Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1910-05-10
Why Cooperation Fails.

4 i u6V0 Eo6u Will COuoIQOI0Ut0 ios0AO1'
an editorial in recent issue OF the
Farmer, "The Great Farm Problem OF
To-day" and think perhaps it will have
tendency to stir to prompt action some
of the latent ideas roaming around
among the farmers craniums. There is
certainly fair amount Of intelligence
existing among Maine farmers, and 1t
they are to succeed in making farming
sound business proposition, they must
surely exercise their intellectual powers
to degree consistent with, the demand
along this line.
Cooperation among farmers should be
the watchword, and every effort should
be made to bring this about at an early
day. But let me just tell you one Of the
reasons why this has not been done long
ago, and why farmers are hesitating at
the present time about entering into 1t.
Let one hundred farmers get together
and decide that cooperation is the best
thing for them, aud appoint one OF the
number present as spokesman, and SELL
ing agent, with all the power to transact
their business they can give him, and in
less than six months they would come
to the conclusion that he was getting
more out OF 1t than he ought, and that
they were being robbed Of part of their
profits, no matter how we'll he was doing
for them. 1t is the distrust OF the man.
He may be ever so honest, try ever so
hard to suit them all, getting the top
prices for their production, prompt In
his returns, yet that distrust would crop
out, and the whole lot of them would
catch the infectious disease, and the
thing would 60 to pieces like hot-air
balloon.
This, in my Judgment, is the one great
reason why cooperation among farmers
has not been in actual operation for the
past ten years. Does the farmer receive
all that be ought for what he produces?
No! Can he formulate any plan whereby
he can get what rightly belongs to him,
for products from the farm? Yes! How?
By cooperation and sticktoitativeness.
That is, enter into cooperation with
firm resolve that you will stand there
year in and year out, that you will at all
times exert yourself to the utmost to
help instead of hinder all who are work
ing with you.
The fundamental principle Of all bust
ness success is founded upon that broad
platform of "hold together" In union
there is strength. Remember this, my
good farmer friends. Hang together !!
That Is your only chance. Don't think
when you have sold carload OF pota-
toes, and your returns from your selling
agent were perhaps cent less per bushel
than you expected. that he has got
little graft. Be charitable. Be just.
You are entitled to more than you are
getting now.
Why, it wasn't but few days ago that
the writer saw potatoes sold in Augusta
for 25 cents per bushel. How was that
brought about? Let me tell you. There
were twelve or fifteen loads OF spuds In
market that morning, the dealers were
we'll supplied and there was no sale.
But did you ever stop to think that the
traders knew just how many potatoes
were in market, where they came from,
and that you wouldn't haul them home?
There's the stumbling block over which
so many farmers are falling. You didn't
know how much potatoes were worth
that morning. You didn't know how
the market was, 80 you all rushed in to-
gether and took your chances, and you
all got the short end. That's where CO.
operation would have pulled you
through. ~
And that same condition obtains on
all products of the farm. And the fault
is all your own. And the remedy lies 10
your hands. Are you going to take ad-
vantage of the opportunity, or are you
going TO wallow along in the same old
ru,? Cooperate if you want your share,
follow along the old lines II you are
satisfied with your present condition.
L. w. NJ, Kennebec Co., in Maine
Farmer