Bismarck daily tribune., 1911-12-08

the insect pests of California fruits
Progress in one direction soon opens
the door to new phases of the prob
lens, and this is what has happened
in the case Of the fruit growers as
sociation, as it happened in the case
Of the creameries and the handling
! of grain. in the development Of sup
ply companies to furnish boxes and
other equipment.
Securing Lower Prices.
For years consumers, not only
among farmers, but among factory
operatives also, have felt the necess
ity of securing lower prices and bet
ter quality Of goods for their money
They have been encouraged in this
| attitude by the history Of wholesale
cooperative societies in England, and
| little by little the idea has been ex-
tended to the United States until to-
day there are a considerable number
of such stores doing business. They
have failed here and there because OF
poor management, misunderstanding
insufficient support and the fact that
they had no outside connections with
the great purchasing world. The
Right Relationship League, an organi-
zation of some years standing, now at
tempts to guide the development of
the cooperative store in many d.
rections and steer it clear of the many
rocks that have wrecked it in the past
Here and there efforts have been
made to carry on the organized sale
of meat animals, and it has been found
that great saving could be affected,
better arrangements made about COM
missions, and a very consid derable
gain secured for all concerned by joint
action in this field.
Difficulties May Be Solved.
So many examples are to be found
in different directions and different
activities which support the conten.
tion that there is in the principle of
cooperation great force that will
go long way toward solving the dif-
f1culties that confront the farmer to-
day. In the earlier days of the his
tory Of the farming in the United
States the rural population were en-
gagged in building roads, erecting
bridges and establishing schools. Lat
er on they were confronted by prob
lens of transportation charges, the
regulation of rates, but these, like
the first difficulties, have in the main
been solved. Today they are con-
fronted with the question Of the pur-
chasing and sale Of their product.
While much has been done toward
the bettering of farming as a process,
much is yet to be done in the organi-
zation of the farmer, in the carrying
on of his business on business basis
with a business outlook.
Movements a:e Economic.
These movements of which l have
thu far spoken are economic in char
acter almost wholly. It is true that
they carry with them certain social
results, but they are not distinctly
and primarily social in character.
The problem suggested at the opening
Of this suggestion was really social
one, namely, the undermining of q
great farming class, by the pushing
aside Of the small farmer. Repeti.
ton Of the experience of England in
her enclosure acts, with the final des-
truction Of the English yeomanry. It
is important from the point of view Of
the farmer, of the town dweller, and
of the railroads that the small farmer
shall hold his own; and yet as ma
chinery comes into the field Of agri-
culture, with it's heavy first cost and
its lower operating expenses, I see
no outcome for the small farmer ex-
cept In q cooperative enterprise
which will give to him the same bene.
hts that ca be secured by capitalistc
concerns engaged in agriculture.
Develop More Farms.
II l have made my point clear, it
is to the effect that We may expect in
the future not less development of
large farms, but rather more, despite
the reports that are being made from
time to time that this is not the ten.
dency. There is, however, the pos.
stbility of the quarter section farmer
uniting with his brothers on the same
section in securing all the advantage
that may be derived by larger organ
izations, due to the joint ownership
of machinery, the better plowing Of
his land and crops, the centering of
buildings and housing, and to these
vii be added the advantage in the lar
ger ownership of machinery. better
business organization, more social op-
portunities, and a distinct gain all
around to him and to the community.
Undoubtedly many serious questions
arise In connection with all this, but
these can be overcome just as they
have been in other instances. The
introduction of cooperative methods
in agriculture-and I see no reason
why they should not come, since des
pite statements to the contrary, they
have entered practically every field
except agriculture-are sure to effect
the welfare of twenty-five millions of
people, and as consequence the
whole social fabric of the country.
If we accept the cooperative principle
that has just been suggested, the land
may be better cultivated, a larger pop.
ulation may come upon it, greater
happiness may result for small groups
of people, and the door opened by the
introduction of the cooperative prin-
ciple in agriculture as well as in
the sale of the product will lead to
immense vistas of prosperity and sue