The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1910-05-04

ditlon, what the commercial organize
selves. ~ 1853
was II a success? Ii was. Farmer
readlly learned that they too could d
ta..ss other than produce raw ma
'ili, that IT was not necessary I
give away more than half of the legI
innate profits of the business in orde
70 permit capitalists to do what the
could more probably do for themseIve
Cooperation Contagious.
The business became contagious Tb
commercial organizations were 500
forced to sell OFT to the farmers @
operate on the smallest possible mar
gin ON profit. These commercial con
Germs no longer fixed the price of mill
me market for dairy products did tina
Inc putter and cheese made in Hol
iand ENJOY good reputation, especial
! ~ the latter, and aside from what |
IIldoe on the small farms, the immens
volume of dairy products Of that com
| tly rs now manufactured almost ex
cluslvely In factorie, owned and direct
| ed by farmers
IN imitation OF this cooperative sys
tefn, the potato growers of the pea
oAstrlcts OF Groningen have erected an,
equlppel more than fifty starch fac
Iorles' All or which are likewise Jperat
ca on the basis of securing to the farm
en- the vaIue OF his crop, less the actua
depreciation of plant, and the small
commission charged for experimenting
the distribution of the finished product
by inns method, the farmer does no
uepenu upon a price fixed for his pota.
Toes, out upon the market value OF
starch. He enjoys both the farmers
ana the manufacturers profits, by sell.
ing starch, instead of potatoes.
=, MANY other farm products are sim
larry converted into manufactured
commodities and the net proceeds dis.
trlbuted among farmers in proportion
90 the raw material each one furnish
es.
The reason assigned for establishing
these cooperative organizations is the
tnlng l wish to emphasize. Said they:
AFTER paying rent"-for most farmers
there are renters, there was not suffi-
cient margin left to live on IL we gave
a considerable portion as profit to mid
dlemen or manufacturers. We simply
mad to eliminate them and learn to at
tend TO our own business. When CAPT
tal1sts purchased our crops. we had no
means or knowing what they were real
ly worth. Now we know that we get
all that is coming to U.S..
The Business View.
If necessity compels the Holland
FARMER to become a manufacturer in
order to obtain what the consumer paws
for his product, less the cost OF manu-
facture-and to do this he had to dis
pense with those who formerly exacted
the difference between what the pro-
Queer received and the consumer paid
a..
lean farmer to tc.ke the hint and also
begin the work of Eliminating un-
necessary agencies. This does not imply
that In many instances the American
FARMER should turn manufacturer but
nevertheless he has the opportunity
through cooperation, in many in
stances to shorten the distance between
his farm and his customers-4to remove
many distractions that have been
erected between he producer and the
consumer
There has grown UP between the
producer and consumer a big crowd.
not all OF whom are useful or indie
penstble Too frequently they mann
pulate the markets for their own pro-
hts. Whether the depress the price
Of farm products or increase their cost
to the consumer. or play both strings
ut once, is immaterial to them. Their
graft runs readily into the millions and
Is menace both to producer and con-
sumner. Amy system or organization
that will eliminate the unlimited por-
Don OF this crowd and bring, producer
and consumer into closer relationship
Will benefit the whole country. The
millions that annually go into the cof-
ters of these gamblers justly should be
SaVed-partly by the farmer and partly
oy the consumer-and thus make farm
ing more profitable and living less cost
". -
A Business Proposition.
AS farmers and consumers are chief
y interested in this game, and as they
ire numerically strong enough to con-
rol 1t, it would seem but a fair pro-
position for them to do so. The mere
DOT that 1t is a large and complex
business proposition should not deter
hem The farmer must learn to do
business, He has trusted others 20
transact his business. both political
md commercial, until his power-ex-
ept as mere producer-is almost a |
minus quantity.
Conflicting interests.
In a country so large and populous. |
here are bound to he conflicting inter |
SITS. To harmonic these interests for
he general welfare is worthy of the
est efforts of American statesmen. AS
III business enterprises are more or /
ess selfish in character, and as they, |
n general, are highly organized for
ffensdve and defensive purposes, the
gricultural interests of neces1:ty also
must be protected by systematic or
anizatton or remain the victim of their
wn lack of co-opera'' IN. To accom-
lish it's purpose, farmers must exer-
Use discretion and distinguish between
urely political and business issues.
When necessary, they must create is
ues and stand unitedIy for their pro-
er settlement.
Farmers, therefore, should participate
unite y in the affairs of
overnment, both stIte and national,
nd to the extent of their numerical
tuength, protect their financial in
estment and the interests of the open
ountry. A vocation that annuallyl
reates more than $4,000, 900, 900 of the
ountry's wealth should have a ma
srial influence in shaping the laws and
policies of the government.
UGH vast interests cannot be safely.
r at least should not be wholly en-
'usted to proxy management. Every
lterest of any Importance must per-
onally fight its own battles If it would
~ -