The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1910-07-05
GERMAN FARMERS LEAGUES.

OF interest to the farmers of Kansas
and to the farmers of every other
agricultural community ought to be
the extensive unions of farmers for
mutual aid and purchases which play
such an important part in agricul-
tural development of Germany. They
are described comprehensively in
report from A. w. Thackara, United
States consul general at Berlin. He
describes them as being most effective
in aiding the membership financially,
the loans aggregating over $500, 000,-
600; in improved crop culture through
travelling experts; in selling farm prod
ucts, and in purchasing supplies which
amount to many million dollars an
nually. Excerpts from the report fol-
low:
During the latter half of the nine
teenth century associations formed
among the agricultural classes of Ger
many did much to promote scientific
farming and in more recent years they
have extended their influence with the
advancement of technology. When the
German farmer came to recognize
that he was separated from the center
of social life and from his associates
in the same vocation, that he must
remain In touch with the scientific
and economic activity of the country
in order to share in the progress made,
he found that agricultural organiza-
tions were the means by which to at
tain his object. Consequently a large
number of cooperative associations
sprang up throughout Germany, which
in addition to the former idealistic
aP
the further object Of promoting the
interest of the farmer. especially in
the buying and selling of products and
merchandise. These local societies
have united into branch societies, cir
cult and district societies, which form
the basis or nucleus of the two general
German agricultural organizations of
the present time This movement.
looking to the union of the smaller
groups of societies into large central
organizations, was started during the
latter half of the nineteenth century
by Schultze-Delitzsch and Raffeisen.
two eminent German social economists.
Under the leadership of these men the
unions grew rapidly, their greatest
growth being coincident in time with
the Capitalization of capital and the
1OTmaLlOn Oh II uSSSs
The local societies making up the
Imperial and General organizations
were formed for various purposes.
Many of them may have a single &C
tivity, others. have their functions so
intermingled that it is not always pos
sible to distinguish them. In general.
In the year 1907 the business done
by the different groups of the Gen
eral Agricultural organization amount
ed to $16,073,567. For the succeed
ing year the amount was $17.197,623,
an increase of approximately $1.125,-
056. The separate statistics giving the
business of the 305 dairy societies be-
longing to this organization are not
available. Some comparison may be
made, however, between the separate
local societies of the Imperial and the
General organizations. The average
working capital of each Of the local
societies of the General organization
was $3.50, that of the Imperial or
ganization being $10,465. If this COM
parison be extended to that of the in
dividual members, the working capital
per person in the General organization
dairy societies was $43.31, that of the
Imperial being $101.62. The estimated
value of the property for each society
in the General organization was $2,-
S14, that of the Weather competitor
was $6,729 for each member.
An eminent German economist re-
Gently stated that the significance of
agricultural unions in Germany lies in
their successful advocation of honest
business dealing, in their insistence on
cash payments and on economy in
operating expenses, in their struggle
against usury and deception, in the
business and moral training which
they give to the lower and middle
classes, and in the happy combination
of progressive principles and brotherly
feeling which they stimulate.