The independent., 1904-01-21

cent and others, have devoted great
deal of time to building up the Farm
ers' Cooperative Shipping association.
which began business July 8, 1903, and
by December l of that year was oper-
ating 81 stations in Oklahoma, Kansas
and Nebraska, and had handled over
million bushels of grain.
In view of the fact that in Nebraska
especially there are large number of
independent farmers elevators, whose
members refuse to become members
of the Farmers Cooperative Shipping
association, it is probable that Messrs.
Vincent, Hoffman, and their colabor-
ers have at times felt discouraged be-
cause their project has not grown as
rapidly as conditions would seem TO
warrant. But The Independent be-
1ieves that this apparent slow growth
is rather encouraging than otherwise.
1t is undoubtedly fact that if ey-
cry farmer in Nebraska, or in the
middle west, or in the entire United
States, were stockholder in one giant
cooperative association, designed not
only for marketing grain, but also
for selling other farm products and
purchasing supplies needed upon the
farm, that it would be of immense
advantage to agriculturists. But the
very nature of agriculture, and the in
dividualistic lives led by farmers, rem
der the building up Of such co-opera-
tive institution a task requiring much
time and an indefinite amount of hard
work.
AS The Independent views the sit
uation, there is not the compelling
necessity for cooperative action by
farmers such as has brought about the
rapid concentration in other lines. Be-
sides, there are no special privileges"
in the way Of legislation and favor
itism from the great transportation
companies, to aid in the farmers
movement toward co-operation-and
these tend to retard the work of or
ganization.
But all of these Independent farm
ers' elevators are schools teaching CO.
operation. They are the awkward
squads" in the great army which Will
doubtless ultimately be formed in
line Of battle. Even if it were possi-
BILE today to make every farmer in the
United States stockholder in a
farmers trust. it would likely break
down before a year, because a great
majority of farmers are yet unframed
and untitled for cooperation. Farm
lie has developed strong Individual
ism in the farmer, but has tended to
make him a sort of Ishmaelite. He is
inclined to be unduly suspicious of his
fellowmen-not because of anything
inherent in his nature, but because
iiio Sif IL CuSy lOI ullu
to be suspicious. And until he can by
actual experience learn to have lit
tie more confidence in his fellows, the
ultimate farmers trust must still be
a long way off.
The organization and successful op-
GRAFTON of local, independent, co-opera-
tive concerns, however, by drilling the
awkward squads" into soldiers
trained to the manual of cooperation.
must finally make it easier to build
up the bigger organizations. After
another year has elapsed, and the
Farmers Cooperative Shipping asso-
citation has demonstrated its ability
to render the farmers better service
than local cooperative concern
could do. there should be little din
Guilty In adding 10 II large number
of the present independent concerns.
The home concern teaches the farmer
that cooperation Is benefit to him,
wears of the sharp corners OF his in