The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1893-05-30
No. 16
Written expressly for PROGRESSIVE FARMER ]
FINANCIAL FEATURES OF THE
ALLIANCE.
The Alliance Must Keep Out of Debt
How Debt Hurts AIliances--The
Advantages of Cooperation
HARRISBURG, Pa.

!
Advantages of Cooperation.
HARRISBURG, Pa.
Mr. EDITOR:-In our day no very
great reform is effected without sub
stantial backing This applies not only
to trade and transportation, but to all
organizations, whether sectarian or re-
lgiOus. Point me to church bur-
dened with debt, and 1 will point to
the same church as lacking and tagging
on the highway to ecclesiastical sue
cess. A church in q good financial
condition, allthing being equal, stands
better chance of being successful
with a given amount o. work Equally
SO is it with other organizations.
Take a Subordinate Alliance with
plethoric treasury, and there seems to
be an incentive on the part Of the mem
bership to more regular attendance,
harmony, and aggressiveness in the
espousal Of the principles Of the ALI
ance than where the condition is re-
versed.
the financial department of our organ
izatiOn that deserves special attention.
1t is that upon which co operation is
based. We have never taken full ad-
vantage Of the profits which we can
derive from financial co operation.
Perhaps 5he North Carolina Alliance
comes nearer the mark than the Ali
ance Of any other State; but with
hampered legislation, made possible on
account of SO many members who are
not active workers, even the CO ope; a.
tive financial department. Of North
Carolina may be hampered more the
present year than it has been in the
past. However, if the members de
termine to stand together, shoulder to
shoulder, no legislation OF North Caro-
lima, if constitutional, can check the
onward progress Of the organized farm
ers Of that grand Old North State.
believe that the best results fnan-
cially, as we'll as co operatively, can
be attained by plan which have not
yet heard Of being carried out. 1t is
this: That especial attention be paid
by the Subordinate Alliances Of every
county to select the very best men of
the county for president, secretary
and treasurer of the County Alliance.
Then have the Secretary of the County
Alliance keep ali alphabet, al list Of all
the members Of oil the Subordinate
Alliances in tn county. Then proceed
to purchase. For instance, a large
quantity of salt is wanted. Let the
County Secretary write to eUery men,
Der Of the Alliance in his county, Civ
ing the date upon which the order will
go forward for salt; also quote the
probable price st which the salt can be
purchased; also the manner of ship
ment, and the manner Of package;
also the exact time the salt can be ex-
pected at the nearest railroad station
Or boat landing. Then leu it be under
stood in the county that it is the duty,
as we'll as the privilege, Of every mem
Der to purchase in this cooperative
way. No doubt better results would
follow than if notices were simply sent
to Subordinate Alliances, as often
many members are absent from the
meetings of their Subordinate Alliance,
some on account of sickness, some by
reason of business, some from other
good causes.
This plan of cooperation in purchas-
ing could extend on to the State ALI
ance organization, ard be applied to
everything that is bought by farmers
in quantities.
The same features could be observed
in selling; and, by the way, the farm
ers of the United States will never sell
to the best advantage until they have
aNational Farmers Exchange. Ihope
to be able to lay before the Executive
Committee Of the National Alliance, at
an early day, some plan whereby this
important department may be e5tab-
! lished.
AS yet we stand simply on the thres-
hold Of financial success in CO operative
buying and cooperative selling, and l
GuIuA IL 1S CIu0 Cu1O GHO A6"A AAAOAH "a
America were alive to their interests
in this direction. Surely we have not
yet attained more than a single step or
two upward toward the plane upon
which we can stand in all parts of our
grand country. II. @. DEMMING.
The money kings of that dusky little
alley in New York are much disturbed
over the Western bankers offering
their gold to the government, it fore