The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1900-10-09
BENEFITS OF CO-oPERATror

Business men in other lines fa,,
advantageous to cooperate W,
should not farmers? Fertilizers 4
feed, coal, machinery, in fact all -
plements can be purchased in
lots, sometimes 40 per cent bo,s
retail prices. Conversely, wbo
farmers by cooperation can mani.
their produce in a lots, thew
again eliminate middlemen's nroet
When a committee of farmers oa
go on the exchange and deal in oooJ
in lots of several carloads, thev mor|
readily obtain advantageous onot.
tions than can the individual farmo
from the village retailer.
While cooperative stores how.
many good features, it is ofttimo
better to obtain discounts from eviol
ing stores. Thus Send proposal
to the several boot and shoe dea7or]
grocers, clothing and dry GOOD
merchants, ETC., to bid for the trad
of your organization. For instanoo
Say to them, eve control 100 fam|
lies our trade in your line will DroH
ably amount to from S., 900 to $1Ood
annually. What discount from reo1
lar prices will you allow our mem
bers if we divert u trade to von
store?" Competition usually promp1
them to bid low for a block Of trad
like this.
Nc organization should omit tb|
advertising board, which should b
hung in the meeting room. Wbe|
any farmer wishes to buy or sci
horses, seeds or any of the varioU|
supplies that farmers obtain from
each other, he can jot it down and
thus form a miniature s'bOard al
trade" which will prove a source d
mutual benefit. A small assessment
would supply all the best agricu]
tural and scientific papers and maya
zines. It would also permit tb|
~chartering of a train or steamhoa|
and provide occasionally aday's out
ing at seashOre or mOuntain.-Ar
thur B. Smith, Salem Co., N. j.
During the next six weeks tbd
farmer will see more Of his membe]
Of Congress and the candidates Wild
aspire to that position han during
the two years which will follow
During those six weeks, as he comes
in contact with the aforesaid candi
dates, will be a good opportunity to-
call their attention to several mat
tiers demanding the attention Of Con
gress, which are of special interest
to farmers: There is the matter of
an increase in postal facilities in the
rural districts. Many sections are
enjoying these improved facilities
many more ought to. Then there IS
the question. of post checks, to pro-
vide for sending money through the
mails more conveniently and safely
than is possible under present condl
tions. The circuit bill, providing for
the suppression of the traffic in eleo
cOlOred to initiate butter, will BE-
acted on by the House of RepreSen|
tative next December. Ask the can
didates to give a distinst pledge thai
if elected they will vote in favor OF
that bill. Another important thing
is the question of the Trusts. All
the parties have antitrust pIankS ~
their platforms. more or less en-
phatic. Pin the candidates down %
an emphatic promise that they Will
actively support proper Legislation
for the regulation OF suppression u
may be most expedient, Of the Iru'1
evil. Platform promises are gooo
as far as they go, but they don ~
very far unless legislative 0odlV7
back them up with decided action
enforced by the Executive power
The Trust interests "a we'll anOlU|
to smile at platform denunclatlon'
so long as the Trusts themselves a'|
we'll enough entrenched in Congress
to stave off any effective action D y
that body. The foregoing are an
matters of special interest to 'I'
farmer, which require and sh0G'
have Congressional action to mar.
them effective. The time to 1mP[V''
Congressman and would-be Congre'.
men with the fact that the farmLnS
interests need and demand cerC"l.
remedial legislation, is just WIZ.
your votes are asked to keep Son'