The Green Forest tribune., 1908-07-10
Farmers Educational
 AN Co- Operative Union Of America
Meaning of Cooperation.

inCependence in 1776, one of the mem, Eers of the Continental Congress ex. claimed. We must all hang together! " fes, said another member, "or we Will all hang separately"
 This truth so forcibly stated is ap- plicable to the members of the Farm CTS union today. I have stated time and again, and I challenge contradic- tion, that nothing can withstand the onward march of the Farmers Union as an order so long as it presents a united front to the outside world. 50 long as we hang together the order is invincible But when ever pickering, and strife, and dis -sentalions, divide and disintegate the membership, then shall we assuredly all hang separately"
 But what is the meaning of the word cooperation? To Operate" means to act, to work, to exert power, strength, and to cooperate" means to work jointly with others, to pull to- gether' to accomplish definite results. It is a simple matter-just to blend our energies with those of our neigh DOTS. It is making a single human machine out of many individual brains and hands. We need not and ought not to lose our individuality, but our aims and the objects we wish to ac- complish must be in common with those of our neighbors. It may spring from the most selfish motives. or from perfect altruism, but whatever be the motives that inspires it, cooperation multiplies individual effort and pro- duces results, far beyond what could be accomplished through the same individuals acting separately or inde- pendently, and not in harmony.
 This is emphatically an age of or ganization. The church is organized; merchants are organized bankers are organized-a why not the farmers? It is right to organize for legitimate purposes, so long as no effort is made to trample upon the rights of others. But when organized greed tries to stfe competition and to crush out the other fellow--there is where the harm comes
 
 CT uses, and the farmers ought tc avail themselves of II.
 Organization is a community of in- terest it is machine made out of individuals; it another name for cooperation The founders of the Farmers Union Builded wisely when they added the word "coopera- tive" to it's name.
 But what is to be gained by the farmers cooperating through the Farmers Union? Let us see.
 1. To certain extent they can con trol the prices of their products. They may not do it in one year, or two years, but in time they will succeed, provided they act wisely and will pull together and stick together. It is said that farmers will not stick together. Now is the golden opportunity to prove the contrary. Diversity your croEe and live at home SC that you will be Independent, and then stand together for fair prices.
 2. By cooperation in buying you can purchase supplies much cheaper than when you act singly and alone.
 g. It will enable you to resist those who try to oppress you; it will aid you in doing away with the mortgage sys- tenn, which is the curse of farmers; it will aid you in improving your neigh borhood in securing good roads and good schools for your children In word, it will enable you to so improve your condition that life will be worth living thus bringing joy and peace and gladness to the hearts of your wives and children.
 An old man lay dying, so the story goes, and gathered his seven sons around him. He bade them bring him a bundle of seven sticks tied together, and each son in turn ried to break the bundle, but could not Untying the bundle, even the youngest child broke each stick easily. What lesson in coonerationi Members of the Farm CTS Union, let the motto, United we stand, divided we fall" sink deep into your hearts. In no other way can we "garner the tears of the distressed and bring laughter to the cheeks of inno- cent childhood d"-Mississipp Union Advocate.