The Wichita city eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1872-1883, 1877-01-25
Cooperation.

Co-0peraCon.
ED. FARMER I'm answer 10 many
inquiries relating to cooperation as
recommended by our National and
State Oranges, desire to say: that
the plans proposed are simply the out
growth of the business principles here
tofore set forth in our Declaration of
Purposes"
The plan now recommended by the
National and adopted by the State
Grange, is, substantially, what is
known as the "Rochdale Plan" The
general features, together with sugges-
tions and rules for the organization of
local agencies, will be found in the pub
lished proceedings of the State Grange
for 1875, and is believed, by those who
have considered its adaptability to the
wants of our people, TO be the plan
best calculated to safely and practical
ly carry out the business principles of
our Order, which has, or can at this
time, be devised hence it is most earn
estly recommended to the thoughtful
and favorable consideration of the
membership in this State.
To what extent we, as Patrons, may
safely and profitably engage in bust
ness enterprises, is a question which
should be carefully considered before
any definite action is taken, and then,
qaving determined upon the course to
be pursued, unite your efforts and give
to the organization agreed upon, your
unconditional, untiring and united
support, which, together with the aid
of men of experience and business
qualifications, to manage and direct,
will be sufficient to justify the under
taking aud warrant the belief that rea-
sonable success will be the result.
Honesty and business qualifications
should be the only consideration in
the selection of your agents. Too ma
ny failures have already resulted from
placing incompetent persons in charge
of our business affairs. We too often
support men for position because they
are our personal friends and desire the
place, when in fact, if they were not
qualified for the efficient discharge of
the duties imposed, we have not only
acted unwisely as business men, but
have done our friend a great wrong
when it was our intention to befriend
him.
While we ''advocate the bringing of
the producers and consumers, farmers
and manufacturers into the most direct
and friendly relation possible" we
cannot, in any sense, recommend the
fallacy of farmers becoming manufac-
turers; but on the contrary would
recommend that we carry out our pur-
pose as above stated, by the use of all
Legitimate means at our command to
encourage manufacturing in our midst
thereby securing to ourselves home
market for our surplus products, and
enabling us to receive in exchange
therefor, from first hands, our neigh
bors and customers, our needed sup
plies of manufactured articles. The
advantages to be derived being mutual
and apparent to every thoughtful per-
son.
Cooperation, as now proposed, does
not contemplate any new branch of
business for the farmer. 1t is simply
proposed, by unity of action, to enable
him TO do more successfully and pro-
ftably just what is now required of
him, to wit: sell his products and pur-
chase his supplies, believing that joint
action will secure better terms.
The State Grange, when it recon-
mended the organization of estate
Cooperative Association" by the
members of the Order, on the joint
stock plan to be managed and control
ed by the stockholders themselves, did |
not contemplate going into the "whole
sale business" as Grange; but SIM
ply to provide for the establishment of
a wholesale cooperative store, through |
which the retail establishments of like |
character and others, could make their
purchases and secure the advantages |
of pro rata dividends, the Grange it.
self assuming no control and no re-
possibility. VIM. SIMS,
Master Kansas State Grange.