jesse Morris c/o Poor People's Corporation P. O. Box 977 Jackson, Miss.

Dear Jess:

Firstly I want you to know how much I enjoyed seeing you again and having the opportunity to exchange views in a slightly calmer atmosphere but almost as rushed as ever.

Essentially I think your program is loaded with problems and challenges but obviously is at the same time full of constructive opportunities. After our meeting I received your letter of July 16th with a description of the housing undertaking in Indiana. I have already requested several copies of abbreviated digests of current Government housing programs that might be applicable in states like Mississippi.

I am going out of town tomorrow and will return in about 10 days at which time I should have these digests and will forward them to you at that time with a covering letter further abstracting a description of the programs and their potential application for you and the Poor People's Corporation. With this information as a background and after you have had an opportunity to review it I would hope we could get together once again and see if there are any concrete steps that might be taken. We can, of course, either do this on one of my trips down Sou th or on a trip that I hope you will take again up here. The only condition of this deal is that if you come up here this time you have to give me an opportunity to be more of a host.

Take care of yourself. With kindest personal regards,

Sincerely,

JEM:re // John E. Marqusee June 34, 1965.

Poor peoples Corp. P. 0. Box 977 Jackso^Mississippi Attention of: Mr. Jesee Morris Dear Mr, Morris: I thank you for sending me the report on the activities of the Poor Peoples Corp. I congratulate you all on the progress you are making. I hope that you will not think it officious if I make another suggestion. I think the idea of the revolving fund is fine, I feel that you have a fine ideal that you are working toward. I do think that you should consider the matter of interest on the money foom the revolving fund that you advance,o» lend to these projects. The interest might be at a very low rate, prehaps 3$,. but I think some interest should be charged if the projeot if to succeed as I hope and trust it will. This is not in order to pay any dividends but to insure the success of the project, $o big corporation pays out in dividends all the profit'that it makes. It sets aside some of its profits to insure its growth and to provide for any losses that it may meet. You, as any other new venture, are sure to excellence some losses. Unless you provide for some interest return on the loans that are succeessful you will find that your revolving fund will gradually wither away and lead to a disaster for a fine ideal. With some interest charged you may be able to meet any losses and gradually increase the revolving fund so that your project will grow and grow. Sincerely yours i

/

J. ivva/w.ffl^&-^f/'- HIGHLANDER RESEARCH AND EDUCATION UaiiR

1625 RIVERSIDE DRIVE, KNOXVILLE, TENNESSEE (37915) Phone: 615—523-4216 MYLES F. HORTON, Director C. CONRAD BROWNE, Associate Director

June 26, 1965

Mr. Jesse Morris Poor Peoples Corporation P.O. Box 977 Jackson, Mississippi

Dear Jesse:

Thanks for your question and answer sheet on the Poor Peoples Corporation.

What happened in regard to your meeting with Warren and Art regarding the Mount Beaulah proposition we discussed. I understand that Art is going to be taking over the major responsibility of running the program at Mount Beaulah., and you should make a special effort to discuss your ideas with him.

Since the beginning of the Delta Ministry program, I have urged Art to take over the educational activities heretofore carried on by Highlander in Mississippi, and he is agreeable to the idea. I hope you and other people there will keep after him about educational programs. They need this kind of activity and you need their educational services.

Let me know how things are going.

Cordially,

Myles Horton

MH:jd

• •-- BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Dr. Charles G. Gomillion, Myles Horton Mrs. Kenneth Montgomery Chairman Esau Jenkins Robert Moses Dr. Scott Bates, Vice Chairman Mrs. Walter Johnson Rev. Robert C. Palmer Lewis Sinclair, Sec.-Treas. Dr. Lewis Jones Mrs. Paul Sheats Dr. Robert Blakeley May Justus Mrs. Leonard Sperry Dr. B. R. Brazeal Dr. A. A. Liveright Jordan Stokes HI Mrs. Evelyn Brown Mrs. Inza McAdoo Rev. John B. Thompson Mrs. Septima P. Clark Stewart Meacham Mrs. George Wolfe Howard Frazier

HIGHLANDER SPONSORS

Professor James L. Adams Professor & Mrs. J. M. Hayakawa Mr. Clarence Pickett Mr. Saul D. Alinsky Mr. Ralph Helstein Dr. Royce S. Pitkin Mr. Roger Baldwin Mrs. Lindsay Hoben Hon. Justine Wise Polier Mr. William H. Baldwin Mr, Sidney Hollander Mr. George D. Pratt, Jr.

Dr. Stringfellow Barr Dr. Wesley A. Hotchkiss :, Mr. A. Philip Randolph Dr. A. D. Beittel Mrs. Sophia Yarnall Jacobs Mr. Robert Rau Dr. John C. Bennett Dr. Waiter Johnson Mr. Jackie Robinson

Dr. Viola Bernard,: Dr. Abbott Kgglan .Rev. James H. Robinson Mr. Algernon D. Black . Dr. Eugene li h" 'Rev.' Roger L. Shims Dr. Herbert Blumer Mrs. HeleihHalL Kellogg . Miss Hilda Smith Kay Boyle Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. ' Mr. William Stix : v Dr. Theodore Bratneld' Miss Freda r\irc nv,r;/ D-.' Haroid.Tayior Mr. Chester F. Carlson Mr. Carl Koch- Dr. 'Everett Tiison Mrs. St. Julien R. Childs Mrs. Margaret Lamont Mr. John R. Tunis • Mrs. Gordon Clapp Professor Robert E. Lane Mr. Ralph W. Tyler

Mrs. Ethel Clyde t Rev. James Lawson, Jr. Mr. Gerhard Van Arkei Miss Alice Cobb ' Dr. Max Lemur. - i Miss Olive 0- Van Hornr Rev. & Mrs. Gardiner M. Day . Dr. Herman Long Dr. William Van Til Miss Babette Deutsch Mr. Kirtley F.-Mather Miss Mary. Heaton Verse

Dr. Katharine Dodd Mr. Albert#Mayer Dr. Colston E. Warns . Professor Dan W. Dodson Dr..& Mrs. Alexander Meiklejohn. Dr. Goodwin Watse; Mr. W. H. Ferry Mrs. Hugh J. Morgan Rabbi Jacob' VVetsrein ' Mrs. Thomas Fleming Rev. Walter G. Mueider Mrs. Louis S. Weiss Mr. Lloyd K. Garrison Mrs. Lewis Mumford Asha Devi Aryanayakarr, India Mr. Maxwell Geismar Dr. Gardner Murphy Oscar Guermonprez, Mrs. Harry M. Gershon Dr. Reinhold Niebuhr The Netherlands Professor Charles 0. Gregory Mr. Seniel Ostrow Mr. Kwa 0, Hagan, Ghana George M. Guest, M.D. Mrs. Rosa Parks Mr. Frank W. Jessup, Mr. John H. Hammond, Jr. Dr. Fred Patterson Great Britain Professor Philip M. Hauser Mr. Clifford Phillips Dr. J. R. Kidd, Canada % } O ? 2d h- ~-("-:" Box -1598 Gulfport. Miss, June 28, 1965 Mr. Jesse Morris 53 8|- N, Farrish St. Jacksonj Miss, Dear Jesse, John Else, with whom I have been working in Gulfport, tells me he talked, to you .recently about co-ops, and particularly about the Poor Peoples Corp* I believe he cave you a.copy of the paper he and I wrote, "Fight Poverty With Co-ops". J. am quite interested in trying to generate some community interest in co-ops, but 1 would like to talk to you some, to find out what kind of money is available, what kinds of co-ops have been tried already, and what their successes and failures- have been. Perhaps you can also give me some tips on how to get people together. If you can come to Gulfport it would be vefy good, because then we would! have all the information v;e woul need at our finger-tips, but if this is imposible 1 could come to Jacksonjat'any time you suggest* I shall look forward to hearing from you.

Freedom,

Dave Edrnonston STAVIS, RICHARDSON, ICOENIGSBERG 8 ROSSMOORE COUNSELORS AT LAW

744 BROAD STREET MORTON STAVIS MABEL L. RICHARDSON NEWARK, N.J. 07102 SAMUEL M. KOENIGSBERG AREA CODE 20] WILLIAM ROSSMOORE 622-3789 I

July 1, 1965

Mr. Jesse Morris P. 0. Box 95 Tougaloo, Mississippi Re: Poor Peoples Corporation Dear Jesse: Enclosed is a proposed certificate of incorpor­ ation. We now have definite word that the name is available for use. If the certificate is satisfactory, please do the following: 1. Have each of the five incorporators sign his name where it is typed in on page 3» before a Notary Public, who will sign opposite as a witness. 2. Have the Notary Public take the acknowledg­ ment on page four, filling in the county, date, his signature, stamp, and seal. 3. Take the document to the county court house and have a notarial certificate affixed. 4. Return it to me in the enclosed envelope. The copy is for your files. Sincerely yours,

Morton StaviAs MS:mbt t» Ends. Air mail

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Student li 'itee Silas Norman, 31J4 Franklin St. Silraa, Alabama State Project Director Phone: 072-1426 872-4801 G July 1965

Poor Peoples Corporation P.O. Box 977 Jackson, Mississippi Deal" Sirs?

1 BEDS wrote to you June £2, 1965 concerning a group of ladies from Selma who arc interested in joining the Poor Peoples Corporation* Since that time I have been in contact with a group of ladies in Hayneville, Lowndes County, Alabama who are interested in starting a quilting co-op and having this co-op become part of the Poor Peoples Corporation. Also Stu House, who is working in Sumpter County, wanted more information about the Poor* Peoples Corporation for some of the people in Sumpter County who have started to think about forming co-ops*

. It is imperative that I get more specifics: informaticr. from you immediately about the Poor Peoples Corporation* The information Tneed"is as follows: 1« How dees a group or the individuals that make up that group become members of the Poor Peoples Corporation' Do thsy receive a membership application or certificate upon paying their quarter? 2* Where and when is the nest meeting of the Poor P e op 1 e s C orp or at I on ? 3« How do they go about borrowing capital from the Poor Peoples Corporation^ About how much money can they borrow? Should they prepare an estimate of how much they will need to get started, broken down by items, and submit it to the PoorS: Peoples Corporation either by mall or at the re:ct meeting? The decided who gets the loans - the members at the meetings?

The local people are really enthusiatic about the whole idea of the Poor Peoples Corporation, but they need more in­ formation* So I would appreciate your sending me this Informa­ tion as oulckly as possible.

Thank you* Sincerely.

/i.u*~ i--v;- (Krs,) Susan Holder cI in vmJh WW

Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee Silas norman, 31% Franklin St. Selma, Alabama State Project Director Phone: 072-1426 872-/: . July 1965

Bessie Morris % M.F.D.E. 507 lu Parish Street Jacks on, Mis sIssippl Dear Jessie, Since Elmo and 1 talked to you in Jackson almost a month ago, several groups of people in Alabama are potentially in­ terested in the Poor Peoples1 Corporation« On Jure 22 I wrote directly to the Poor Peoples* Corporation about a group of ladies In Selma, but I have gotten no reply. So I thought if I wrote to you about the specific questions we have, I might get a quicker response• (I'm also writing another letter to the Poor Peoples* Corporation.)

The problem is that we don't have specific enough information on the Poor Peoples1 Corporation to give to the people who are interested in participating. The things we need to know are the following: 1« How does a group or the Individuals that make up the group become members of the Poor Peoples1 Corporation? Do they receive membership applications or certificates upon paying their quarter? 2« Where end when Is the next meeting of the Poor Peoples1 Corporation:! 5e How do they go about borrowing capital from the How ao they go -o Poor Peoples' Corpora onf About how much money can they borrow ? Should they prepare an estimate of how much they will need to get started, brokers down by Items, end submit it to the Poor Peoples' Corporation either by mail or at the next meeting? Who decided on who gets a. Oct] *• tii© There are three specific groups of people in Alabama that are Interested in the Poor Peoples"' Corporation. First, seme ladies in Selma, who'd been talking about starting a laundary, liked the idea of starting a handy-craft industry Instead© I explained to them about the Poor Peoples1 Corporation, and they were Interested and learning more about It* They were talk terms ci start­ ing a sewing co-op» Second, in Lowndes County some ladies warn to start a quilt co-op. I suggested cost Bo Smith, the S1TCG worksi- who 's been talking to these ladies, that th join the Poo: Boples1 Corp. He thought it was a good idea* Third, Stu House, who's been working in Sumpter County, wanted more infor tion on the Poor Peoples1 Corporation* The main problem in Sumpter County is not enough people have jobs. The Poor Peoples* Corporation would bo one solution or partial solution to the problemo I would appreciate your answering this letter as soon as possible so we can go ahead and tell the folks more about the Poor Peoples* Corporation. They're reallyfenthuslatic abou t the idea, but need more information* Thank you. Sincerely,

Susan Holder Home Life Insurance Company, New York SUITE 1211 / 30 EAST 42ND STREET / NEW YORK, NEW YORK 10017 /OXFORD 7-1536 SHERMAN M. GLEASON, MANAGER July 11, 1965 TO: Ellen Maslow 0/0.. M. Schiff;T. Hayden \

Because Jess Morriss and I reached an impasse- and couldn't procede to work together on the Poor Peoples Corporation- I feel it Important that I put on the record- in writing., the specific reasons for my refusing to sign my name to a PPO fund-raising letter. 1. Jesse had organized the PPC without making proper provision for Tax- deductabllity of purchasers of Freedom Bonds. In fact- his printed pitch for Bond sales= hadn't even been cleared in Washington. Submiss­ ion of such Literature would have been Irresponsible on my part- in fact- it would have seriously jeapordized other vitally needed fund- raising activities from the same list of people.(2 Way Radios;Freed­ om Schools in Tennessee; Bond Money for arrested Demonstrators) 2. Jesse came to NYC with a series of romantic, impractical, fuzzlly-workefl­ out projects- ostensibly to create jobs for Negiros in the South Black Belt- but with no research;market studies; feasibility plans; orders; evaluation/of needs and skills in Mississippi,etc; In fact= he was seemingly interested in quick, sudden involvement of Black people in Mississippi- on Intensive Self-Help projects..of any kind or sort. 3. After weeks of meeting with you- and studying PPC literature,structure, organization etc; after thirteen hours of meeting with you and fine young Field Workers connected with SNCC and SDS(at one time-)I then met with Economists and Researchers and Marketing Experts and came up with a specific Plan/. This plan was to set-up Consumer and Producing COOPs..» which would be self-generatlng-after an infusion of private capital- and donations of food, meat, shirts, underwear, hosiery, Gas oil, tires and batteries— from interested retailers and wholesalers. I arranged four three,five thousand foot tents; lumber for piling and flooring... and had rough architectural plans drawn up to show how Garage, mechanics, barber, sewing,child care,teen age socializing, library,movie, adult education and other related community activities could be integrated both physically and structurally to the Consumer : 000P Center— eventually(30 days after opening) to make jobs available •for some 46-52 persons. 4. After a three hour meeting with Jesse and Bob Chamberlin- during which I outlined these plans... and again poinded out the anarchy of"Sandal, and Tote Bag"Intensive Job projects... and during which I specifically pointed out repeated successful COOP projects-organized by Negros and Workers and Farmer Union members at the height of the Depression- Jesse again told me of his desire to find Gov't patents and Japanese imported- items... desperately looking for something, somehow, somewhere- which would put people to work "right away" on something., whether it was "successful or not". I told Jesse that success was important if there was to be a Real assault on Poverty in Ghefetos of the South and North. And that careful planning-with COOPS the 1st line- was essential.

"WE HOME of NLANNEB ESMTES"

. .<*•-.«*,*< — <%* *- ~>1. T*- »--"-- - .-.--. -.".v.-- ..,-•..,„, y. Hrp, ....,,„- ji^... Home Life Insurance Company, New York SUITE 1211 / 30 EAST 42 ND STREET /NEW YORK, NEW YORK 10017 / OXFORD 7-1536 SHERMAN M. GLEASON, MANAGER (Page 22222)

i* 5. Jess disagreed with this- and insisted on my merely going ahead with' the preparation of a fund-raising letter- and formation of an Advisory Comm­ ittee for PPC. The letter was drafted and the lists(some very confidential) were on the table., extensive discussions of Advisory Committee members • were completed- YET, there wan't one, single aspect of the entire PPC wh&fceJesse and my group were in accord. After a sleepless night- and long conversations with my associates- I came to the conclusion that my signing a letter THAT I DIDN'T BELIEVE IN: FOR A PROGRAM I HAD NO CONFIDENCE IN: WOULD BE EXTREMELY harmful.. quixotic, and reduce what little effectiveness.I had in the crucial fight for civil rights, Peace and JOBS. How would people ever be able to trust me again- if I asked them to put money and time and effort and professional expertise into a project that I honestly thought was doomed to failure??? I know this was a blow to you and Jesse, Ellen. And for that I'm truly sorry. But my time and effort in mutual efforts to organize this projects- equalled yours. And I'm just as unhappy about this seeming waste as you are. But the one bright spot- seems to be the response of the SDS people in Newark. Seemingly,they're Interested in exploiting more fully- the possibility of setting up such a Consumer COOP Center in Newark. I sent you a copy of the letter Kramer, Hayden etal sent to my office. For this- you should feel proud. For, it was you who brought us together. I'm looking forward to a meeting with them- and, of course, would be delighted if you could join such a meeting. I'm asking Mr. Donald Heft- an Associate- • to be present at said meeting. He has extensive Real Estate connections in Newark- in addition to moving with affluent SNCC- SDS oriented busin­ essmen. He personally went down to Selma and marched to Montgomery.

If we can demonstrate the effectiveness of such a Coop in Newark., and if we can secure COOP Bank, Farm Credit Adm. LOANS etc; in addition to private capital(to be raised in a fund-raising letter by myself and associates) perhaps then, we can explore the future possibilities of similar activity in the South. The important thing is to bury our dis­ appointment and first disagreements- and hopefully plunge forward in mutually constructive work. I can do this if you don't question my mot­ ives and. actions- and certainly not my integrity. I have never questioned both yours and Jessie's complete sincerity. I just can't and won't work within the Existentialist frame-work of PPC's Non- planning. This is my right and privilege; and yours, too, when and if you find it intolerab­ le to work with me or anyone else- you find Incompatible. Hoping that our group's efforts can be helpful in Newark; and trust­ ing that the effectiveness of ourpgople and our lists and contacts can be put to the test- rather than the idle topic of naive speculation-

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-ff^-Ml. Clarke Co. COFO Box 39o Quitman, Mississippi July 14, 1965

Dear Poor Peopj.es Corp.

Some people in this ares, are very interested in thes idea- If at all pos Ible we need enough literature to make a mailing of about 50 letters. If not available, the nest best thing would be for you to supply us with copies of all that you have published, so that we can meraeo some ourselves. / Freeclor: , >•

pegFvieg/Kasl- * o POOR PiiXJPL^S COKP, P.O. BOX 922 Jackson, Miss A7

Sear 1-iy lea, '

Th« first meeting of the Poor Peoples Corporation is set for August 29,1963.

As you may know, the i/elta Ministry obtained a new administrator for their

Mt. Beulah facility— a chap named Fred Lowery. 1 talked to him yesterday about

using the place for the month of August for training groups of people in

handicraft operations;before the membership meeting. He said that we could have the place, if we had the money.

We have the people to do the training—or at least committments from

people—and we have groups of people who want to be trained.

What we need at this time la funds to pay for the training operation; there

are two alternatives:

(1) A large house in Jackson could be used as a place to sleep and train no more than 10-15 people at a time.

$2) Mt. Beulah...but the cost, as you know is about ,,4.50 per person. Art Thomas is due in the' State this week. 1 am sure that he would be willing to cut the price to at least$"2.00 per person, given he fact that some of the people to be trained are strikers from the Delta.

1 am wondering if its possible for Highlander to assist in defraying •

the cost of the training session. fivenwit h the discount, it would run close to

$1000.00 for the month.

Sorry to hit you with such short notice, but it seems as if nothing

started jellinh/until the last moment.

I also hear that 1 just missed you at Jack Norton's in Mew fork, too bad.

I ! yours, vW>*-v* ' .

. • . • fi

July 20, 1965

She Heverend Mr. Arthur Thomas She Delta Ministry P.O. Box 457 Greenville, Mississippi Dear Arti \ I-^'les Horton haa talkoiL about you several tices in connection with one or another of the m in liississippi. Jesse Morris of the Poor Peoples Corporation has called to our attention the fact that he would like to start a training psoograa for the month of August at Mount Beaulah. Ee has discussed this workshop with S*red Lovery who told hiia that it would be poosible fox him to use Mount Beaulah if he had the money to run the projeot. Myles has been interested for sone time in this kind of training assistance. V© are ready to furnish the money for thi3 program were you agreeable to having Highlander Center co-sponsor this program with you. Because of the limit of ties, it would be good if we could have an immediate reply to this inquiry.

Sincerely yours,

C. Conrad Browne CCBijd 001 Jesse 'lorris * Ducy Montgomery Box 51 Y/instonville, Mississippi 33781 July 22, 19&11 5-

Poor People*s Corporation P.O.Box 977 Jackson, Mississippi

Dear sirs:

A group of citizens in yjinstor.ville, '.Mississippi nas asked ae to write to you for further information concerning the Poor People's Corporation. ',"."e have ths snail brochure and the mimeo- graphed letter which describes this organization in broad out­ lines.

In particular, we should like to receive some membership cards so that wo can form a Poor People's Corporation hero. To should also like to knov.* the date and place of the August meeting of the Poor people's Corporation which is announced in the brochure.

Finally, about a month ago Mr. Edgar Fields of "Instonville wrot« to you about the possibility of getaing .a loan from ah? Poor People's Corporation for the purpose of buying sone farm land. He still has not received any word from you. Would you plee.se be so good as to answer his letter.

Thank you.

merely yoi

\b David H. Barnes MYLEfc (END GEOr WVMA CHAIRMAN COMMtMIONCa 1TATI BOARD OR SOCIAL WFLTARI STATE OF NEW YORK DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL WELFARE 112 STATE STREET

ALBANY FELIX INFAUBTO COUNIEL AND BOARD BCCRCTARV July 22, 196$

Poor Peoples Corporation 117 West Church. Street Jackson, Mississippi

Attention: Jesse Morris

Dear Mr. Morris:

On June 22, 1965 , we sent you the necessary forma so that your organization could register with this office in accordance with Article 10-A of the Social Welfare Law.

A review of our records discloses that we have not received either the registration statement, or an explana­ tion of the reasons why you need not register.

For your convenience, we are again sending you the prescribed forms. If we do not receive the registration statement or a satisfactory reply within fifteen days from the date of this letter, this office will be compelled to take such steps as may be required for the proper enforce­ ment of the pertinent law, a copy of which is enclosed.

Should you require further information, please do not hesitate to contact us.

Very truly yours,

ARNE E. HEGGEN t?.^—- AEH/gts Acting Chief ^Encs. Charities Registration \ /

I t ••??.; ^ •"•"• ' | J 0' '.•„•", lit '

CLEMENTINE DOU05LAS 1092 HENDERSONVIi.LE ROAD ASHEVlLLE. NORTH CAROLINA 28803

July 23, 1965

Mr. Jesse Morris Poor Peoples Corporation P.O.Box 977 Jackson, Miss.

Dear Mr. Morris; * Thank you for sending me the information on your corporation. I do not remember what I wrote Mr. Wasserman of the Sharecroppers Fund but my offer was only to giveiwhat help I could in making a market contact for the prod^ucts of the group of quilters he mentioned. In connection with aynwork for the Southern Highland Handicraft Guild I knew that a number of inquiries have come in for quilting of really good quality. It would be impossible for me to go to Mississippi, and I regret that I know of no one to rescommend for your work. Have you considered asking help from any Mississippi agencies as the Home Demonstration Agents of the Extension Service? The states of Tennessee and North Carolina do give such help tp groups within their states. Since I take it that you are incorporated in the state of Mississippi, I should think you would be eligible for theichelp. Yours sincerely, Executive Director: William Strickland NORTHERN STUDENT MOVEMENT 514 WEST 126th STREET, NEW YORK 10027 Field Offices: MO 3-0800 Harlem Boston (2) Hartford Detroit (2) Philadelphia (2)

NSM Advisory Board James L. Adams John Bennett Arthur Brandenburs David Byers Elias Clark William S. Coffin John Crocker Jr. Richard Gary Warren C Haggstrom Anna Hedgeman Joseph H. Kauffman July 29, 1965 J. Oscar Lee Charles Merrill S. M. Miller Jesse Morris H. Carl McCall Gaylord B. Noyce Frank Riessman Poor People's Corporation Bayard Rustin Patricia Sexton P.O. Box 977 Samuel N. Slie Charles E. Silberman Jackson, Miss. ' Arthur L. Singer, Jr. Hans Spiegel Robert Spike Harold Stassen Dear Jesse: William Stringfellow I spent the last weekend politicking in Washington for NSM. One of the contacts we made was with a guy named Calvin Kytle who is acting director of CRS which Leroy Collins used to head. He expressed an in­ terest in co-ops so I asked Ellen to send him your stuff. Maybe something will turn up for you out of the contact. Do the right thing. Sincerely,

Bill Strickland

.. R.J.ANDERSON 1864 DEXTER IANE DCS PIAINES, UIINOIS 60011 312 -tar.1145

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July 31, 1965

The Poor People's Corporation 8 Beekman Street, Room 1037 New York, New York 10038

Attn: Miss Ellen Maslow

Gentlemen:

Thank you for your July 29 letter and your interest in the work we are doing.

I am organizing a national center of supply of Montessori materials and ask that you quote prices fob destination, shipping weight, terms, and delivery of the enclosed drawings in quantities of 25, 50, and 100, per drawing numbers 112, 113, lllj, ll|8 and 23I. I will be happy to furnish drawings of other items required when I receive your reply.

Your organization is worthwhile and I wish you success in your endeavors.

May I have your prompt reply.

Sincerely,

R. "0. Anderson

RJA:c Enc. 5 CHAi- N STATE BOARD OF SOCIAL WELFARE STAl t~

DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL WELFARE 112 STATE STREET ALBANY FELIX INFAUSTO COUNSEL AND BOARD SECRETARY

August 3, 1965

Poor Peoples Corporation P.O. Box 977 Jackson, Mississippi Attention: Mr. Jesse Morris Dear Mr. Morris: This will acknowledge your July 28, 1965 letter which enclosed a copy of the Certificate of Incorporation of Poor Peoples Corporation, the corporation being formed as a non­ profit organization in the State of New Jersey. You indicated in your letter that in effect, Poor Peoples Corporation is not a charitable organization. It would seem that you are interpreting the terms, "benevolent, philanthropic, patriotic, or eleemosynary", in too limited a sense. Your interpretation is not in accord with the views of this office or the views of the Attorney General of the State of New York. We have in cur files copies of solications sent by your organization to New York State residents. Based on this in­ formation, we determined that your organization is required to register with this Department. If registration or a satisfactory reply is not received within fifteen days from the date of this letter, we will be compelled to refer this matter to the Attorney General for proper enforcement of Article 10-A of the Social Welfare Law. For your information, we are again enclosing a copy of Article 10-A of the Social Welfare Law, which is the basis of the Program in New York State. Very truly yours, COUNSEL

AEH/mjr ARNE E.^oSvp Enc. Chief, Charities Registration

. Alabama SNCC

Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee Silas Norman, 31% Franklin St. Selma, Alabama State Project Director Phone: 872-1426 872-4801

P.O. Box 201 Greensboro, Ala. August 5,1965

Poor Peopls Corporation P.O. Box 977 Jackson, Mississippi

Dear Sirst Wa ara interest in imformation on ths poor people}* corporation. So th»t ws oan relet* this imformation to poor people in Alabama. By doing this m can form * unity in ths South. So we might bs mors effsotivs to overcome provety in ths Southern* States.

Yours in ths Struggls Bale County S.N.C.C. Staff

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'Li I STAVIS, RICHARDSON, KOENIGSBERG 8 ROSSMOORE COUNSELORS AT LAW

744 BROAD STREET MORTON STAVI5 NEWARK, N. J. 07102 MABEL L. RICHARDSON SAMUEL M. KOENIGSBERG AREA CODE 201 WILLIAM ROSSMOORE 622-3789

August 24, 1965 Mr. Jesse Morris P.O. Box 977 Jackson, Miss. Re: Poor Peoples Corporation Dear Jesse; The enclosed form from the New York State Depart­ ment of Social Welfare was returned to us because you failed to supply an answer to question #12 and failed to pay the $5. fee. Sincerely yours,

Morton Stav is MS:mbt Encl. Air mail P.S.: We have still not been able to register your corporation with the State of New Jersey, although I cannot say we will not be able to do so. The approval of the State Dept. of Institutions and Agencies ls^required and that has not been forthcoming. I will be in touch with you as soon as we have further word.

-. ; . • • Tho Poor People's Corp* 5 Bookman St., Rm* 1037 New York, :J.Y. 10030 August 27, 1965

Tori hcAlpin© do won Engineering Co* 'Ltd* 78 .OR ox St, G-lascow Si, Scotland Doar *or, MoAlpinej Your letter was very heartening, and X hope wo can move quickly to establish a factory for i-'oaco in ItcComh, or perhaps another town in U«saiaaippi« X will certainly do all I can on this end to speed the process* I'M leaving this afternoon for a week's field trip to Mississippi* ore I'll attend the first Poor People's Corp* membership rase ting, and visit the various training programs and workshops* I*a bringing our correspondence along with so, so I pan discuss it thoroughly with the Project Director in MoComb* It would, of course, bo economical in tine and money to work out as much as possible before you or another person from Scotland oomes hero to work outdetlals, I'll try to determine tho general lobar Situation in KcCoxab ( although I I be orehand that it's terrible beyond our power to correct it* with only one Factory) a Is11 also put you in touch directly with the Project Director who would be able to toll you all you need to Icnow about HoCorab, and other towns in the acme, Oreo you toll ma what your Ideas arc about possible products* and marketing, I can -penmen t on it in terms of the contacts we've made, our familiarity with too American BQQTXO9 etc, Tho person who first told me of tho Factory for Peace, Collin Bonse* is writing an article on PPC for the August 27th issue of PEACE uhdS. Be*s particularly interested in our effort to establish this link between the American end Scottish movements, and will prove to bo, I'm euro, a great help to tho project* Sines no's Editor of / TODAY, wo night think in terras of a future Factory for i-'eaco in Africa as weIli»o* he is very familiar , with the various nations and people there* Tli© possibility you mentioned of raising funds there to send a can to r.ississlppl is very good news, since our funds will be completely dispersed at Sunday's meeting, Our next membership mooting will bo in three months, and perhaps wo should aim at that date for having a concrete proposal organised* X should think tdat another PEACE :i™"3 article, solely about our plans* would raise adequate funds* X will write to you When X, return next week, with more concrete Information* X think we have an exciting project on our hands* Sincerely, Glasgow Si „,. i . v - . Telephone -S

• f|©W©il Directors T BScAM,EE

I must indeed thank you for grour letter of 3rd August. I was very interested to read about your work in more detail. Needless to say 1 constantly read articles about the Freedom Movement in the United States and, of course, fully support their actions.

At once let me say that we would be delighted to help in any way that we can. The basis of our factory is that we are experimenting in industrial democracy and the profits from the Company are to be used to assisti under-developed countries and to further the cause of peace. Our Company will make no goods directly for war purposes and our aid to all the causes is meant to be practical. For instance, by helping under-developed countries, we mean starting factories and thereby allowing the people concerned locally to help themselves.

Our Company began by means of an Appeal, launched in 1363. We raised approx. £6,000 and with the help of many outside proffesionals, have designed and produced a range of electric off-peak night storage heaters. We were officially opened on 12*th September, IS64 with two people and we now employ twenty. For the past two years we will have made a loss, but this year, if all goes well, we should make our first small profit. All our ideas, therefore, about assisting others have not yet been put into practise, as our first duty is to become economic. As I Bay, this should happen this year and thereafter we can proceed with the work we intend to do. i I have enclosed as much information as I can on our factory and also on the next one we are starting in South Wales. In Wales the Committee of 100 and the j National Union of Mineworkers have got together and have so far raised about £5,000. They too are intending to start a factory on our lines and in due course will be providing profits to help further.

We have several further projects lined up for Britain and eventually it is hoped that we will have 20-30 workshops all working on our ideas and able to train others. If so, we too hope to have a non-violent revolution in Britain.

I am quite sure that we can assist you. We already have quite a few contacts in the United States and we also have the advise of quite a number of designers, financiers, production experts, etc., and we have many products in mind which might find a worthwhile market. 2 -

We would be delighted to help start a factory in Mississipi. However, unfortunately, we could not at this stage put up any capital towards this venture, although we do know of many organisations in this country who might be prepared to assist if we approached them. On the other hand it may be that you can raise the necessary capital, but this can be left, as whatever' happens I am sure the money can be raised.

I am writing very generally just now so that you might get an over-all • picture of our work. Once you have studied this, perhaps I could then provide more exact details about, wages, market, etc., as you require. I am sure that initially one of us could visit Mississipi to get to know the situation better. Eventually I am sure that someone from our group could spend some time in Mississipi organising a factory for peace. If, however, in our present economical state someone was going to visit Mississipi, unfortunately the expenses would have to be raised either by you or by us approaching some of the groups referred to above. We have various contact with others already ehlping the Negroes cause in the States, such as East Harlem ar^iiiembers of the Iona Community, etc. If required, I am sure their help can also be received.

I think your last paragraph is very important. We too feel that peace very much depends upon a change of political stance in America and if we can help we will certainly be delighted to do so.

I trust I have given you sufficient information. Meanwhile, I look forward to hearing from you .further.

Best wishes,

~2^«ra^*';

Tom McAlpine.

• Loading 1 * •**" RSH ^ 25 Catalogue No. » kw> hours Storage Capacnv • ' Dimension• s< , a 21 -)-" E19-H-0

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Rowen Age"*' : Bowen P^^e (Electrical) Md ADertay Servwe ^ ^ Royal ll-^|0 ENGLAND 4 Lloyds Avenue Birmingham^ 6968

Barrow^ Br ^ ^^ Barry W'V WALES le5) 81 Court Boad owen products gs^ft B 1332 , Telephone—South ®f ctreet Glasgow, S.I- ' rnLTD 78 Middlesex Street, ^M ENGINEERING CO. LTD., 1-J kw. lowline heater 2i kw. lowline heater Rowen lowline Thermal storage heater with partial _ Office & Other Rowen electric storage heaters have been used in offices. output control Installations schools, banks, hotels and public buildings, as well as in houses. Controls Each Rowen Lowline heater is fitted with an input heat control Electric night storage heaters have proved to be the cheapest thermostat which allows you to control the temperature for a way of heating your home, office or other premises. Background given room. In addition Rowen have fitted a partial output or centra! heating can be provided by electric storage heaters control device which allows part of the output to be controlled at a lower installation cost than any other fuel and with less by a knob located on the front of the heater. Moreover, a inconvenience. Rowen (of Scotland) manufacture a complete safety cut-out is fitted to switch off the heater in the range of heaters for all your needs. event of misuse. Running Costs Rcwen Lowline electric night storage heaters are charged up Quality Products Rowen night storage heaters are a quality product. All com­ during off-peak, periods when electricity is supplied at nearly ponents have been liberally rated to guarantee a long life with half price and the heat stored is steadily released over 24 hours. little or no maintenance. The heaters use a high density fire­ They are very economical to run. For example, a 2-\ kw. r*iea

Three years ago a young Scottish engineer, Tom McAlpine, who..was r..- an active socialist and deeply involved in the peace movement, decided • to start a co-operative factory, the profits from which would go to help underdeveloped countries, the peace movement and local community development. This decision was made in response to a number of different but related problems. He had been an'active member of the Labour Party but had become convinced of the.'. sterility and lack of genuine democracy in conventional party politics. He was greatly concerned about peace but felt that existing anti-war groups., although doing an important job, were too negative and had failed to develop roots among the mass of the people for whom problems of international violence seemed remote and who had little tradition of, active political participation. He felt that the peace movement should become involved in the creative solution of problems at all levels and should attempt to develop an understanding of non-violence in relation to everyday affairs. One could hardly expect, democracy, responsibility and concern for others to thrive at the political level when the work group, which is such an important part of people's lives, is authoritarian and places great stress on individual competitiveness. In addition, there was the more mundane problem of finding sources of finance for the peace movement and for many other projects, in particular the setting up of similar factories in underprivileged nations. .;-...

•"'- This is a very brief summary of some of the ideas behind the project. A number of people, especially conventional socialists, criticised the proposed factory on the grounds that it was Utopian, could never make a significant impact and would be crushed commercially. McAlpine met these criticisms by stressing that we had to speak to people through actions, that progressive movements generally suffered from a surfeit of words with very little concrete to show and that there was a need for genuine experiment in industrial democracy to develop practical working patterns that might be applied elsewhere. Also, from his own experience of business, he attacked the view that all management in capitalist industry could be dismissed as unsympathetic and of one mind. Instead, one ought to approach everyone, no matter how unlikely, on the assumption that they are potential sympathisers, and offer them ways of using their own talents to help.

Several groups gave their support to the project. The Iona Community, a radical Christian group within the Church of Scotland of vjhich Tom McAlpine is a member, had long been interested in' industrial democracy and decided to sponsor the factory. So also did the Committee of 100, the local Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament and YiTar On Want. Each of these organisations sent representatives to form a working group which also included other interested individuals. It was decided that the factory should be called the Rowen Engineering Company, after Robert Owen, the great 19th century social and industrial reformer who started his first experimental factory not far from Glasgow. The working group felt that money should be raised in the form of small donations from a large number of people in order to involve as many as possible and to prevent over-dependence on a few wealthy individuals. Preparatory research went into the problem of suitable products and it was de ided.that the factory should be set up to make general sheet- metal work and light engineering to ensure flexibility. The product , chosen to specialise in was night storage heating, which is a new type of central heating unit which stores electricity at cheap off-peak periods and releases it at a steady rate throughout the day.

A national appeal for money was launched with a distinguished list of sponsors and about £6,000 was raised in six months, over.2,000 people having donated. Premises were rented and decorated by volunteers.

Continued. - 2 -

Voluntary help was also given by accountants, designers, insurance brokers etc. This has been one of the encouraging features of the scheme - so many people, not otherwise active, have been happy to give their services to a project of this kind.

Turning now to structure of the factory, it was discovered that is was legally impossible to have a registered limited company which was co-operatively owned. This was got round by forming a second company - The Rowen Community - which held the shares in the Rowen Company, each worker in the company being a member of the community with equal voting rights. The working group was anxious that the factory should be genuinly experimental and did not want to impose in advance a rigid structure. It was £or the most part left to the factory personnel to work this out. However, it was agreed that there should be an advisory council consisting of representatives of the organisations which had backed the project, and that this should have the right of veto if the personnel tried to sell the company for personal gain or made goods directly for war purposes. Apart from this factory employees were completely autonomous.

•When the factory was opened eighteen months ago by the Rev. Michael Scott, two men started working full-time. There are now eighteen.and by the end of the year it is hoped there will be twenty-five. There is a' weekly meeting of employees at which all major decisions are taken and each individual is able to bring up any issue he wishes. There must be majority agreement before anyone is employed or dismissed and the fore­ man and manager are elected. The task of work leader in the two sections b* the factory is taken in monthly rotation by each v/orker. The most difficult problem for which there is unlikely to be any cut and dried answer is that of trying to find the correct function for management in a system of co-operative control. The manager and foreman of the Rowen factory are given authority to issue instructions from week to week and any disagreement with their judgement is raised at the weekly workers' meeting. Since most of the men in the factory have no previous experience of the technical side of management, it is often difficult for them to criticise this effectively. However, an effort is constantly made to increase their knowledge of finance, selling etc. in order that they may see the decisions that have to be made in their full context. Problems of wages, working conditions, personal relationships, organisation on the shop floor and production are ones of which most workers do have direct knowledge and in which they are often experts in their own way. For the first time in their industrial career the men in the factory have to decide what their own wages should be both in absolute terms and in relation to each other. They have been free to vote themselves higher wage rates than the ones they have in fact chosen; they have looked at the overall financial position of the company and have not taken too short-term a view. The question of relative wages is a naturally difficult one and is made even more so since decisions cannot be taken in a vaccuum but must be considered in relation to what is prevalent in other firms. The wages on the shop floor are for the most part the standard trade union rates but there has been an attempt to reduce differentials and, in particular, the gap between manager and skilled tradesman is now slight. This will present difficulties in the future if the factory ahd others similar » t 'since it may be difficult to get men withihe necessary managerial skills who will be prepared to accept a much smaller salary than they could earn with other firms. Nevertheless this is felt to be an important factor in reducing the social distance between management and shopfloor and the Rowen factory will try as far as •possible to maintain this. It also hopes in the future to experiment with other forms of payment,, possible introducing a greater element of payment by need. The company is completely opposed to individual bonuses and similar financial incentives but it has recently introduced a group bonus system and after trying it for a few months, it will be decided whether it is worth maintaining. The problem of discipline is another area in which the approach

Continued...... - 3- has been experimental. Complete freedom was allowed in time-keeping but it was found after a time that this was becoming too lax and the group meeting decided that they should keep.a note of their arrival . and departure times and time themselves on'-the^job more strictly. The problem of unsatisfactory workers which has arisen on a few occasions is one which up till now has resolved itself by the individual in question deciding of his own accord to leave. Psychological pressure does arise from the group as a whole when it is felt that someone is not pulling his weight without a justifiable reason. A great deal of tolerance is allowed for special circumstances and the factory goes out of its way to help anyone adjust. "when the company was started, it was not based on the assumption that co-operative ownership would eliminate conflict but rather that it would enable the conflicts which inevitably arise in any group to be brought into the open and solved as constructively as possible. Initially it was difficult to get those of the men who had worked in traditional industry to express themselves; they have been used to accepting an inferior status and lack confidence in their own judgement and in their ability to succeed. But gradually this reserve has broken and now idea and complaints are brought up fairly freely. It has been found that although disagreements during the weekly meeting are often heater, the men are very quickly on good terms again afterwards. The factory is of course still small and therefore the problem of communication is a comparatively simple one. Looking to the future the prospects of expansion are considerable and this raises the problem of size. The company feels that small units are always preferable to large ones whenever this is economically feasible. The pattern they envisage is of a series of small autonomous companies with about thrity to fifty workers with some form of central co-ordination but no central control, A proportion of each companies profits might possibly be put into a central pool for financing agreed schemes and there might also be a pool of certain of the more specialised technicians. At the same time they are anxious to work out patterns of co-operative control for large scale industrial units and therefore they would eventually like at least one large factory if this were possible. Already a second factory is being started in a mining valley in South Wales and this will emplov disabled miners. Eventually, if it grows, it is hoped that it will help prevent the de-population of the area. The Rowen factory is now producing a range of night storage heaters and there are large prospects of expansion in this market. It also hopes soon to go into the field of reinforced plastic and a sympathetic firm has offered to train people for this. There are many possible products which a flexible and dynamic firm can take up and develop. In addition to the purely industrial side of the project, the company wishes to encourage community development schemes within the surrounding area which is a very poor one. For example, it hopes soon to start an adventure playground for the children in the neighbourhood. Those working with the project see it as an attempt to develop a new kind of democracy - one which demands real involvement and direct responsibility. The factory also has the intention of assisting developing countries. Its aim is to start factories in various developing countries to train people from these countries in metal-working and other skills and then to use part of its profits to assist the people in such countries to start their own enterprises. Such factories would, of course, be autonomous,on the same lines as the company in Glasgow. The factory also intends to use part of its profits, to further the cause of peace. There is no absolute measure of success for an objective of this kind; its success can only be measure by degree. If it eventually succeeds in increasing in some way initiative and concern for others, both at home and abroad, and a greater understanding of non-violence, it will have been worth the effort put into it. Reprinted from THE FRIEND, Vol. 123, No, 24..

THE TWO "FACTORIES FOR PEACE" And Hopes of More To Come

•4. development of new products are being must be elected to manage—there cannot be investigated. An entire pen factory has been group meetings every ten minutes—but that at offered! The Scottish factory hopes to regular weekly meetings in working hours expand to employ 25 people by the end of the leadership can be displayed by each member year, and July 31 is the target date for starting according to his particular experience and manufacturing in South Wales. contribution. In, the event of something Between now and then the pace will not going so radically wrong as to violate the con­ slacken. £10,000 has to be raised. Equipment stitution an outside Advisory Council steps has to be obtained and installed. Legal docu­ in, but not otherwise. ments making the Onllwyn factory a recog­ The constitution lays down the outward- nised charity have to be submitted for looking purposes, in the broadest possible registration. Workmen have to be selected terms, of using profits to help community and trained. development, underdeveloped countries and In this new venture, local down-to-earth the cause of peace, and it also states that no issues immediately become part and parcel product may be manufactured directly for war of a wider vision of society as a whole. When purposes. When, and how, profits are dis­ the pits were closed, many of the able-bodied tributed rests with the employees within these left the Dulais Valley, but a number of dis­ broad terms of reference. At present the abled men have been unable to find other Scottish factory is using all its resources work, including 14 ex-miners suffering from for expansion, but they have already thought that when they do have profits to distribute pneumoconiosis since before 1948. The Coal it will be by promoting other related ventures, Board has done what it can to absorb the dis­ such as peace action centres, or by helping to abled as surface workers in other pits, but if train people from underdeveloped countries to the last pit in the Valley closes, as it is shortly start factories for themselves. It is vital to have expected to, over 100 disabled may be out of these outward-looking goals; and already, work. For these reasons, and because of the in this spirit, the local people of Onllwyn are sense of responsibility the local community thinking in terms of "Valleys for Peace". feels for its disabled members, the first Factory for Peace at Onllwyn will be set up as Surely this new movement represents an a sheltered workshop employing, in the main, idea whose time has come? The slogan disabled people, in the assembly of heaters. of the appeal, "Let's Start Making", is dis- Application has been made to the Ministry armingly simple and yet dynamically con­ of Labour for training and other financial structive. I believe that Friends will want to assistance. support it financially at this early stage, and How, exactly, the new factory will operate also by offering their services either voluntarily or on a professional basis. The manager is remains to be seen. It may not develop elected at each factory, but not everyone precisely as the Scottish factory has can be a good manager. A new manager is developed. There will be the closest com­ needed in Glasgow to relieve Tom McAlpine, munication and co-operation between the two who is now committed to starting new factories, through the Rowen Community, factories. Others with commercial or tech­ or, when the Onllwyn factory is set up, the nical skills are needed. "Rowen Community in Onllwyn". The shares in the Rowen Engineering Co., Ltd., are Friends may wish to write to me for further collectively owned by the employees, who information, at 46 Murch Road, Dinas meet as the Rowen Community, Ltd., to Powis, Glamorganshire, or to the Scottish discuss how the factory will be run, what shall factory at 78 Middlesex Street, Glasgow SI. The Treasurer to the appeal is David be made, how it will be marketed, staff, wages, Francis, 2 St. Andrew's Crescent, Cardiff. prices, technical design—everything. In Scotland they have found that a manager PHHJP SEED. I

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-ft*—*- (jfr—, 7&*J~~ /OxXJL -£uu>. Miss Monica Klein: Mississippi Freedom Democratic Party 507-| Farrish Street Jackson September 9 1965

Dear Miss Klein:

I want too first say how wonderful it was to meet and work with all of you Mississippi Freedom Democrats, and that as soon as I can make arrangements, I am going to return too Jackson and continue in this most necessary work.

1 am writing to ask if you will send me any piece of literature with the Poor Peoples Cooperative adress listed on it or the adress of the secretary. If it would facilitate matters, would you find out how many of the leather carrying bags can be shipped say in two weeks and what could be expected in the way of a fairly steady rate of delivery after that.

It might be easier if you held all of this information until I see you on the sixteenth in Washington or if some one from the cooperative comes to Washington as I expect so, then I can get the matter direct and not trouble you.

I have talked too a few people about my southern expposure and I will be talking too a lot more with the hope of raising some funds. I am contacting as many of my up state friends as I can and am asking thenqto write to their congressmen to getas big a vote as possible from the Pennsyl vania delegation.

We as a state in matters racial do not always make a decent showing when it comes to the actual vote coung. I have learned to condition my self for the surprises in my delegation.

Here's wishing us every success on the sixteenth and my regards to all. Sincerely

Perry Triplett o

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•' '-•;'*''( LAW OFFICES OF MCKISSICK & BUR T 313V$S WEST MAIN 8TH1 DURHAM, NORTH CAROLINA 27701

OFFICE 682-8106

F. B. McKISSICK M. C. BURT. JR.

: Civil Rights Leader:

Re: S OP: ISTRUCTXON OF NEGRO LOCALS— LOCAL 20S- DURHAM* V C :0LIKA.

I eon '. ' ' g to you to alert you to the import* i ssue of whether or net the intergrating of ns, by the desti locals and the merger of segregated Negro locals with segt locals, is actually accomplishing or futbering equal employment opportunities i j ies.

Iji g r" of segregated locals has allowed sot union le Jers to declare that their unions are "integrated." The cox proa.: sed is that cir i '. _ last Neg - " . bean eliminated a:, i :es are afforded equal employment oj Lti Lth whites. conclusion is not recessarily justified. The basic issue in the merger of Negro locals with white locals is seniority ri o employees. Enclosed you will the history here in Durham, North Carolina. I hops that you will carefully note the parts played by:

1, Tnv Negro local unions, Locals IV6 ana iy*. 2. The International Unic t, Tobacco Workers International Union, API-CXO,.CiC. 3, The white local, Local 176, T. W. I. 0., AFL-CIO, CLC. 4. The Prec: ' E^ual Employment Opp is, 5, 11 Nat ic 6. Ths I •; t for ' '• of Columbia* :' : i a comp] -..: one. The Negrc • snt epp unities and I ." • can 1 accompli! STAVIS, BjCHARDSO.s, > ivOSSMOORE

COUNSELORS AT LAW

744 BROAD STREET MORTON STAVIS NEWARK, N. J. 07102 MABEL L. RICHARDSON SAMUEL M. KOENICSBERG AREA CODE 201 WILLIAM ROSSMOORE 622-3789

September 16, 1965

Mr. Jesse Morris P.O. Box 977 Jackson, Mississippi Re: Poor Peoples Corporation Dear Jesse: I am happy to report that the Department of Institutions and Agencies has given its approval and your corporation is now fully registered as a corporation of New Jersey not for pecuniary profit. A copy of the Certificate of Incorporation is enclosed. Sincerely,

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September 22, 1965

Mr. Andrew Barnes Poor People's Corporation Box 977 Jackson, Mississippi

Dear Mr. Barnes:

After our discussion the other night, it seemed to me I should write you a sort of summary plus a few other points that have occurred to me since. I'm also sending information about your organization to The Cooperative League office in Chicago - attention Mr. Ihlenfeldt.

The gist of our discussion was that Tom Flynn would try to see if some of the items your groups have produced could be sold at our co-op Christmas Gift sales - if you got samples to him right away, perhaps samples of two or three different things produced. We felt it was much too late this year to do anything on toys.

For the future, we generally suggested emphasis on producing items that used local raw materials as much as possible, and that used more hand work and less equipment and materials - to keep capital costs down and to return to the member-owner#-worker> as much of the sales dollar as possible. We urged emphasis on items that are normally sold in large supermarkets rather than in gift shops or department stores, because our co-ops don't operate gift shops or department stores; we thought many of our members would give support to your efforts if the items made can be gotten here at prices that are reasonably competitive and if the quality of workmanship is good.

We also called your attention to Southern Consumers Cooperative, Louisiana, as the only group we knew that had built a broad-based cooperative operation: consumer, credit, and marketing - it's a predominantly Negro group and has been guided for several years by Father McKnight, who draws heavily on Nova Scotia co-op experience. We would urge some from your group to visit them.

Beyond all this, may I add a few points that have occurred to me since? We can't do much directly here to help you build co-ops that can survive - this means someone on the scene locally and a strong training program to develop the group as a co­ operative and some individuals in it as capable managers. Personally, all of my experience (since 1936) has been with consumer and credit co-ops. But I've read and studied a good deal about producer co-ops and the past history of them, so a brief summary of this may help you. To begin with, very few producer co-ops in this country have survived for very long - but they have been effective in some other countries, Mexico for example. Even here, some of them have provided income for their members for a few years - and so long as they come out of it all right at the end, this is certainly worth a great deal. (There was a wave of producer co-ops in the mid-thirties, for example.) - 2

Mr. Andrew Barnes Poor People's Corporation September 22, 1965

In general, their failure was due to four basic reasons: not enough capital to buy adequate equipment and inventory and tide the group over the period until finished goods were soldj incompetent managers and poor accounting records; production for an unknown market that frequently didn't even exist; failure to develop an under­ standing of cooperative goals among members. Those producer co-ops that succeeded ceased to be co-ops when the original member-owners blocked additional workers from becoming owners (They had a good thing; why let others in on it J) Mexico has a law requiring these producer or worker-owned co-ops to admit employees to full ownership, after a probationary employment period. (I think it's one year.)

As for incorporation as a co-op, if you run into problems in Mississippi - as you probably would - I think we told you of the federal District of Columbia Cooperative Corporations Law, which might help you safeguard co-op features of operation. We also, I think, urged you to organize community credit unions to help strengthen the experience of the group in cooperative activity - as well as to answer some of the immediate needs for small loans and (in the longer range) to help build a capital base. If the Nova Scotia farmers and fishermen could start this in the mid-thirties, when they could hardly save 25e a week regularly, so can you. (One book - about 19^6 I think, might be relevant to your needs: It's called "Masters of Their Own Destiny" and was written about the Nova Scotia experience by Father M.M. Coady.)

Tom and I, talking together afterward, noted the new increase of interest in co­ operatives these past few years. Part of it is a new emphasis on our problems as consumers, on problems of buying and borrowing, of gyps and frauds and deception in the market place. Part of it has developed out of civil rights struggles, and some of it, more recently, out of the poverty program. There was a big wave of interest in the mid-Thirties, and we've learned from our experience since then. Perhaps we're now in the middle of a new wave - I hope so. For my part, the organ­ ization of cooperatives that can survive and grow is the most important job before us - and a much more basic one than some of the other things we work on. It's also much more revolutionary, altho many haven't seen this in it.

Our best to all of you. We all hope your part of our total cooperative movement can be built to serve its members and to grow into a really useful democratic tool.

Sincerely yours, 7)

AD:ssf Art Danforth cc: Tom Flyn Chuck Ihlenfeldt L K ^1% - /S /

5 Boolanan St., Km, 1037 IJow *ork, II .1. 1U03B r£2-3996 September 23, 1965

George Hutt Aronoon and Orcsraan 350 Fifth Avo. New York, N.Y. 10001 Dear Mr, Hutt, Mr. Stephen Levis, of Tnlbott Industries, net with sevoral KoCorab workers nnd myself, to discuss tho establishment of a scaring factory in UoComb, Mississippi, He eskod no to writo to you, outlining our conversation, and tho purposes -and structure! of tho Poor Pooplo fs Corporation, 1»« enclosing tho Minutes of a rocont membership meeting, with Charter ana 3y~Law3 attached, since it contains a great deal of information, and will bo of Interest to you. The Corporation's lawyer 1st Kr» "ortie StavlS, 744 Broad 8t», Hewark, N.J, 07102, As I understand it, Mr, Lewis has offered to donate and transport approximately six high-powered aewing machines to HcComb, where WC Is developing a sowing cooperative, She workers will bo women, employed by the -oliday Inn at S6jf por hour, who havo 'decided to go on strike* The jobs created by this factory, will allow then to pxmcoed with thoir plans to become financially solf-sufflcient, Mr, Lewis also said ho would arrange to ship down pro-cut fabric, which tho women would cow, P?C would boar tho responsibility for marketing, unless Mr, Lewis were able to arrange, with a fainiraum of inconvonionco, marketing contracts, 8* are now Booking an expert ceanstross who would volunteer to train tho workers on tho high-powered machines. Design and fabric selection would be, handled by I'r, Lewis* personnel* We have spoken with Mr, ChalkAn of\tLC-V/u, and hope for substantial assistance from them, both financially' and technically* / Once tho workers in McComb havo developed adequate skill, they will have to begin purchasing thoir own fabric, favorable purchasing v arrangements can bo worked out for thotn, and M,,, Lewis has offofod to continue pro-outting thoir fabric at no charge• ®e are eager to novo ahead on tho so plan3 quickly, Tho workshop in hcComb is now being prepared for tho equipment, The soonor wo have tho oquipmont sot up then, the sooner a training program can got V underway. Thank you. • J. (

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—m,.,mwm»*?""'- 'Jff^fc 4pil|l.lii!i«UMI^* Box 393 Reed College Portland, Ore. 97202 September 27, 1965

Poor Peoples Corporation 900 North Farish Street Jackson, Mississippi

Dear Mr. Korris:

I am interested in getting information about PPC, especially in terms of

a sales brochure with'pictures' and prices, as mentioned in the September 25 •1 Kational Guardian. I would be able to post on campus any information readily

available, and I am sure that significant salea might be made. •I

If you have a list of lands of objects that you would need, which might

be able to be donated from campus, this would also be a worthwhile thing for

people on campus to know — students, faculty, and faculty wives alike. As you probably;know, there is^a fairly broad basis of support for social and

economic change, although even usually creative members of the student body often need hints on how to play a significant role. At any rate, if it is

possible that you could throw a few of these hints this way, I am sure that

'drives could be made to collect material and send it to you.

! Ostfym With every hope of ^success,

lours sincerely,

Tim Janke

.• > ,: Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee

NATIONAL OFFICE] 360 NELSON STREET, S W, ATLANTA, GEORGIA 30303 BAY AREA REGIONAL OFFICE 584 Page Street Sept. 27, 1965 San Francisco, California MA 6-4577 100 Jesse Morris Poor Peoples Corporation P. O. Box 977 Jackson, Mississippi Dear Jesse, Am talking with Sandra Reznick who is willing to do follow-up for PPC in the Fay Area. She tells me that she has written you about work-training possibilities in crafts in this area. In addition, there are businessmen here who are willing to go down. We need to hear from you about this. Notes on Andy's tour: I'm sure Andy thinks not much happened. I would make- these exceptions to what he says: (1) with folloH-up, we can pressure the co-op into marketing things produced down there. (2) Cost-Pius will market whatever you send them now. Andy Cattan, the owner, say3, however, that some improvement in cost and quality is necessary before things can really sell in any large quantity. (3) One remark that several businessmen have made that does stick in my mind: you ought to Investigate markets and then produce for them rather than produce something and then look for or try to create a market. There is help here for this, so don't overlook it if you need it. I think there are a couple of Negro businessmen here who are willing to go down. In addition, there are some white business­ men who would go too. (If.) Can you begin some follow-up on the National Co-ops? Their office is in Chicago. If you write them, please be sure to send a carbon copy of your correspondence—and photo-copy of their response--to Sandra Heznick, c/o our office. The guys at the Negro run co-op In San Francisco are Interested in this. They will try to provide some leverage for you from here with the national. WE HEED SAMPE2S AND PHOTOGRAPHS AS SOON AS POSSIELE OP EVERYTHING BEING PRODUCED IN THE STATE. Samples would do, we can take the photos. Hello Andy. Hooe all is going well. Freedom, //U^ Kike One MM, OneVote cc. Sandra Rerdhick Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee

National Office: 6 Raymond St., NW, Atlanta, Georgia 30314

5929 Grove St. 584*age"PageSjT SfS* Oakland, Cal. San Francisco, Cal. OL 5-9545 -4577^ September 27, 1965.

Mr. Jesse Morris Poor Peoples Corp. Box 997 Jackson, Mississippi Dear Jesse: East Bay Friends of SNCC is still very much Interested in helping the economic as well as the political development of Mississippi t in any way we can. Since Andrew Barnes1 visit we are more eager than ever to get moving in the economic sphere, and we know by the very fact of Andy's visit that you think there is a potential for substantial help from the Bay Area. \v) What we lack now Is a specific plan. If we are going to work on ^ty'. - marketing the PPC's products, we have got to have samples, and we have got to know what quantities will be available, what shipping 'J? times and charges will be, etc. If we are going to help raise capital for the PPC, we will have to have more detailed plans for the use '; ' of the money than are contained in the Introductory leaflet. We could probably raise a few hundred dollars on the basis of the present * information from liberals who would give to anything just on the basis that it will go to Negroes in Mississippi, but in order to raise substantial money, the kind that would really mean something to you, we would need to approach donors with a we 11-worked-out fi -program in hand. Finally, if we are going to bring pressure on the 0/ cooperative movement to put some effort, money, or organizers into Mississippi, or on the Federal Government to put In loans, etc., we again would need to know exactly what you want. One of the members of our executive committee, Ed Opton, will be in New Orleans next month, and he will be able to go up to Jackson (or possibly elsewhere In Mississippi) to talk with you about what East Bay Friends of SNCC can do to benefit the PPC and other economic fo development projects. We have done a lot of talking about this up here, but as yet we haven't done anything, mainly, I think, because we aren't sure which of the many things we could try would really be wanted. I hope we can decide on a plan of action and get started.

t> One 11 Ian, One Vole ^Masr- Please let me know if you will be in Jackson or somewhere else in Mississippi and able to talk with Ed between October 10 and 1^. Also, what is your phone number? Please write to me as soon as possible because Ed Is not going directly from here to Jackson, and I will need some time to notify him how and where to contact you. j Jesse, we really want to work on this. Freedom, jcLM^ UcjAnU^AL^

\- Box 393 Reed College Portland, Ore. 97202 September 27, 1965

Poor Peoples Corporation 900 North Farish Street j Jackson, Mississippi

Dear Mr. Morris:-

I am interested in getting information about PPC, especially in terras of

a sales brochure with pictures and prices, as mentioned in the September 25 1 national Guardian. I would be able to post on campus any information readily available, and I am sure that significant sales might be made.

If you have a list of kinds of objects that you would need, which might

be able to be donated from campus, this would also be a worthwhile thing for

people on campus to know — students, faculty, and faculty wives alike. As.

you probably.know, there is^a fairly broad basis of support for social and

economic change, although even usually creative members of the student body

often need hints on how to play a significant role. At any rate, if it is

possible that you could throw a few of these hints this way, I am sure that

•'drives could be made to collect material and send it to you.

/ totow 7.7ith every hope of,success,

Iour3 sincerely,

Tim Janke

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Please S&ut me as mo^cv CAfytcs of i%z PPC SaJes ifrWtune as ^<-e €viclcsed bj.oo iAAiW fauj-fir. V^M'M b

If Ljcu hu/e a. U*'f of ^Y11^ iUM C* moAzd, C014JJ. a\ -hef -h do £oi^e edducaA-ury\ kexe cUs^i PPC.

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6 W ^^' CONSUMER OWNED SHOPPING CENTERS IN PALO ALTO CALIFORNIA AVENUE AT PARK BLVD. MOUNTAIN VIEW SAN ANTONIO ROAD AT EL CAMINO MAIN OFFICE: SUNNYVALE CONSUMERS' COOPERATIVE SOCIETY FREMONT AVENUE AT HIGHWAY 9 144 CALIFORNIA AVENUE PALO ALTO, CALIFORNIA i PrtONi PAHUHlll 1 WW 321-6610 Sept. 27, 1965"

Mr. Andrew Barnes Poor Peonies Corporation Sox 977 Jackson, Miss.

Dear Mr, irn e s: It was a real pleasure having you present at our Board of Directors Meeting on Sept. 15, 1965. I am enclosing a copy of our "Co-op News" with your picture on page 2.

I have written Mr. Hal Charles World Wide Co-op Partners. Cooperative League of the USA 59 E. Van Buren Street Chicago, 111. 60605 and Mr. "Chuck" Ihlenfeldt Same address as above about your visit and your work. I am hopeful that one or both of these men will have some idea in mind which will be more helpful to you directly than.we may be here so far away.

When you obtain the information about how we may obtain some samnles of the leather work you displayed, please let us know. Some of our people think that a number might be sold for the "holiday season" coming up.

Wishing you all the best in your newest work, I am

Cooperatively yours,

L-^e=C. Poole Education Director H&Jf

September 27, 1965

Jesse Morris Poor People's Corporation 900 North Farish Street Jackson, Mississippi.

Dear Mr. Morris:

Will you please send me a sales brochure with pictures and prices? I can secure sales orders here for you from friends, andperhaps I can create interest in setting up a shop in southeast Los Angeles. This sounds like a great idea.

Best wishes

Mrs. Stanwood W. /Rogers 9053 Elevado Avenue Los Angeles California 90069

. . • • :. • ••;.• • 6

Monroe County Sewing Firm Prairie, Miss* September 28, 1965* Attention! Jessie Morris. Poor People,3 Corporation Post Office Box 977 Jackson, Miss* Dear Sir: Following your visit to Prairie, Monroe County, Mississippi in August, this community realized that your idea was worth while, therefore, sent a delegation of $50 five along with Rev* L# C* Cook to the P. P. C» meeting which was held at Tugalio. After which a meeting was held at the Masonic Building under the supervision of Rev, Cook we organized a Corporation namely, the Monro® County Sewing Firm, about (20) women * The Mason,3 of this community have agreed for us to use the ground floor off their building which is 3,0X40 ft. for and in­ definite time * We have tenatave plans of making Drapers, and Hats, yet we needs some guidiance along thi3 line before we might , go to far in the wrong direction, we are eager to make something that we can find a market for, perhaps in the north, or east* Our purpose is to provide jobs for as many people as we possibly can, which is much needed in our area. »e have 4 Sewing machines, and we plan to buy as many as we ca-n raise money far, we would appreciate it very much if you will assist us by coor­ dinating 'any number of machines you can which will enable us to move faster* We will be more than happy for you to visit us whenever time will permit you, your reply is appreciated in advance, please include any information, advice, that you feel will help us*

Yours truly,

LCV; Mary Coleman Pres* ~d AAL ,

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?96I*0€ -vJ*s Sept. 30,1965

Dear Mrs. Miner,

This letter is just to give you some of the additional information which you requested, as we have already sent you a sales brochure.

The needs that we have concerning fabrics are as low as possible wholesale prices for the material itself * The lowest we can get so far is $.25 a yard. Eo you know of any mill where we can get the fabrics cheaper? (fabrics include cotton, coudouroy, and wool. We need any other items which are a part of th© sewing process, such as buttons, thread straight pins, scissors, taperaoasurers, and also labels.

For a leathercraft workshops we need leather, suede, and leatheroraft tools. Also, good buckles, and collar studs.

Thankyou for your interest in our project. We hope to hear from you soon*

Sincerely yours,

Jessie Morris Q

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•* :--v; •,•.•>, v-i' •; •;;:%•' Tost Office Box 2036 Mr.Jesse Morris Seattle , Washing to n.98111. October 1,1965. The "oor Peonies Corporation 900 North Parish St. Jackson,Mississinni. Dear Mr.Morris: Will yon ^lease send me information in regards to the venture of the -PPC ? To me,this is an excellent idea in the field of Coons,and can be the ttfoothold"to lead into a good pound economic base for some form of economic security, and independence for the nrectominantly noverty-stricken folks. I would like for you to send me all the information reganding the I P.°.C, end the least 1 can do for now, is to encourage and help some per-' son or nersons to form a coon here. For those over the country who can't be close to> a Boop shouldn't yoa have a sustaining memfrershin ,to contribute toward the work of all the Coops or just toward the one or more that is in their state ?? » I will be looking forward to hearing from you,and meanwhile with the little information 1 now have 1 will "talk" PPC^ith some people. R/^nectfu'f 1

• —~-r—-_ ••nr .»,., ., ,r ,,.,,,..,_r.. j»..,r .!^TTT-,T„--,. rT—•' • ••> \ . > October 3, 1965

Kiss Kathy Tappeinen 5959 Grove Street Oakland, California

Bear Kathyi Qlad you wrote. My phone numbers aros 601-91f6-5960(PFC office) or 601-355-8931 (home) and last resort 601-943-^033(FDP office). Kathy, everyone is asking for samples. It is impossible for us to send samples to people who are requesting them, we have no money- absolutely'nono, not ©von rasney for postage. V,© have five groups that are making things that we have to sell. Ue have to have money in order that they can keep functioning. To send samples to thos© who are re­ questing them would, I'm sure, "wipe us out. There are two alternatives for thosa who are interested in marketing products for th© Liberty Outlet Bouse(the nam© of th© store that is marketing th© products out of Jackson, Mississippi) and want samples that cannot be sent. l).iithin two weak* photographs will bo available for every item that is handled by tho Liberty Outlet House. These photos will bo sent to groups or individuals who are interested in marketing products for th© FPC on request. ?.)Saraple packets are available for sale now. There ar© three "sareple packets" they SET I,, for $100.00, $150.00 and $200.00. Th© items in the packet ©r© sold at COST. Tho $200.00 packet has more items than th© &L00.OO packet. This explains tho difference in cost. Anyone in­ terested in getting samples for marketing purposes will have to purchase a "sample packet". This will give then enough items to show around and at the same tine give th© Liberty Outlet House and th© work co-ops soma badly neoded cash. Items have shipping charges included in th© price. It takes from a week to 10 days to got an item once the order is received in Jackson, Mississippi(not counting th© Xmas Season). The money given to th© PPC goes into a revolving fund. This money's distribution ia determined by the members of tho PPC. I can not give you specific uses for which money will be voted upon. It would bo alien to tho philosophy on which the organisation was formed for me to give to you a "well-worked out program". Th© movement in FJLssissippi is concerned with self-determination. If it* a lumens';ble fmt* -anv> +* «—*«"». ••••••— •*--• Kathy Tappeinon - 2 -

th© revolving fund on tho basis that "th© money will be used for self-help groups of some nature-groups of poor people that ar© authorised to distrib­ ute the money to th© poor people themselves," then you should not try to raise money for the revolving fund. If you need specifics in order to ralso money for other than the PPC I would suggest you raise it for the Dhlborty Outlet .House - this store will havo to be subsidised for avhilo* 2)Tho Poor Peoples Training Center- where w© ar© training people in th© crafts, etc. (So© enclosure) For Ed Cpton's information! I shall bo in Jackson tho IBthh 11th, & 12th of October. Th© 13th & l^th I shall b© in Greenwood. After reading th© paper marked #1 please pass it on to Mik© Miller. I havo asked him to return it to mo» Please keep in touch. freedom,

Jesse Morris October 3,.1965

Kiss Sandra Radnick 1101 Keller Avenue Berkeley 8, California . . Dear Sandraj Sorry to take this long' to answer your letter. I had asked Andy Barnes to contact jou while he was there. I don't thing, h© was able to locate you. Sine© your letter I have received a letter from Mil© Millor who says that you ar© going "to. do follow-up for PPC in tho laxy Area". About th© camples. We cannot send any but in two weeks w© shall be able to eond you as many sots as you need for distribution to people like* Dillon Schon 2)Amthor Imports 3)B©atrie0 Graham **)Th© arts & Crafts Cooperative in Berkeley. On : ovember 1st w© are opening a training center. It will have room to conduct three workshops simultaneously and have 25-30 people. One shop in jewelry making Is scheduled at that tiraoi If you know of anyone who Is interested in offering a training service have them contacts Dorl« Derby P. 0. Boxx977 Jackson. Mississippi There is plenty of room and a iam4 for people who want to train others. I think you mentioned a follow who works with textiles, an artist and ©raftsman who works In metals. If these people are at all interested pleas© have them contact Boris. Since you ar® going to be working on PPC follow-up out ther© pleas© let us know, what you nmd from us. Freedom,

Jess© ect Hike Millor October 3, 1965

Kike Miller 584 Page Street San Fr?ncisco, California

Dear Mike:

Enclosed are two letters, one to Kathy at the Oakland Office, another to Sandra Rudrdck. Much of th© stuff in them is probably of interest to you.

Also, I sent Kathy a paper and I asked her to send it to yot\. .j'hon you finish it, would you sond it back to me? Thanks. In the ppper are specific items - the training center, administration expenses for the Jackson office-that people, who cannot ss© giving to tho re­ volving fund, might want to help support. Also the Liberty Outlet House noeds funds in order to become more of an efficient operation.

Most of our problems at this time have to do with marketing. If we had access to marketing research types wo would have used them - but we didn't know of thoir availability and still aren't sura of it.

Amy businessmen who are willing to com© down should got in touch with us and lot us know what they aro experienced in, how long they can stay and what they feel thoy can do bore, then wo can toll them whether or not it would assist us if they cano. Any businessman who wants to ©on© to see what wo are doing on the chance that he might be able to determine for himself how ho can help, doesn't noen an invite from us. Ho only needs to come. Ho will be more than welcome.

'afe cannot approach tho National Co-ops for what we want to do at this time. Thoy always write back with a million and one suggestions of what we should bo doing and how we can go about getting their aid, for exstaple "you ought to investigate mnrkats and then produce for them rather than produce something and then try to look for or try to create a market" or "that somo improvement in cost and quality is necessary before things can really soil in large quantity". This is sound ad­ vice, but wo aro not asking for oconomic theory; we started out with these things in mind. We aren't working in a vacuum ourselves, give us sojse credit for knowing somo things* How can anyone suggest wo improve the quality of our products without ovon seeing them? Tho support of businessmen and large cooperative groups somo feel is in­ dispensable. Unloss we change radically there ore somo who think that we won't get thoir support. Let's hope one of those assumptions is wrong, preferably the for.ior.

Freedom,

iOflCQ October 3, 1965

Mr. Art Banforth BAUD 251? Mission Street, Room 5 San Francisco, California 9^110 Dear Mr. Danforth: Thank you for your very informative letter regarding your research and experience with cooperatives. Concerning your co-op Christmas Criffc sales - presently, and for awhile it will be. impossible for us to sand samples to pooplo who aro request­ ing them. ;-*'e have vo?y little money with which to operate, and to send samples to everyone requesting them would bo to simultaneously go broke. Nevertheless, there are two alternatives for those who are interested in marketing products for th© Liberty Outlet Bouse, the store that is marketing the products out of Jackson, Mississippi, and'want samples that cannot be sent* 1)Within two weeks photographs 'rill b© available for ever;/ item that is handled by the Liberty Outlet House* These photos villi bo seat, to groups or individuals who are interested in marketing pro­ mos for the PPC or. request. 2)Sample packets aro available .for sal© row. There aro throe "sample packets" they SELL for $100,00, $150.00 and $200.00. The items in th© >aokot aro' sold at cost. The $200.00 packet has more items thAxi the $300.00, etc. This explains tho difference in cost. Anyone interested in getting samples for marketing purposes will have to pur- cloase a "sample packet". This will give them enough items to show around and at the same tin;e give the Liberty Outlot House and tho work co-ops some badly needed, cash. Items have shipping eharges included In tho price. It takes from a week to ten days to get an iter, onco tho order is received in Jackson, Mississippi(not counting tho Xrncs season). For your immediate use, Mr* Danforth I am enclosing copies of our bro­ chures If you can use moro please lot us know* As far as producing items for (your) supermarkets is concerned do you have any concrete suggestions given tho type of workshops we already havo in operation? Again, thank you for your interest. If you have any more questions or ideas concerning PPC please do not hesitate to let us know. Cooperatively yours,

Andrew Barnes fed LJ

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Kre Leo C. Poole 16**- California Avenue Palo Alto, California Dear Mr. Poole: Thanks loads for sending me the "Co-op News" and for writing Mr. Charles and Mr. Ihlenfeldt* I hope yon gave those gentlemen my address in order that if they can help us directly, they will contact mo* Finally, Jesse Morris has told me that free samples cannot be sent to anyone. -H© says, however, that photographs of all toe Items toe Liberty Outlet Kouoo markets will bo available on request in two weeks. Also, that "sample packets" car. bo bought for 1)$100.00, 2)$150*00 and 3)*200.00. The Items in the packet are sold at cost. Tho packets aro for people who want to market the goods and need something to show to others. Tho packets aro for people who want to market tho goads and neod something to show to others. The packets aro priced according to the amount of itoma they havo.

I have enclosed a copy of the sales brochure of tho Liberty Outlet Bouse* Tho brochure contains about one quarter of the products tho storo markets. If you can think of any way to help us, pleas© do not herd tot© to write* Thanks again. Cooperatively yours,

1 Andy Barnes October 3, 1965

Marilyn KcNabb Box 665 Earlham College Richmond, Indiana

Dear Marilyn! lour brochures have been put in tho mail and aro on the way. Thoro was $^.00 included in your letter instead of $3»00(as you stated). We sent the number of brochuros we could spare although it didn't require the $4.00 for postage. Ma shall use the romaindor for post­ age for other mailings nonetheless.

Vie do not havo the list of equipment that wo need -cr^eographed*"yet.

However, we can use in unlimited qiianticios anything that is used in sewing, i.e., buttons, pins, thread, etc. Industrial sowing machines and fabrics are our greatest needs at this particular time.

By tho way, wo are offering "sample packets" of the items that are being sold by the Liborty Outlet Ibuse. Tho packets sell for $100.00, $150.00 and $200.00. Tho items in the packets are priced at cost. Tho $100.00 packet has less items that tho $200.00 packet. Tho packets aro for groups or individuals who want to market tho products that are being mado by the work cooperatives and need sample items in order to sell the oroducts.

T'han k you for your interest. Ploaso keep in touch. Sincerely yours,

Jesso liorris

' October 3, 19&5

Mr. 31m Janke Box 393 Reed College Portland, Oregon 9?20?

'Dear Mr. Janko! Thank you for your letter of September 27, 1965. Shclosed s.ro the broohurea which younrnqnested* Tho sales brochure contains about on© fourth of tho products which arc marketed through tho Liberty Outlet House. The Liberty Cutlet Ebuso if. tho name of the cooper- - store that in responsibl for marketing the items that arc - produced by the work cooperatives which are funded by tho Poor las Corp. Concerning ths kinds of • ••••.;< bts t! at Right bo donated to us they include unlimited quantities of any items used in sewing, i.e., buttons, thread, steam ironSj shearsj pins, n©edleS| thimbles, bind- ete. Industrial type coving machines are also in greet need, as J or revolving Ice;.: fund. • , thank yOU A »st. Sincerely yours,

Jessia Morris October 3, 1965

Mr. & Mrs. Horbert Lester 440 ;/. Avenue 43 Los Angeles, California 9CO65

Dear Mrs. Lester: Enclosed aro tho brochuros you requested. Tho sales brochure contains about on© fourth of the products that aro marketed through the Liberty Outlet louse. Tho Liberty Outlet House is tho name of tho co-operative store that is responsible for marketing th© Items t]-i&t ar© produced by the work-cooperatives which are funded by tho Poor Peoples Corp. At the present tine we have no office on tho West Coast handling sales and aro desperately in ncod of <-r.e. It is very difficult for us to send samples of the itoxe; that arc- being cold largely because l).ve cannot spare thom 2)we are struggling to get started and trying to get some cash Immed­ iately so that the people who make tin the -."jrk cooperatives do not become discouraged. We will have in about two weeks photographs of ©very item we produce and will send these instead of samples to groups or persons who are interested in marketing for the Liberty Outlet House. Finally, "sample packets* will also bo rent to persons who are Interested in marketing. There will be three such pae'ec-to selling for $100*00, $150.00, and $200.00. Tho packets will contain items that aro produced by tho cooperatives. The $200.00 paoket will contain more items than th© $100 paoket-this explains the differeno© in prions. The'Items in toe paoket are being let go at cost. In terms of materials needed, wo can use in unlimited quantities any Items that are used In sewing, buttons, thread, thimbles, pins etc. Industrial type sewing machines are also in great need as is money for our rovolving fund. Lastly, wo aro not affiliated with any National Cooperative Le&guo or group as yet-though we have sent out foolers. Thank you for your interest.

Sincerely?H«^«Twr,T,r_, /#

Jesse Morris October 3, I965

Kiss Nan Bracker 2504 AvenueF .dchita Falls, Texas

Dear Nan:

Thank you for your letter.

W© had not thought of any of tho tilings you suggested and so we ar© going to pass your letter on to the Liberty Outlet House and ask them to follow through on it.

i*.Te are sending you a couple of copies of our sales brochure and a copy of the minutes of the last mooting of the Poor Peoples Corp.

Thanks again.

Please keep in touch.

Sincerely yours,

Jesse Morris

.,:- •"•.'.•:;. •>:•„.:•! • ••'•: October 3, 1965

Marilyn KcNabb Box 665 Earlham College Richmond, Indiana

Dear Marilyn:

Your brochures have been put in tho mail and aro on the way. Thoro was $4.00 included in your letter instead of $3.00(as you stated). we sont the number of brochures wo could spare although it didn't require the $4.00 for postage. We shall use tho remainder for post­ age for other mailings nonetheless.

..o do not havo the list of equipment that wo needTS±":©Ographed yet.

However, we can use in unlimitod quanticios anything that is used in sewing, i.e., buttons, pins, throad, etc. Industrial sowing machines and fabrics are our greatest needs at this particular time. - By the way, wo are offering "sample packets" of the items that are being sold by tho Liberty Outlet House. Tho packets sell for $100.00, $150.00 and $200.00. Tho items in the packets are priced at cost. Tho $100*00 packet has loss items that tho $200.00 packet. Tho packets aro for groups or individuals who want to market the products that aro being made by the work cooperatives and need sample items in ordor to sell toe products.

Thank you for your interest. Ploaso keep in touch.

Sincerely yours.

Jesse ibrris October 3, 1965

Kiss Nan Bracker 2504 AvonuoF Wichita Falls, Texas Dear Nan:

Thank you for your lottor.

We had not thought of any of the tilings you suggested and so w© ar© going to pass your lottor on to tho Liberty Outlet House and ask them to follow through on it.

We are sending you a couple of copies of our sales brochure and a copy of the minutos of tho last mooting of th© Poor Peoples Corp.

Thanks again.

Please keep in touch.

Sincerely yours,

Jesse Morris October 3, 1965

Mr. & Mrs. Herbert Lester 440 »/. Avenue 43 Los Angolos, California 90065

Dear Mrs. Lester: Enclosed are the brochures you requested. Tho sales brochure contains about one fourth of tho products that aro marketed through tho Liberty Outlot Ibuso. Tho Liberty Outlet House is tho name of tho co-operative store that is responsible for marketing tho items that are produced by tho work-cooperatives which aro funded by th© Poor Peoples Corp. At the present time wo havo no office on the Host Coast handling rales and aro desperately In need of one* It Is very difficult for us to send samples of the iters that arc being cold largely because l)We cannot spz.ro them 2)we are struggling to got started and trying to got some cash immed­ iately so that the people who make up tho work cooperatives do not become discouraged. We will save in about two weeks photographs of every itom we produce and will send these instead of samples to groups or porsons who'are interested In marketing for the Liberty Outlet House, finally, "sample packets" will also bo sent to persons Aw ara interested in marketing. There will be three such packets selling for $100,00, $150.00, and $200.00. Tho packets will contain items that aro produced by the cooperatives. The $200.00 packet will contain more Items than tho $100 packet-tliis explains the difference In prions. The Items in toe packet are being let go at cost.

In terms of materials needed, wc can 1130 in unlimited quantities any items that aro used In sewing, buttons, throad, thimbles, pins etc. Industrial type sewing machines aro also in groat need as is money for our revolving fund. Lastly, wo aro not affiliated with any National Cooperative League or group as yet-though we have sent out foolers. Thank you for your Interest. Sincerely,

Jesse Morris October 3, 1£6*5

Perry 'rriplott

Dear Perry I Honida Klein gave xsn your letter and asked us to answer "hew ftany of tho leather carrying bags can be shipped say In two weeks ahel what could.be expected in tS« way of A fairly steady rate of delivery after -ri i • • ^y tho tosntieth of October m could send to you 100 bags or sny item la the sales brochure yorj specified* After that wa could guarantee at least "75 bags o^ov,/- week* tm for your interest. P:;c^no keep in touch. Sincerely,

/esse Morris

P. o. Wo have already sent you seme sales brochures but included another one anyway-also a copy of the minutes of the PPC meeting aro included.

• October 3, 1965

Mr* riim Janice Box 393 Reed College Portland, Oregon '9720? • Deax* Mr. Janke: Thank you for your lottor of September 27, 1965* Sncloaed &TQ the brochures which younroqnested* The sales brochure contains about en© fourth of th© products which aro marketed through tho liberty Outlet Bouse* The Liberty Outlet House is the name of the cooper-. ativ© store that is rsftp 1 for marketing the itoas that are produced by the work cooperatives uhieh are funded by the Poor Peoples Cor :. ConceroJ ' that flight bo donated to us they include unlimited quantities of any items used in sewing, i.e., buttons, thread, steam ironsf shears, pins, needles, thimbles* bind- 'tr. Industrial type soring machines ar© also in greet need, for our revolving loan fund. againi thank you f>.r your Interest* Sincerely yours,

Jessia ; .orris- Petsy A'1,a2ursky 0335 Warner Drive Los Angeles, California 90048 dAt/ J /«S" S %M<3UfJr^»- ' -A J

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;• >. Bear Mr. Morriss

Miss Maslow has asked me to write you concerning my experience •with the Heywood County Cooperative because she feels that you might ; benefit by avoiding their errors.

Mr. Eric Weinberger had interested our Buying Service(mail-order selling) in the leather products being produced by the coop he had or­ ganized among the Negro people against whom economic reprisals for their voter-registration activity had been invoked. We were more than willing to help by advertising and selling the leather tote bags, belts, wallets, etc. On the basis of the samples we saw and his promise to fill our orders promptly, we took pictures, wrote ad copy and ran large illustrated ads for the articles. Simultaneously we ran articles explaining the plight of the peonle, the reason for the coop, and the fact that their purchases would help make the people self-sustaining.

The response was very heart-Warming and the orders began to come in in substantial amounts. All the orders were either for Christmas gifts or desired for that time. Wa had promised delivery for the holidays. Mr. Y/einberger shipped us about two dozen bags(wallets and belts to follow) when he was forced to leave the state under threat of a jail term. Chaos followed- no more deliveries were made, we were inundated with letters and complaints from irate customers who had waited from h to 6 weeks and still did not have the items ordered. Christmas was a week away and still no merchandise. After repeated long distance phone calls we were told that the only way out would be to send the address labels and color of bag wanted down to Term, and they would send them out thus saving the time lost in the trip up north for the bulk order. 'We refunded all the money for belts and wallets which the coop could not produce, sent down labels attaching to each one color of tote bag and whether leather or suede desired. The labels were pasted on to cheap manilla bags, (directions as to color and finish completely disregarded) and a bag was thrown into each envelope with no cushioning material so that the suede bags arrived flattened and marred. In addition the woman who had ordered a smooth leather in black got a suede in red or blue, etc. and moreover received it a week or more af terChristmas. T/e got back quite a number with blistering letters for having ignored their specifications and for being too late in delivering. Vie sent refund checks and profuse apologies but do not know to this day how many of our customers never ordered anything again because of their unfortunate experience with the bags. ilMMMlS^i the progressive"iriewsweekly James Aronson, editor

We understand that your purpose is to centralize all organizational and administrative procedures from your main center. This sounds like anaanswer to some of the problems encountered by the Haywood County Cooperative which had no one able to cope with the accounting, packaging i and billing end of the operation, once Vreinberger was no longer there.

I hesitate to offer any advice since I am sure that you are closer to the problems involved and most likely better equipped than I to provide the solutions. But merely from the customer's point of view, I would like to suggest that prompt delivery is essential for building good will and a wider market; that if production cannot be guaranteed by a specific date an immediate letter to that effect be dispatched so that all are clear on the situation; that no promises be made unless almost positive that they can be carried out; that it might be better to get smooth running production on a smaller variety of articles than to try to put into production a dozen different types and then fall down on completion because spread too thin.

On Miss Maslow's suggestion I have written to Miss Barbara Schaum at Tchula regarding the possibility of our carrying in our Buying,Service the leather clutch bags they are starting to produce in their cooperative. I asked her to let us know promptly what the cost to us would be and v/hether they have any stock on hand so that if we ordered three or four dozen as a trial there would be no problem in delivery to us.

Best wishes in your endeavors.

Cordially yours,

GUARDIAN 3U7ING SERVICE

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Dear Mr. Morris: I have the Liberty Outlet House Catalogue, the minutes of the first membership meeting of The Poor People's Corp., sni the Sent*. 20th copy of the Vicksburg Citizens' Appeal containing sto- ies about the Corporation. J£Lmi and I discussed these and possible ways I might be useful to your venture. I am most interested, and will be gj to come down after the first of the year, if indi­ cated. Initially, however, I think it would be wise for me to explore market possibilities in Chicago for your products. Those I have seen are impressive, (Mimi brot two ladies bags and cap, and was very en­ thusiastic about PPC's leather goods*. ' It is imperative that.I have a sample exhibit of all of your items as soon as possible. It is J possible that a good amount of ^Christmas .purchase ing could be stimulated here, both through local ''. specialty stores to which I have access, and fund- I raising SNCC groups that responded excellently to Mississippi-^ Project need3 last year. With merchandise in hand I believe I could have, several hundred people see it in the next two months, we should get a substantial nunber of sales out of this provided there would be no dif­ ficulty about delivery for holiday giving. Please let me hear from you at once. Sincerely,

drs. 7 Howtoward'tD; . . ahaw 6153 South Park Ave. Chicago 111, 60637. droit *4>rea *^tudent

1118 WEBB AVENUE SPONSORS: October 15, 1965 DETROIT, MICHIGAN 48202 Dr. Ralph Cash 883-7282 Cong. John Conyers, Jr. Atty. G. Crockett Rev. Norman Dewire Mr. Herman Glass Rev. Charles Hill Rev. Nicholas Hood Mr* Jesse Morris Mrs. Leonard Kasle c/o PPC Mr. Hubert G. Locke Box 977 Mrs. MaeDella Murphy Jackson, Mississippi Mrs. Rosa Parks Mr. and Mrs. A. Reese Dear Jessej Mr. Horace Sheffield Atty. Claudia Shropshire I have talked to people around Detroit SNCC and most are very Atty. Myzell Sowell excited about the PPC and certainly want to find ways to marKed Mr. Jackie Vaughn III the products. Is there any possibility that we can get a sample kit on consignment. SNCC has no money and it would be helpful if we could have things to show. If not we will need at least 1,000 of the catalogues for a mailing we will do first of next month urging folk to buy SNCC material, quilts from .Alabama, and products from PPC for Xmas gifts. »*e have had some discussion with people here who know about co-ops and poverty funds and think it might be possible to get money t© open a store to market PPC porducts. After we talk some more with these people will let you know what happens/

het us hear from you soon.

Sincerely,

Dorothy DQwloerry

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i-iJLui^t T'".vrt Box $1 Winstonvllls, Mississippi 38781 October 20, 1?6£

liberty Outlet House P.O.Box 3193 Jackson, Mississippi

Dear Sirs:

I have read with interest your catalogue showing the various items you have for sale.

A number of Negro ladies here in Winstonville have been sewing quilts for the past several months and are seeking an outlet through which they could sell them. I believe these ladies have said they would like to receive $15.00 per quilt.

Would it be possible for the Idberty Outlet House to handle "these quilts? If not, can you suggest other possible markets for them? We would appre­ ciate whatever help you can give us.

Sincerely yours* /yju^^f-&?**<*- David H. Barnes Delta Ministry

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Jesse Morris Poor Peoples Corporation P. 0. Box 977 Jackson, Mississippi /O "/ 9 - A y^ Southern Student U ganizmg ^omnutei 1703 Portland Avenue Ncvshviiie, Tennessee Dear Jesse: er-* We just received the 200 copies of the catalogues from the PPC. Ihad already circulated the few copies that the Atlanta office sent us. Will try- to spread the word some more. , thanks.

sue thrasher/SSOC T H E NATIONAL CAPITAL AREA Small Business Development Center

October 21, 1965

Dear Jesse:

I'm finally writing to tell you of progress on the sale of Mississippi products made by the Poor Peoples" Corporation. Forgive the delay, but it took me two weeks to get to Philadelphia and then the Quakers needed time to consider the matter.

The Philadelphia Quakers will do the following:

1. Distribute brochures at the annual Race Relations Conference (Nov.2). Representatives of 50 meetings in the Philadelphia area will be there.

2. Mail brochures to all heads of meetings in the area (90) to be announced and posted. Hopefully a member of each meeting will be responsible for peddling the products.

3. Distribute brochures at the annual meeting of the American Friends Service Committee (Ofct. 30) Several hundred people will be there.

4. Distribute brochures to all regional American Friends Service Committee offices""in the country for posting. (You might want to follow up on this and try to get more concrete efforts out of them) .

The Washington Friends meeting will probably do something too, but it hasn't decided exactly what to do. I didn't want to delay this letter to you until they made a decision.

The Women's International League for Peace and Freedom (a peace and civil rights group founded by Jane Addams with its headquarters in Philadelphia) will do the following:

1. Distribute the Liberty Outlet House brochure to the 300 presidents of branches allover the country in their October 22 mailing.

2. Advertise the Mississippi products in their national magazine, giving the Jackson address used in the brochure as the place where orders may be sent. The ad will indicate the products could be bought for Christmas bazaars and as Christmas presents.

Since the WIL mailing and the October and early November meetings held by the Quakers all required brochures immediately, I called the New York office of the Poor People's Corporation and asked how to proceed. They advised mailing directly, rather than lose a week possibly locating you in the field. They have sent out the material to the proper addresses. 1719 Fourteenth Street, N.W. • Washington, D.C. • 20009 • Telephone: 332-9017

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^ear ^orothy, Things are rough, it is impossible to sand samples—even on con­ signment. In addition, wo are presently out of brochures—ain't that a bitch? W shall have some brochures in two weeks at that time I shall put 1,000 in the mail for you. That bit about opening up a stcre to market the goo :s sound choice- pleaae those people who were thinking along those lines.tf'Msy/That is the type of thing that can make this w:;ole operation succeed.

will send you those brochures as soon as I get them,

later,

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Mrs. Samuel H. Kushner

(XAA/^ November 1, 1965 Box 410 Shelby Dear Mr. Morris:

You asked me to tell you how to find the house of Mrs. Hattie Brown in Shelby. Proceed north on 61 until you hit Shelby. After you've been in the 45 mph zone for a while you'll eee a Gulf sign on your left and right, with a station on theright, at a corner. Turn right at that corner, ! proce A to the end of that street, where you take a left. ($road street School is at the end of that street) Now go dow>that street and at the first right, turn right. Go down that street to thejsecond right; turn right and go on down to the end of that stre

Yo

Pat Kefen

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1 U.S. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ADMINISTRATION WASHINGTON, D.C. 20230

November 2, 1965

Mr. Jesse Morris, President Poor People's Corporation P. 0. Box 977 Jackson, Mississippi

Dear Mr. Morris:

It was a pleasure to visit briefly with you by telephone the other day. 1 followed your advice and talked by telephone with Miss Ellen Maslow in your New York office. We discussed the possibility of your coming to Washington and agreed that, at least initially, it might be more convenient to meet with you, Miss Maslow and your other associates in Jackson. Miss Maslow suggested that it might be appropriate to sit in on your meeting in Jackson later this month, or at least to meet you there when you and other key members of the organization will be in Jackson for your meeting.

I am enclosing a copy of the letter I have written to Miss Maslow, together with copies of the enclosures. 1 am greatly interested in your program and hope we can find some way to be of help.

Best wishes for the success of your work.

Sincerely yours,

Wilfred C. Leiand , Special Assistant for Equal Opportunity

Ends.

WCLect U. S. DEPAR'iivitiNI Ot COMMERCE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ADMINISTRATION WASHINGTON, D.C. 20230

November 2, 1965

Hiss Ellen Maslow Room 1037 5 Beekman Street Now York, New York

Dear Hiss Maslow:

It was a pleasure to talk with you tha other day on the telephone and I hope we may find opportunities to work together on matters of economic concern.

I am enclosing a copy of the "Public Works and Economic Development Act of 1965" which became effective on September 1. X should like to direct your attention to Title I on the first page and parti­ cularly to paragraph (A) in Section 101.(a)(1). You will note that we are empowered to make grants to nonprofit organisations if the financial assistance will, directly or indirectly, primarily benefit the long-term unemployed and members of low income families, or otherwise substantially further the objectives of the Economic Opportunity Act of 1964. This Section may provide one channel for possible assistance.

I might also direct your attention to Section 202 of page 5, which outlines both the positive authority and the conditions under which we can make loans to industrial and commercial enterprises for the purpose of creating employment. This provides the possibility for Federal loans to the same organizations that you are assisting if the required conditions are met.

The third Section of our Act which might be of interest to the Poor People's Corporation is Title III of page 7 relating to technical assistance. This portion of our Act may provide another basis for possible assistance in carrying out your objectives of providing opportunities for employment and income for unemployed and under­ employed people.

I am also enclosing our most recent publication entitled "Building Communities With Jobs" together with our leaflet entitled "Non­ discrimination in Economic Development Programs" which is my special area of responsibility. s^*8** «S^

- 2

I understand that you are preparing a proposal to private foundations to obtain their assistance for your work and that you will send us a copy of this proposal when it is completed. We shall review it with great interest to determine the possibility of providing Federal assistance to your enterprise.

X em making tentative plans to meet with you and Mr. Morris and others at the time of your November meeting in Jackson, Mississippi. which X understand is tentatively scheduled for the 28th. X shall explore the possibility that a representative of the Cooperative League of the United States and of the Office of Economic Opportunity may be able to join us at that time. X think that all of us would be interested in sitting in on your meeting, at least as observers, if you and Mr. Morris feel that would be appropriate. Please let us know your specific plans when you make them.

X am sending a copy of this letter and enclosures to Mr. Morris In Jackson. A copy of ay covering note to Mr. Morris is enclosed.

Please give my regards to my old friend, Will Maslow, when you see him. Best wishes for the success of your work.

Sincerely yours, (signed) Wilfred C. (Bill) Leland

Wilfred C. Leland Special Assistant for Equal Opportunity

Ends.

WCLlct

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1 ^r ^ November 5, 1965 y^ Dear M r. Morris: Just a few*questions before I forget ttea.... Do you have any PPG memvbership cards!? What expenses do you list in the financial report at Mileston!? Do you include rent!? For what period!? C an you reccommend a source for the sewing machines!" Or someone who has ordered them! and could tell us!" What facilities are needed for the leather training!? For the sewing! ? Will the training take up a full day or be part time for "several days!

Are you people going to be communicating with the various groups as to problems and successes! Pitfalls that we could avoid! Imean in addtion to any discussion at Mileston. 'fatf^^

AT 512 St.charleS Greenwoed Mi««. Nev. 8 1965

DEAR Sir;

OOUR coraunity center badely need repaer I would like know: if we could get e lean frea peer people cerporatieav .Hew much, en what term*, and Whet amount ef interest. will i h ave to pay* please let me here from you at on ce.

neerely

\ . -— , - \ - November 10, 1965 D ear Mr.Morris/: We've got enough people signed up to learn how to work with leather; how soon can you send someone! Did those other leather groups get organized that you spoks of! Did you say at the meeting that you thought we needed about 20 people altogether for the two groups!' 13 in the sewing group! ' If you didn't do you think 13 is too much and might prove disastrous

Hoping to hear from you soon.

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- J. ' «)LUii Coordinating Committee

360 Nelson Street, S.W. 688-0331 Atlanta, Georgia 30313

November 12, 1965

To All the Members of the POCR PEOPLES COOPERATION*

I just had to write to tell you what a great job you are doing. Everyone

I've seen is very enthusiastic about the items being made. You know,

I really expected that things would be well made, but they are not only

well made — IT COULDN'D BE BETTER FROM 5th AVENUE11

CONGRATULATION!

Yours truly, in Our Struggle for Peace and Freedom,

Muri inghast

P. S. I had thought that SNCC people might like to contribute to the PPC like they did for the convention challenge. Would that be ok with you?? Also, that Wilson Brown and I were thinking in terms of making some PPC return address tags for easy shipping. Would that be ok??

mt

tf One if!an, One l/ott Boston Friends of the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee i New England Regional Office /1555 Massachusetts Avenue / Cambridge, Massachusetts 02138 j 868-0939 November 15, 1965 Jesse Morris P.O. Box 977 Jackson Mississippi Dear Jesse: We in the Boston SNCC office are opening a store in the Eoston area for the benefit of SNCC. We want of course to sell things from the Poor Peoples Corp. Enclosed is a copy of the order we sent to the Liberty Outlet House and a copy of a tentative perspectus on the store itself. We are very excitied about the store and the Poor Peoples Corporation. We have talked with Ellen Maslow in New York a couple of times and she is helping us. Any advice you can give ua would be appreciated. Please try to see that we get our ordered items as soon as possible since the store is a new adventure £or a Prierirls of SNCC we are very concerned that things go well. Your cooperation is appreciated. Catch you at the SNCC staff meeting.

Sincerely, Z)~~

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ME, JESSE MORRIS JACKSON MISS. DB1R JESSE: I WOULD LIKE LORE INFORMATION ON HOW TO START A COOPERATIVE BUSINESS IN MI COUMMUNITY-.

YOUR SHARKEY CO., EDP CHAIRMAN*

1LIE WILLIS A? --Th- A An/ /f / %/

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Ot~L U A 't~ POOR PEOPLES CORPORATION p 0 BOX 977 JACKSON, MISSISSIPPI 5^2.<95 DECEMBER 3rd, I965 (601) 352-9791 |

Dear Friend,

Sono tine ago wo sent to you a sales catalog of the Liberty Outlet House.

The Liberty Outlet House is a work cooperative that received its initial capital frora tho Poor Peoples Corp. Tho products it sells are all nadc by work cooperatives owned and operated by formerly low-income people.

The Poor Peoples Corporation recently held a nenbership neeting. Wo thought that you night bo interested in reading about the continuing progress of the group. As a result wo have included for you a copy of tho meeting's ninutes.

You as an individual can assist us in at least two ways: l) Tell your friends of the Liberty Outlet House and order products from it; 2) Con­ tribute an amount of money to the revolving fund of the Poor Peoples Corp. in order that the much neodod work towau^ job creation can continue.

Finally, after tho first of the yoar the Liberty Outlet ficuae will; dis­ tribute a nineod pamphlet describing all the products j^ will be handling. We shall see that you get one.

Thank-you for your interest.

S. K. LEDERER 47 Sincerely, -P9 SKILLMAN AVE.

LONG ISLAND CITY / N. y. J110'A Jesse Morris for the PPC

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GODDARD COLLEGE PLAINFIELD, VERMONT

ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICES December 8, 1965

To Whom It May Concern: In the most recent issue of "The New South Student" there was an article about your cooperative efforts to earn money. Congratulations, and may I lend a hand? If you would send me about i; fifty copies of the catalogue or description (j of goods find articles you have for sale, I might be able to distribute them in and around the college before the Christmas packages are all wrapped. If I'm not mistaken, the story said some description of the crafts was available. Also, do you hare information available on the corporation and the procedures for buying stock? If so, please send several copies. Thank you, best of luck, and I join you In hoping for justice soon. Sincerely, I^RCT: P$ Frank T. Adams Jr. . ember 10, 1965

TO CANDIDATES FUR THE BERKELEY C0-0P BOARD OF DIRECTORS; East Bay Friends of the- Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee j (SNCC) weald like to offer you an opportunity to communicate with the many Co-op members among the 2000 families who receive our montLil y mailing< TV«> accomplisartn h t we will send with our next newsletter any statement of 200 words or- less you would like to submit &a ths subject of help from Berkeley to co-ops in the South. The deadline for receipt of statements is December 21. The background of the problems of aid to Southern co-ops is, briefly, .as follows; 1} There is a great deal of interest, in organizing co-ops among Southern Negroes (there are already many co-ops in the South, but they are limited to whites only).. 2) In spite of the interest, very little is being done to form co-ops. Without outside help, it is unlikely that much can he done. 3} With two small exceptions there is no program or plan of action to help the formation of Southern co-ops. The exceptions are these: the Berkeley Co-op has purchased a few thousand dollars worth of fruit cakes from a co-op in stte, La., and the Cooper­ ative League of the USA is channeling some money from the War on Poverty to the Lafayette co-op. As compared to the need, these two efforts are the merest token. We will be glad to provide you with more details on Southern co-op possibilities' if you will write or call our office {©55-"95^ 5), or call me at 8^5-0^24. The ground rules for your statements are; (a) 200 word limit, (b) statements must be limited to what you advocate the Berkeley Co-op should or should not do with respect to helping Southern co-ops, to) groups or "slates" of candidates may, if they wish, submit joint statements-; In this caee -the "liarx will be 150 words for each candidate (i.e. 2 persons? 300 words, 4 persons? 600 words, etc.),d We want to emphasia;© that East Bay Friends of SNCC will not endorse any candidate or slate of candidates. Our only involvement with the election will be to help yon to communicate with the co-op members on our mailing list about a problem of mutual concern.

Yours in freedom,

Kathy Tappelner, Chairman East Bay Friends of SMCC 5929 Grove St, Oakland, Calif. 9^609

. -

December 11, 19&5

Dear Frank Lams : Many thanks for your no La about the New South Studant and the enclosed subscription, I will clinch to ate thai 'our ncr.e is placed on our mailing list and am enclosing a copy of t!ie last edit ion,

I air. forwarding your latter concerning the Poor Peoples Corporation to Jesse ilorris in Jackson* His tssippi, I'm 3ure thai Jesse can give you norc pertinent information about the proceedure for buying stock than we con. However, I ar. enclosing several cc ies of the catalogue and a memorandum from Jesse answering questions about the PPC* I hope you ore able to use this stuff in tine for some Christmas orders*

Let ua know if we CM be of further he In*

Sincerely,

Sue Thrasher

I'r* Frank T, Adar.zs, Jr» Goddard College Plainfield, Vermont cc: JesseeMorris P.O. Box 977 Jaehson, Mississippi

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Mr« Jessie Morris Box 977 Jackson, Mississippi

Dear Mr. Morris:

Tho Vine City Community Center is attempting a. cooperative at present based on candle-making-. There are four to five ladies plus tiro volunteers actually producing the candles*

Re would like to branch out into other programs: quilt-making, smock sewing, etc., and wood-working or ether carpentry for the men©

We would appreciate all tho advice and help you might give us. If there is any chance that you should be in Atlanta in the near future, please do stop in to see us.

In writing to us, please address your letter to Ray Payne at the Walnut Street address.

Kindest regards.

Sincerely, 9n Joyce Aasen ft/ fi+f. If*'; <^AMe^ >z^>

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X \ / D (JJj -g. .;: ... [)g R • Deo. 26, 1965 1'

Dear Bill Hutchinson, I recently wrote Ellen Maslow about the idea of an annual catalog for the products of all the PPC groups—on the theory that eventually the development and maintenance of a market for the goods so produced will be the main problem. I think the liberal and radical press would give it sufficient publicity to get the cata­ log distributed for a start, and then word-of- mouth would increase circulation. We might at the start be able to charge for the catalog to pay for cost of printing, etc. Anyhow, Ellen thinks the time is not yet ripe, on account of need for product standardization, and such developmental delays, and she says tha sales may be pretty good, already, from your catalog sheets. I see the point of this, but want to plant my idea with you, anyway. Our press, which prints our magazine MANAS, could go part way in initial financing to get the idea off the ground. The long-term objective would be to develop a market for everyb ody who wants to make things to make a living, and avoid conventional economic relationships, mak­ ing it possible for people to live in the inter stices of this society. Meanwhile, would you—if you have the time- give me some brief comment about PPC itself, such that I could do a story for our magazine with the material 1 Ellen will write something and I haveh her progress report. Put in immed­ iate needs, unless these are adequately coverec Uh ttfHfe IWtiWyyh r^'drt* ***** Send me all the yd printed material you have, ±hK±±&x including catalog sheets, and any notes on "human interei UR you feel like adding, such as that on the worn® who sews standing up to look down the road! V I have told you my purposes—help me to serve yoursJ

I Best Luff) Henry Geiger

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~Ahih University Avenue Berkeley, California Becezriber 28, 19S5

Dear Friends:

Some of you are receivizig the enclosed report on co-ops in the South because we know you will be interested. Others of you are receiving the report because we think you should be interested.

We are taking some action on this report in Berkeley. But for the most part, the next step is up to you. What do you think we and others should be doing to promote economic independence for Negroes in the South? Let us know, and we will do what we can to help.

East Bay Friends of SNCC Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee LOS ANGELES REGIONAL OFFICE 6605 Hollywood Boulevard Hollywood, California 90028 Phone HO 2-6873 Ux. Jzaz Moxxii Poox Pzoplz'i Coxpoxation Box 977 Jackion, UAii.Ai6i.ppA

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Can Berkeley Help Southern Co-ops?

I. The Situation Today

In May or June East Bay friends of SNCC inquired of our local (Berkeley) Co-op about the possibilities of aid for Southern co-op development. We were referred to the Co-op League of the USA, 59 E. Van Bur en St.j, Chicago. We wrote to them and were given an appointment with Mr. Hal Charles, head of their international development program, who was planning to be in Berkeley later in the summero We did talk with Mr. Charles, and he proved to be extremely enthusiastic about assisting co-op development in Mississippio However, he has been out of the country almost continuously ever since, so it would appear that he is really too intensely involved with international problems to assist actively.

In September of this yesr Kathy Tappiner and Judy Hartmann made a two-week visit to Mississippi mainly for the purpose of seeing how much interest there was in co-ops <> They founds 1) There was a great deal of interest in co-ops; the people i-jera well aware of the importance of the buffer between themselves and the White man that co-ops would provide. However, there was virtually no concrete planning going on in Mississippi. The two important exceptions to the lack of activity were the Poor Peoples Corporation)) which was just getting started (but which has advanced very rapidly since then), and the Batesville Co-op. The Batesville group was formed originally to market okra, but it now is primarily a farm machinery co-op, and it has, after long effort, had the singular success of obtaining a $111., 000 farm machinery loan from the Office of Economic Opportunity in Washington. It would be tempting to see the Batesville Co-op as a model on which other Southern co-ops might model themselves, but this temptation should be resistedo The Batesville Co-op is composed primarily of independent5 land-owning farmers who have banded together to produce more efficiently what they had been producing less efficiently before« As Jesse Morris of the Poor Peopless Corporation has pointed out, only about 5$ of Mississippi Negroes own land, and the main problem is to help those who now. produce nothing to begin producing something, rather than to increase the efficiency of people who already are producing. The main problem obviously is a much more difficult one.

In mid«October I had the opportunity to make a very quick (2 day) visit to Jackson and New Orleans, The most striking thing I found was a great deal of interest. Usually Civil Rigiits workers are not particu­ larly interested in talking with people from the North who are making quick, superficial visits „ But when I mentioned that I was interested, in co-ops, everyone wanted to talk.

A second general impression was that practically no one had ever heard of the national co-op organization, Cooperative League of the USA. Whatever the publicity efforts of this group may be, they certainly have not penetrated to black Mississippi I The one person who had heard of the Co-op League was Richard Haley, COREBs Southern Regional Director^ in New Orleans, /(jr. Haley had actually visited the C&ioagOL of£Lce, had come away disappointed, for he did not find much interest in problem of establishing co-ops in the South in which Negroes__cpuld>. participate. All he came away with was a long, complicated questionnaire, Haley reminded me that one of the barriers to co-op organization, of which Northerners generally are not aware, is that there is a long and dismal history of attempts by Southern Negroes to organize business ventures in competition with Whites. Negroes have been burned financially many times, and are quite justly wary of risking their money and effort in the business world in which the White man holds all the aces.

Everyone I met was interested in co-ops, but few were doing anything about it, mostly for the good reasons that they did not know what to do, that they had no financial resources, and that they had, as Civil Rights workers, more Important and immediate concerns.. Three examples of the kinds of activity I did find will serve to illustrate the range of efforts that are in progress. Practically the first person I talked with in Jackson was Mrs. Sellers, a pillar of the Movement from Moss Point, Miss. Mrs. Sellers overheard me talking with a white FBP staff member and came over to ask me to help her start a co-op in Moss Point-Gulf port. It seems that the people there have been thinking about a grocery store co-op for some time, and that last spring they went so far as to begin to draw up a written plan for submission to the War on Poverty. However, Operation Eeadstart came along and diverted the energies of the most active people, and the plans- were never completed or submitted. Recently a parcel of land suitable for building a grocery store ha3 come on the market, and Mrs*, Sellex's wondered if my group in Berkeley would be interested in raising the money to buy the land. Mrs. Sellers" idea is that the grocery store, once built, would be stocked both by ordinary wholesale outlets and by contributions of hogs, etc., from local Negro farmers. It would then sell at fair prices, as opposed to the white stores which presently have a monopoly.

It seems quite likely to me that the Moss-Point oo-op will never get beyond the thinking stage without considerable help from outside. That helu is not likely to come from the Poverty Program because of the political power of white merchants, and it will not come from the Civil Rights organisations because SNCC, PDP, and CORE are all in desperate financial straits, and SCLC does not seem to be oriented towards that kind of project. The St. Helena Parish (Louisiana) farm co-op is a good example of a slightly more advanced stage of planning. Meetings of the farmers are being held now, and they hope to start their co-op. However, the KKK may be a very considerable problem, for St. Helena Parish is adjacent to Washington Parish (Bogalusa). I wonder how the Co-op League of the USA or the Poverty Program would deal with the Klan. Even aside from

;. the Klan, it is problematical x^hether the St. Helena Parish co-op will actually he able to get started without substantial outside help, for such essentials as cash,, a person who can keep books, and so forth, are at present lacking. : most ambitious economic program in the South is the Poor People :R> Corporation^. I was able to talk briefly with Jesse Morris i out it in Jackson. The promises and possibilities of the PPC are ..t, but the problems it faces are equally great, particularly the problems of marketing0 At least initially, the PPC seems to be planning to operate on a part-business, part-charity basis; that is, the ing the marketing in the North will be doing it primarily in order to help Mississippiana rather than to make money, and the Mississippi source of the goods will probably be an irapo rtant consideration to the retail buyers. My feeling about the PPC is much like my feeling about SNCC's original decision to QO into Mississippi back in 1961: SNCC was taking on the toughest of all possible jobs it could have chosen for itself, and considering the obstacles, the effort looked like puree suicide. The more one learned about Mississippi, and southwestern Mississippi in particular, the more fantastic the venture seemed. Yet today no one could deny that SNCC has made a hell of a dent in Mississippi, and the very fact that it is hard to remember now what made Mississippi so ap] arently impossible back in 1961 is.evidence of how far SNCC has pus) he state. Likewise, the PPC has sot Itself the toughest economic job o.l all: helping people who now are completely non-producing to set themselves up in cooperative, independent, economically-viable businesses.

ion people in the North might take to help these projects will be suggested in another report.

Edward Opton, Jr. East Bay Friends of SNCC

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Can Berkeley Help Southern Co-ops? II. Possible Action

What can people in Berkeley, and people in the Berkeley co-op in particular, do to aid economic development in the South? Here are some ideas:

1) Direct cash contributions from the Berkeley co-ops to the South. I am well aware of the difficulty and improbability of raising any substantial amount of money from this source. But we did get $250 for SNCC last year, and that is something. 2) Cash from the Co-op League of the USA. The most obvious of the possibilities that would come under this heading would be to ask the Co-op League to put some of its own money into Southern Consumers Cooperative (SCO). Apparently the money SCC now gets through the Co-op League is not the League°s, but the Federal Government's. 3) Money from the War on Poverty. This would involve two activities? research into the possibilities, and helping people at the local level organize and draft plans. The latter, of course, cannot be done from Berkeley. The former, I believe, is already being done by the PPC group in Edwards, Miss., and by SlICCs and/or FDP8s Washington offices. But we might check on this. Ij.) Money from The Cooperative Foundation. This Foundation says that it has given a grant for "Training of an education director for a Louisiana consumer cooperative." Apparently this is all it has done in the South, for its brochure lists such trivial activities as "...established a committee to survey the need for development of a voluntary leadership training program," yet nothing beyond the Louisiana grant is listed for the South. The trustees of the Foundation are Thomas Ellerbe, Sri,, Thomas Ellerbe, Jr., Je w; Koskic F. Rondeau, A. J. Smaby, and Jerry Voorhis. 5) Personnel from Berkeley co-ops. If the Berkeley co-ops can send Mart Colodny to the South Seas, why canst they send someone to southern Mississippi? I realize that the money for Colodny8 s salary | does not come from the Co-op. But could money be raised for such a venture? 6) Personnel from the South to be trained here. Co-ops in the Bay Area could give on-the-job training to prospective co-op workers from the South. Bookkeeping and credit union operation are jobs in which I think what could be learned here would be applicable in the South. 7) People from the South to be trained in Madison, Wise. The Co-op League runs a school for international co-op organisers there. Why not domestic organizers too? 8) Making available information from international co-op organi­ zation to the South. The Co-op League, through Mr. Charles0 department, has people organizing co-ops in such remote and poverty-stricken areas as Northeast Brazil and Moroccc0 The problems they face must in many respects be similar to the problems in Mississippi. Can any way be found to transmit their experience to the South? 9) Pressure on Southern White co-ops. These exist in great numbers; there are dozens, perhaps hundreds, in Mississippi alone. If they belong to national organizations, can pressure for integration be applied? If they were expelled from national co-op organizations, would they lose anything significant? Do they enjoy tax advantages over ordinary commercial businesses that could be revoked on the basis that their membership is not open to everyone? You may have other ideas. Let us hear themg

Edward Opton, Jr. East Bay Friends of SNCC