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

Cooperation.
In your issue of April 20 | notice let
ter from Mr. John w. Bacon, asking FOL
assistance to bring about a larger bar.
vest for the farmers in the shape OF dol,
lars and cents for the products from the
farm. He seems to want cooperation,
but from his letter / Judge he doesn't
know just how it can be brought about.
Your answer to his query was very good
indeed as far as it went, but it was but
half the story. Now Mr.. Bacon, did you
ever stop to think what cooperation
really is and what it really means to the
farmer?
Do you know how hard proposition
that is to engineer through to make a
success of? Have you ever stopped to
think how big job man or set OF
men would have on their hands to bring
about cooperation among the farmers OF
Maine and make it what it should be II
undertaken, the very essence of success?
Every intelligent farmer in Maine knows,
or ought to that eventually he must lend
hand, and a strong and steady one, to
bring about this very thing, If he is to re-
ceive his share of the profits from what
he produces Then why has it not been
accomplished before? Let me tell you
Simply because the farmers of Maine
haven't the stamina TO stand right up,
shoulder to shoulder, and organize for
that purpose. They haven't the real
solid, staunch, hang-together propensi-
ties that are SO essential in a matter Of
this kind.
Why, Mr.. Bacon, you are receiving
hardly more than One-half Of what right
ly belongs to you for what you raise. on
your farm. Do you know who you are
giving the other half to? To the middle
men? Yesl What effect would co-opera-
ton have in this case? You and one hun
dred other good intelligent farmers
would, if we'll organized, in your section
have word to say where now you are
mute. Cooperation means absolute sue
cess for every practical farmer in Maine
and without it the same state of affairs
as now exists will continue indefinitely.
Now how is the most practical way OF
bringing about cooperation among farm
ers? The Grange ought to be able to
solve that question, but can see no re-
lief from that source at present. Tenaci-
ty of purpose is one of the great factors
in any line of business. The farmers
have got to pull together-all together
and stick together, and disregard wholly
the men who step between them and the
consumer if they are to receive what
rightly belongs to them.
Organization is the first step and then
hang together. Trust your neighbor as
yourself. Let every step you take in
this direction be for the upbuilding of
your business, for farming, to be profit
able, must be run ON strictly business
lines. There is no other way, and the
old ideas must be eliminated, and new
blood infused into all your work. 1t
cannot be accomplished in day, week,
OF a month, but il can be brought about
with a sure aud steady pull all together.
Remember this, a chain is only as strong
as it's weakest link. Organize and for
business. Talk cooperation with every
farmer you meet, and it won't be long
time before every one Of them will be
interested and foundation will be start
ed ON which TO build solid structure.
Just think for a moment of the con-
dition Of the potato market in Maine,
and what the poor consumer Is paying
in Boston. Potatoes loaded on the cars
for 20 and % cents per bushel and retail
ing in the city of Boston for from % to
2S cents per peck. Where is the trouble?
Right here, my dear farmer friends.
The middlemen are pocketing what
ought to go into your purse, and the
consumers in the cities are made to pay
this exorbitant price. Doesn't look
very encouraging to Maine farmers, does
it? Then throw off the shackles that
bind you to this octopus, and assert your
manhood. Organize aud organize at once
and receive your just share of the profits
that rightly belong TO you. Stand by
your guns, farmers of Maine, shoulder to
shoulder, stauuch and true, and the day
is not far distant when you and yours
will witness the dawning of brighter
day, and the everlasting hills will cry
out with joy that the farmers of Maine
are receiving their just reward. Or
ganizel-L. w. NJ. in Turf, Farm and
Home.