The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1892-11-18
CORPORATION FARMING.
EVOLUTION IN PRODUCTIVE INDUSTRY
No. II.

is making against the combined forces
in every other pursuit, we will try and
show him way out of his present
dependent condition which he has been
fattering himself by listening to the
battery of others, is one of independence
The application of machinery and
steam power to every branch of produc.
tive industry has been the means Of
multiplying and chespening at the same
tine the articles produced. This re-
quired aggregation of capital as we'll as
large numbers of men working together,
dividing their labor into as many parts
as there are distinct pieces OF the article
to be produced. BY this division of labor
and concentration of brain and muscle
against each separate part, quality is
greatly improved, and aided by the
multiplying power of machinery driven
by steam, quantity is added to quality
This Superior method of production
and economy has been pointed out to
the farmer by those engaged in other
pursuits, and the inventor has brought
to his aid many improved machines
which invite him to achieve greater
and better results if he will but follow
those who have shown him the way in
other lines of industry.
The new way demands an absolute
and radical change, and this is the
barrier he prefers to stand behind as a
defense from the innovations that
threaten his old time methods, rather
than to surmount and achieve the sue
cess which invites him on the other
side. The farmer seems to glory in his
isolation and loneliness, while he grum.
bles at his hard lot; but he has friends
who are doing for him almost in spite
of his efforts to resist and hang back,
and it is encouraging to perceive that
he is gradually gaining courage and
manifests some symptoms of making an
effort to get out OF the old ruts and try
to improve his opportunity.
He has scarcely thought as yet of try.
ing to advance by the new method, to
him, Of corporate co operation, the COM
bination of forces by union of capital
with his fellow farmers. The advan-
tages which ought to follow combining
the capital of many farmers which
consists of lands, stock, implements,
machinery, etc, have not been attempt
ed by them. THIS plan of multiplying
production with economy and escaping
much drudgery has succeeded in every
other line. of business when it has been
tried which is pretty strong evidence
that it would not fail were it applied to
farming. But how can or shall this
corporation cooperative method which
has wrought such marvellous results in
other lines of productive industry
where it has been introduced be applied
to farming? Simple cooperation or
mutual partnerships have been tried in
almost every business but never with
more than partial success. Cooperation
may be likened to rope of sand, or in
its very best estate loosely spun faxeD
cord, but corporation unions are strong
and enduring as cables of steel. In a
simple cooperation or partnership
each member retains his individuality
and can exercise his powers to injure
or wholly destroy the company at any
time he may from various motives be
inclined to do SO; or the death of one
of the members may cause dissolution
of the cooperation or partnership
The corporation is wholly different
frOm cooperative business while it
may and should involve all the advan-
tages of the latter without any of its
weaknesses. In the corporation the
individual loses his identity in the
artificial person which the corporation
creates. The corporation has been
and is regarded by political economists
az danger to the citizen and menace
to the powers of government. and justly
SO. This danger is not inherent to the
corporation but to the defects in the
charter granted by the State creating
the corporation. The corporation being
a creature of the State should be con-
stantly under supervision of the State
which should demand as minute a re-
port to be made to the State and pub
lished for the inspection Of the public,
as is demanded by the officers of the
corporation. Such supervision would
prevent the overstepping of charter
privileges and injustice SO often prsc.
ticed against employees and the public,
especially in the large and powerful