The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1903-12-19
OF
: DISTRICT. SYSTEM N.
.llantinued ilon. F 9 Pag &.

.nerntIS lnuiNluhaAS - u -
/ P'V S sense that happiness consists
!. living in the midst Of poverty
Y l.,hort feeling its pangs, but i.
WV :, ,ever become prosperous COM
W. ,;,v The underlying purpose
u Df;r,iaation district organization is.
:. bnild up prosperous communities,
"A / can succeed only where there
: = /. liberal and intelligent commun-
Z. snirit. 1t ought not TO be at
#, !, where the average intelli-
ss,ce is so low and the average
ss,sshuess SO high that the indi-
. "a of the community are una
~ % understand that the well be-
- IT each will be advanced by the
prosperity of all. 1t ought not 70
& attempted unless great major
- Of the individuals realize that
i, conceding something Of their
immediate private interests, they
n,omote their own ultimate welfare
! g we'll as the public good. An at
,eropt to organize a district, pre-
suppose the existence OF a reasora-
he comprehension of what makes
Or and constitutes prosperity.
Where that comprehension does
Mt exist, or where the prevailing
conception of prosperity is the
building up OF personal fortunes on
tbe ruins of community welfare, the
attempt should fail in its inception,
as if successful. it only invites dis
aster.
How often do farmers bemoan
tbe succe ss-they call it tyranny
Of other cooperative movements,
and charge it to all manner of
crime and corruption, but forever
falling to perceive the true cause!
Will they never learn that the sue
cess Of corporations-only another
name for co-operations-rests abso-
Iutely, on the willingness of each
sockholder to sacrifice something
Of his personal interests-call it
rights. if you wish-to the corpor-
ate good? The individual stock
holder merges part of himself in
The corporation, then in so far
as that part is concerned, its pros
perity depends upon the prosperity
Of the whole corporation, and to
that extent, each individual becomes
an enthusiastic worker for the cor
poration. If farmers will under
stand that by organizing irrigation
districts, they are simply forming
corporations for promoting enter
Drises in which all are deeply inter
ested, and that on the success of the
corporation depends the success o
the enterprise upon which depends
their individual successes, they will
be likely to take the same pride ant
interest in irrigation districts tina
stockholders in private corporation
DO in their organizations. 1t to-
often happens, though, that farmer
will not see it in that light; in man!
instances, no sooner do they becom
members Of an irrigation corporation
than they are seized by a stron!
impulse to smash it. The day afte
election, they are prone to reprobat
the officers they themselves unani
mously selected, and thereafter
Without investigation, impartially
condemn whatever they do or d
not do. This disposition is born {
Tue TACT that so many of them al
gwen to regard the corporation g
SOmethlng outside of themselve
sno antagonistic to their welfare
whereas a proper comprehensive
would clearly show them and eau.
'nem to feel that it is of them, /
'aem and for them.
The failure Of irrigation distric
may result from a failure to apr
vla'e this disposition of farmers, al
'as failure to remove all just cat
W suspicion and dissatisfaction
rs a rule. farmers lives have be-
hM~%-.n@ M