The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1910-08-20
GERMAN FARMERS IN UNION
United States AgricuIturists Might
Profit by Following Example,
Says Consul Thackara.

United States Consul General A. ".
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 100000 900, 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 OF
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 vari-
Gus purposes. Many of them may have
a single activity, others have their
functions so intermingled that it 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 67 unions, made up of 1888
local societies. The total membership
of these societies was then 1876 900.
The local societies were divided into
groups, in accordance with their prin-
ecipal 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 membership of 5,172 local
societies. OF this total number 4,298
are saving and loan societies. These
locals have a total membership OF
405,819 persons The fee for admis-
sion as a member of either of these
groups is 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. It has membership of 216,-
600 persons The value of goods pur-
chased through it last year exceeded
by approximately $4.284,000 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 a little over $4,000, 600.
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
lective 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 77s
local societies cooperating in purchas-
ing and selling agricultural imple-
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
~ of such machinery as grain clean
ers, thrashers, etc., which are too ex-
pensive. 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-
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.