The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1902-08-29
GRANGE DEPARTMENT.
Conducted by w. =. Alexander. r =.
D. No. q, Owosso.


should be addressed
COUNTY GRANGE CALENDAR.
owosso Township: First and third Tuesday
in each month at 1870 p M; Richardson's hall
Owosso.
New Lothrop; Second and fourth Tuesday
afternoon in each month.
Bennington: First and third Saturday after
noon In each month.
Hazel Greens First and third Friday of each
month; Henderson
Burns: Every Tuesday evening, Knaggs'
Br dye.
Unlon; Each Alternate Friday evening;
SUGGESTIONS FOR DISCUSSION IN SEP
TENDER.
National Lecturer-Why does cult
walton of the soil promote plant growth
and to what extent can cultivation con
tribute to such growth?
State Lecturer-Co-operation in the
Grange.
The article in our last issue on CO.
operation should have been credited to
the American Grange Bulletin.
AT its next meeting, September I'd,
Owosso Township Grange No. 1876,
elects delegates to the county Grange
| convention to be held in Owosso the
first Tuesday in October. All members
should be present.
It's the idle members who soon lose
interest and drop out of the Grange
meetings. AS fast as new members are
added the lecturer should put their
names on the list of available material
and then plan, yes, plot if need be, to
use it.-Mrs. F. D. Saunders.
COOPERATION AMONG FARMERS.
From the American Grange Bulletin
There is a very general impression
that farmers are not successful coop
orators. Of course there is some ground
| for this impression; but the common be-
lief is based on more complete knowl-
| edge of the failure than of the successes.
The fact is worth noting, worth remem-
bering When cooperative concern
fails the newspapers exploit the matter
as sensational news. The fact that
some other organization has been gen
uine success for many years is hardly
worth mentioning; it does not furnish
the material for good story"
In his testimony before the Industrial
Commi sion three years ago, Mr..
George X. Holmes, assistant statistican
of the Department of Agriculture, made
some interesting statements bearing on
this point. After stating that it is
probable the farmers "are now main
tanning in this country about 5000 CO.
operative organizations not including
irrigation associations" Mr.. Holmes
said: Cooperation among farmers has
it is true, often been failure, but il
has, at the same time, especially recent
| ly, been unquestionably successful, and
the failures and successes indicate in
what respect some small legislation
might be helpful. If anything car
help the cooperative movement among
farmers, it would help movement
which, if well conduced, is conductive
to their welfare. 1t tends to eliminate
the middlemen, makes the farmer more
of capitalist, tends to make him save
cultivates his knowledge of business
makes him more self-reliant, and, per
haps most important of all, unites il
one interest both capital and labor"
Referring to the hindrances to sue
cessful cooperation among farmers
made a statement and suggestion
, which ought, at least, to be suggestive
to many co-operators and to advocate
of cooperation: 1.-The difficulties tina
the cooperative undertaking of farmer
, have encountered have been incompe
tent management, dishonest manage
; ment, and lack of capital. Now, it i
/ impossible to legislate honesty ant
} ability into mankind, but the law ma,
prescribe certain requirements whicl
will bar out the incompetent and tn
o suggest that a cooperative association
when incorporated, should be subject t
the supervision of a state officer or com
mission such as that to which banks an
: insurance companies are subjected
that is, supervision consisting of a
9 examination of accounts and with
publicity of the business This, l be
lieve would protect many a cooperate
who does not know how i'll the bushes
of his association may be conducted ur
til it is too late, and until the collaps
= follows"
Q Let it be emphasized that business CO
A operation is successful among farmers
What has been successfully done and
being done with marked success in nearl
every state of the union can be don
4 more extensively. If we will but az
q cumulate our experiences of failure an
of success, it will not be difficult {
work out plan that can be depende
!. ON to succeed whenever men will wor
r together according to sound co-opers
n tive principles Farmers need to CT
:, operate for their own financial advan
! age, as well as for other advantage
!. that come through co-operation-in
IS creased power in the social, politica
q and business world.