The Raymer enterprise., 1911-11-09
WHAT FARMER REALLY NEEDS
Cooperation In All Branches Of Agri.
cultural Industry to Secure
His Just Rights.

] lately attended meeting Of a
farmers cooperative elevator com.
pany. This company is incorporated
to buy grain and do merchandising
business as conditions may indicate.
The question Of handling lumber, tiles
and machinery was taken up. In act
ing on these questions was sur
prised to find SO many farmers op-
posed to taking up such business. says
writer in the Farm. Stock and
Home. once heard Of q man who
was kicked and knocked down, and
after other abuse warned the ruffian
to desist or he would get mad. Now
the farmers have for years submit
ted to all kinds of extortion and mis-.
representation from local dealers. be-
sides having local dealers discourage
them in their efforts to organize CO.
operative creameries, and In many
cases their cooperative efforts OF
every kind. Now when the question
comes up to handle machinery and
other needed things, they hesitate.
Farmers should 60 into business of
all kinds that necessity prompts them
to get into, be honest with each 9TH
er. give their young educated sons
chance to use their education In
touch with farm life. I am sick and
tired Of all this institute and farm
school talk and expense. 1t is trav.
esty to the farmers intelligence. We
have for years and Of necessity striv.
en- to raise more and better crops of
all kinds. also striven to obtain the
best seeds, but of what avail is It
when we are literally robbed of our
Just returns through the present ex.
travagant trade system Change the
whole form Of instruction. to teaching
us to cooperate instead of discourag.
Ing cooperating. then some good
would come from money expended I
do not go on record against education
upon all lines, but now the most i'm.
portant education the farmer needs
Is how to cooperate. to the point of
eliminating all useless middlemen AS
II is now, we are supporting an army
Of absolutely needless middlemen
Their competition is so great
that they have combined on all lines
to enable them to live. no matter how
many enter into the business OF
standing between the farmer and his
necessities.
Tho price Of wheat locally ! claim
would have averaged one dollar or
more per bushel. and -four sold at
same price Il has sold at for
the past twenty years. had the un.
necessary middleman been eliminated.
Cooperation Is the only possible way
that the farmer can receive what he
is entitled to receive for his products.
or be able to purchase his necessities.
How long will II be before the farm.
er will awaken? How many more
cuffs and kicks before he will give
warning that he may possibly get
mad? For one. I will admit I have
long been ready to give warning that
] am ready to get mad.
Cooperate; teach cooperating upon
all lines or the future Of the farmer
Is hopeless. care not how hard he
struggles More weight Is being add.
ed to his burdens every year. the last
straw will be reached soon. and with
II the desire for independent farm
homes will disappear. then the nation
with the most liberal form OF govern.
ment will prove a failure. Farmers.
every hour spent In solving the prob
lem Of cooperation Is Of more real
value tn you In time and money. than
weeks of work under present unjust
conditions Of distribution. Arise,
awaken, cooperate upon all lines or
all will soon be lost.