The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1903-01-24

Cooperation" and Labor Discussed
by Farmers.-At the last meeting of the Deer
Creek Farmers Club the subject discussed was
"Cooperation among farmers i'll regard to
buying. selling labor" etc. We append the
views of some of those present, as reported IN
the Belair Times:
Mr.. Harry Silver said 'If the idea conveyed
by the word cooperation could be carried into
effect, the farmers would WELD power that
would be dney ySsv De ~ pSSd
would get it. Competition IN the business
world has became so keen that the men in the
different branches of business ind 1t to their
advantage to form great combinations of capt.
tai for the control of their own and the other
fellows affairs. thereby forcing the small man
out of business, and are thus enabled to die
tate terms with which the consumer must COM
ply, and the result of the whole matter is large
dividends to the stockholders. Now. IT the keen.
Wide-awake business man finds that co-Opera-
ton benefits him, why may not the farmer APP
ply it to his business, at least in some degree
Il do not say merge the farms of Hartford
county or the State of Maryland into gigantic
trust, for it would take some one with more
ability than Mr.. Morgan to do it. and run the
trust. But let the farmers of neighborhood
club together and look after their business in
tereSts closer than they have been doing. /
know it is very difficult matter to form and
carry on an organization among farmers. Why
this should be so l cannot understand. There
is no good reason for it. l think the principal
causes of failure are: First-They are too credu-
lous. They will believe almost anything that
nybody tells them, and are ready to let some
one else attend to affairs that they should have
a say in themselves. The second reason arises
from their environment. There is a certain in
dependence connected with the lives of most
farmers, especially the well-to do class, that
makes them feel as though they will get along
all righ hit anyway, and they don't care to start
something new. But as l said before, let the
farmers of a neighborhood get together and
look after their interests more closely and they
will be surprised at results. And 1 know of no
line in which better results may be obtained
than in buying. Let them make up their orders
for fertilizers, buy the ingredients in carload
lots for cash, borrow the money if necessary
mix themselves, and they will be surprised at
results, both in cost of fertilizer and results on
crops. know from experience one can save
from SO to Sc per ton. Buy grass seed, bran and
cottonseed meal the same way, and at the end
of the year considerable saving will be effect
ed and dollar saved is dollar made. Let one
man, "a farmer,) do the buying. Let him
operate with like buyer for another neigh
borhood. If possible get three or four such
representatives together, then you can send in
larger order and thus obtain lower prices.
I'm regard to labor, it looks as though farmers
will have to join forces with his neighbor in the
busy seasons to get his work done. Help each
other turn about with what help they have.
This is being practiced to some extent in har-
vest, and works satisfactorily. In view of the
scarcity of labor and the unsatisfactory kind
we often get. one almost breads to commence
harvesting. although improved machinery has
very greatly lightened the burdens. l think we
might say that cooperation would prove as
great boon to the farmer as improved ma
chinery, provided one worked as near perfectly
as the other"
Mr.. Frank H. Jacobs said "I think we might
buy fertilizers to advantage under the CO opera
tive plan. This would also apply to buying the
ingredients and mixing. Have tried mixing on
the farm and found it satisfactory and more
economical. AS far as labor is concerned, we
can't get anyone to work around our way. Many
work in the canneries and feel independent. I
think cooperation would work in buying some
things but as to selling, that is another matter"
Mr.. William Silver said: Cooperation in
many ways is possible with neighbOring far
mers. This is especially true in the, matter of
labor at harvest; Three years ago harvesting
assistance from neighbors, it cost me Sl1. Last
year another farmer helped me and in turn
helped him. The cost to me was only So. In
selling cooperation is not easy. One farmer
must sell as soon as possible and another may
be able to sell to advantage at another time. In
buying the opportunities are great. Have re-
Gently joined with others and bought carload
of cottonseed meal to advantage"
Mr.. William B. Hopkins said II think it is
almost an impossibility to get farmers to act
together l remember some years ago number
of farmers met at Darlington and agreed upon
wages to be paid laborers The same day the
agreement was broken. 1t might work advan-
tageously in buying. The labor problem is
serious. 1t is almost impossible to get laborers
Colored laborers are scarce. The registration
books in my precinct show that many have
gone away and have employment elsewhere
Mr.. John B. Wysong said: 1.-The most serious
question confronting the farmer is that of la
borers. 1t surpasses in Importance the matter
of buying or selling. Last summer was COM
PEELED to call neighbors to help. 1 think it is
coming TO LllS, IndG U6lRlDOflnR FARMERS Will
have to join and help each other Labor is not
to be had. A few years ago there was no diff
Guilty in getting hands. Cooperation in buying
might work satisfactorily. but it is different in
regard to selling. | understand that Virginia
truckers find it profitable to unite and keep a
selling agent in Baltimore and other cities, and
that the plan has worked WE'LL Five or six hum
dred tons of fertilizer could probably be bought
at discount of S. per ton."
Mr.. w. Beatty Harlan said: II think q good
many things could be accomplished by co-opera-
there practical 0lffiCnltl6S i
way. There is no doubt that If farmers were
united throughout the country that they could
do pretty much as they wished. l do not think,
however, that farmers will ever combine to
eliminate competition. Cooperation in buying
and selling may be feasible among small num-
Der of farmers. Great corporations have made
their profits by eliminating costs of production
aeeded in doing tbs ana foiie6 up millions Tor
S,a owacls and consumers of oil have been bene-
fitted. / think If farmers would use the same
machinery much expense would be saved in re-
placing broken parts. A broken machine at
harvest means delay and serious loss if one
must send to distant point for repairs"
Mr.. s. A. Williams said Cooperation among
farmers is fine in theory, but there are some
practical difficulties in the way, and except upon
a small scale among neighboring farmers, who
know and have confidence in each other, con-
siderable time will elapse before they are ready
to avail themselves of its advantages. The or
ganiZation of the Northern Hartford Packing
Association was a recognition of the advantages
of co operation, but no great business like that
could be run successfully without a perfect
compensation for services rendered. This or
ganization made the mistake of paying execu-
tive officers travelling expenses only when the
magnitude of the enterprise and the work
necessary to be done was worth 5000 a year.
Farmers are so independent of thought and
habit that they do not recognize the value of
uniting for their common welfare. They might
learn lesson from the railroads. In this field
mutually of interest is recognized and has been
a potent force in the great advances made by
these corporations in recent years. Probably
the first development of the idea of co-opera-
ton of farmers will come in the matter of pur-
chasing. Four, five or six farmers with conf
thority to purchase, could make start.''
Mr.. A. P. Silver said II think much benefit
could be derived from a combination of far
mers. How this is to be done is difficult to say.
Combination in buying seems easier and simpler
than in selling: Think farmers will be forced to
combine in selfdefense. The labor question is
serious. 1t is hard to get regular hands and it is
worse with day labor"
Mr. George p Cook said: IT hear a good bit
about the advantages of cooperation in buying,
but not much in regard to selling. l think if
the farmers had an agent in, say Philadelphia,
who could watch the market and be ready to
look after the farmers interest in marketing
farm produce, better prices would be obtained.
AS to buying, have known 5000 stock cattle
to be brought to Churchville and sold in one
season. Farmers would go there to buy and
bid against each other"
Mr.. W. w. Finney said: "You hear of all sorts
of trusts but you don't hear of a farmers
trust. There are too many of them, and they
are too independent to be brought under one
management. They, as a class, are the most in
dependent of all classes making up the con-
stituency of our country. / don't think a gen
eral plan of cooperation in buying and selling
is feasible"
Mr.. Fred. Lochary said "The help problem is
the most serious one confronting the farmers.
Farmers are receiving fair returns for the pro-
ducts of the farm and it is difficult to join forces
in buying for various reasons
Mr.. r. II. Archer said II think money talks
all the time, no matter whether you combine or
not. The middle man must exist. and you must
deal with them. Why, he is the man to look
after the interests of the many with conflicting
wants and various methods of settlements
The more he is patronized the better service
you get"
Mr.. John Moores said 1T is very hard to get
any number of farmers to purchase the same
kind of farm machinery. They differ so much
that cooperation is difficult. The only things
they can all agree in wanting are good roads,
low taxes and Oliver chilled plOws. Laughter
If ]. p. Morgan were here and brought all farms
under the management of one man, then it
might work.
Mr.. John d. Worthington said 1.-THE most
pressing phase of the question is that of labor.
We do not get good class of immigrants be-
cause we do not go about it right. Secretary
Badenhoop told me that some Western States
appropriated $4,000 to encourage immigration.
This has given them big advantage. When
they are established there other friends of inn
migrants are drawn thither. Our State might
do something along this line. 1t does look like.
in this day of combination. that the farmer has