The state rights democrat. [volume] (Albany, Linn County, Oregon) 1865-1900, 1881-12-09
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FaTinSGaTde1l'
cO-OrERATION.

cost so little are yet of great value to
the farmer, yet it IS q misfortune
that those who would be most bena.
fted by them the most seek them
the least. The same Is true of every
institution connected with agricul-
ture; those who would be most bene-
flted by the discussons in the Grange,
the debates in the farmers clubs, the
essays read at farmers Institutes and
at the meetings of the different State
boards of agriculture, are seldom at
tended by tAose who would be most
benefited by them.
It may be true that some of the es-
says read at these gatherings are OF
such character IN to be beyond the
comprehension of the ordinary farm
er and consequently of little value to
him, yet the fact is that il is not the
ideas which are above his eomprehen-
sion, but the language in which they
are clothed. These essayists should
bear in mind that those who should
be benefited by their writings are
neither liugulsts, philosophers nor
scientists, and that It Is useless in
this connection to write essays which
will require as much learning to un-
derstand as in the writing of them.
At the same time we should expect
that those essays would be in advance
of the majority Of their hearers, or
no enc would be benefited by them.
Our idea of . good essay or good
newspaper article Is one which con-
tains great ideas and Important truths.
clothed in correct, but plain, simple
and ineligible language.
To the average Individual the
farmers club and the Grange club
are of much more value than any 9TH
er institution, because farmer talks
10 farmer ofquestions In which they
have common interest, and in such
laDgna ge that the speakers and hear.
ers can easily understand each other.
lt is much easier to comprehend an
idea clothed in simple language than
when mental effort has to be made TO
understand the language before the
idea can be reached. On the other
hand, it is not very profitable to. con-
tinue year after year the discussion
OF old and stereotyped questions, al
though they may not have been ex-
hans.ed, yet living issues are contin-
ually presenting themselves, OF which
the clab should take particular notice.
Such subjects would have a reviving
and stimulating influence upon tho
members. Again, it is possible to
revive old subjects under new phases,
and i've and a lively and healthy
club cannot exist where such subjects
are ignored.
Among the many subjects for dis
eussion in such clubs that of local tax
alton is an important one. Docs tax
alton bear on all alike ? or does the
poor man, the farmer of small means,
have to support tax greater than
his ability compared with men Of az u-
ence , Another important question
Is, How far can farmers cooperate in
the use and purchase of improved i'm
.pIements, which are highly impsr-
tant in reducing the cost of labor up
on the farm, and without which the
farmer Of small capital cannot conn.,
pete with the one Of larger means :?
In the first place there is the roller, a
very important implement, found up
on few farms, and perhaps only want
ed for few hours in a year; one of
these rollers In neighborbood would
meet the requirements of a number
OF farms. In the matter OF large
breaking-up ploWs, necessary upon
every farm and yet cnIy occasiona =
used upon any, one implement woI
meet the wants af a number of farm
Even moving machine can be ma
to do the work for number of far
by little judicious management
with seed sewers, planters and u
nnre srreaders, each Of which cot
be made available for several farI
These are important motters
must be considered by the small faI
ers or they will find themselves
IN the race for success in farmi
The large farmers of the country VII
eventually swallow up these of nod-
crate means, as they have swallowed
5e small farmers IN other countries.
aniess through being forewarned the
latter are forearmed. The strength,
independence and prosperity Of ma
tion depends Upon the prosperity of
its small landholdeis, and II they do
not take care and protect themselves
in this free republic they must not
expect others to care for them.
Large landed proprietors have their
interests to care fJr, and If they are
n0tfrue to their own responsibilities,
who will assume responsibility for
them ? Bstween the large and small
landh0lders there need be no antagon-
ism; the former, 1t is true, occupies
the vantage ground, though when
We urge upon the small iandholders
TO cooperate I'm order successfully to
compete with their more favored
brother farmers, we do not desire to
see animosilies engendered. We
hope TO encourage only a fair and hon.
cradle rivalry in business. When we
speak Of large farmers swallowing up
the smaller ones we do not use the
metaphor in any sense TO cause iii
feeling between the two, but to point
out inevitable consequences, unless
some eforts are made by which the
small farmers can compete with the
larger ones upon equal terms. Coop
erafoa in its broadest sense is the
frienI Of the average farmer,
Paper bags to the number Of ,OOO,-