The Comrade. (Winnfield, La.) 1890-1914, 1910-08-26
GERMAN FARMERS IN UNION
United States Agriculturists Might
Profit by Following Example,
Says Consul Thackara.

United States Consul General "A. w.
Thackara of Berlin thinks the farm
ers of the United States could study
with profit the agricultural conditions
in Germany. He points out that the
German league is effective in aiding
the membership financially, the loans
aggregating over $300,000,00O, in i'm
proved culture through travelling ex-
perts, in selling farm products and in
purchasing supplies which amount to
many million dollars annually.
The largest of the German organi-
cations has been known since the
year 1903 as the Imperial Union OF Ag-
ricultural Societies. The second or
ganization, known as the General
Union of Agricultural Societies, was
founded in 1871. These two agricul-
tural organizations were united in
1905 for all administration purposes.
The local societies making up the
organizations were founded for varl-
Gus purposes. Many of them may have
a single activity, others have their
functions so intermingled that 1t is not
always possible to distinguish them.
In general, however, one may make
the following classification Of groups,
namely, savings and loan societies, So
cieties for consumers and societies for
the sale of farm products. This latter
group is often subdivided according
to the character of the products sold.
At the close of last year, the I'm
perial agriculture organization en-
braced Ct unions, made up Of 1888
local societies. The total membership
of these societies was then 1,575,000.
The local societies were divided into
groups, in accordance with their prin-
cipal purpose Of union. There were
1854 saving and loan societies, 2,128
cooperative purchasing societies, 1860
dairy societies, and approximately
1851 societies devoted to various 9TH
er objects.
The general agricultural organiza-
ton has a membership of 5,172 local
societies. OF this total number 1928
are saving and loan societies. These
locals have a total membership Of
405,S19 persons. The fee for admis-
sion as a member of either of these
groups is a nominal one. The coop
erative purchasing society is the sec
ond in number and in Importance of
any of the group of the Imperial orga-
nization. 1t has a membership of 216,-
900 persons. The value of goods pur-
chased through it last year exceeded
by approximately S4,2S4,000 the pur-
chases of the previous year. The prin-
cipal articles purchased by the farm
ers through their organization are fer
tilizers, food stuffs, seed, coal and ag-
ricultural machinery. The working
capital of the cooperative working
societies Is little over s10,000,0O0.
The consul general at Berlin points
out that the function of these great
farmer organizations is much broad
er than merely for the purpose of col
lectiye bargaining in the sale of farm
products, etc., for in each division
there are scientific experts, who, on
application, and payment Of the fee,
visit the farms of the different men,
bers and advise with them concerning
the cultivation of their growing crop
and the care Of their live stock.
Aside from the saving and loan
group, which is by far the most
numerous of any of the groups Of the
general organizations, there are 778
local societies cooperating in purchas-
ing and selling agricultural nipple
ments. Among number of the local
societies in certain communities ag-
ricultural machinery is owned by the
society, for the general use Of the diff
ferent members. The common use of
such machinery has proved Of great !
assistance to the members, particular.
4y Of such machinery as. grain clean.
ers, thrashers, ETC., which are too ex.
pens1ve for one man to buy and which
are used only during short season of
each year.
Consul General Thackara quotes an
eminent German economist as saying
that the significance of the agricul. i
tural unions in Germany lies in their
honest business dealings, in their in
sistence on cash payment and on
economy in operating expenses, in
their struggle against usury and de-
ception, 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 slim.
ulate.
Practical Application Needed.
It is not talk so much that the farm.
ers need now but some practical an
plicatiOn of what they already know