The Jasper news., 1902-09-04
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Cooperation for Farmers
Some Arguments Why Farmers Should
Cooperate and the Effect it Would Have
BY J. A. Everitt, in Indiana State Sentinel
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may be considered healthy that yield
such great profits as to induce extrava.
gance, or such small profits as result in
hard.hips; and particularly an element
Of uncertainty about any business is
very deplorablc.
The Plan.
This plan Of cooperation contempla.
ties national society, with head
quarters at Indianapolis; state organiza-
tions with headquarters at the state
capital Of each state, and local branches
in every township or as frequently as
necessary to accommodate every person
engaged in agricultural pursuits.
Thore are over six million farms in
the country, aud we calculate there arc
100000 or more people directly en-
gagged in agriculture, or friends Of
agriculture, who would be desirous of
seeing better conditions prevail on the
| farms. And who would join a move
ment that will remove the uncertainties
Of prices, secure profitable prices and
put agriculture on sound, safe, de-
finite basis Of operation.
As all value should be based on pro
duction and consumption, it will be easy
to place a minimum value on each com
modify according to its merits higher in
seasons OF scarcity than in seasons OF
plenty, but aiming always TO protect the
! producer. This value can be arrived at
/ by the directors ~ by what it costs TO
produce it, with fair profit added; %
by the word's product Of the commod-
ity. or, il of ouly local or national inn
portance, then by the supply in the
competing territory. The base will be
Chicago, New York or Liverpool. The
price TO the producer will then be the
selected market, with the expense for
handling and transportation deducted.
In this way any farmer can easily cal
culato the farm value of his crop.
When value is placed on crop OF
grain, cotton or on pork or beef, it
next crop year, unless very material
changes occurred to affect consumption,
or future crop prospects warrant a revi-
sion. To prevent too liberal marketing
at the start an advance will be made on
eRch staple article each month it is held
thus iustifying part Of the producers in
holding their crops. The daily
fluctuations as at present are not 10 the
interest Of the producers, but in the in
terest OF the gamblers. Can the
farmers profit by these fluctuations?
Certainly not but they could make
many improvements,P provide many com
forts for their families or indulge in
many pleasures If they know the wheat
! in their granaries was worth not LESS
than 50 cents or 81 bushel, The same
in September, January and April, and
the same way with other crops,
This information will he conveyed to
the various members through their agri
cultusal or others papers or through
Others approved media. An official or
gan published weekly will fill all the re
qurements. We predict WITH this plan
in operation the recommended price will
be printed by all the papers as regularly
as the markets are reported nov.
Through the local branches a system
Of crop reporting can be carried on that
will surpass anything ever before accom-
plished or attempCd. IL turn the inior-
nation sent weekly to each member
from headquarters will enable each
member, no difference in what part of
the country, to co operate with each
other member, and as one person 10 ask
and ob ain uniform prices.
The expense individually will be very
small, perhaps membership fee Of 81
and annual dues Of 81 and whatever
contributions arc necessary to the local
branch, based on its operations.
1t may be claimed that very large