The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1912-10-12

| That a saving OF s225.00O. 600
could be made to the consumers and
| producers Of the farm produce of
this country through cooperative
buying and selling is the opinion of
John Sinclair. of the Wisconsin Leg
islativt Reference Library.
For the purpose of devising some
plan whereby consumers could re-
duce the cost Of living by paying less
for their food products while the
farmers Of the State would. at the
same time, receive more for their
crops and produce, more than wear
ago Mr.. Sinclair was SEM. by the
Wisconsin State Board Of Public Af-
fairs. TO England, Denmark and other
European countries in which cooper
ative marketing has succeeded, to.
study the methods followed there
and to determine whether or not
these would be applicable to Wiscnn-
sin conditions. A report but lately
issued by this department contains q
summary Of his findings which should.
be Of unusual interest to the consum-.
ers ard producers Of the State.
The farm produce Of this country
Is worth about $s.0oO.OOO.oO and
assuming that half of this represents
the cost Of marketing under the
present system, Mr.. Sinclair, in this
report, estimates that at least five per
cent Of the other half could be saved
by the producers by having their own
cooperative managers and sales
agentm This would mean net
gain to the people OF $225, 200 900.
And the experience of co-operators In
Ireland and Denmark, as told in Nr.
Stnckdr's report, was that many
times five psr cent could be saved.
The great aisa Of cooperation. ac-
cordh1g to this Investigator, T. to In
Grease production and to get The pro-
duct to the consumer a. economical-
ly as possible. Getting the product
into the hands, 81 the eonaunreF r.
Of course; a. Very intricate process
where growers and cons umers are as
far removed from each ether az they
are at the presene time. Naturally
enough the large producers earn not
attend personally tN all OF the 3etails
OF transportation and m srketir,g Of
their output of prodnre. They can,
however, hire competent men at nrgu-
lar salaries to, properly take care Of
some OF these phases cf production,
and marketing. But they can only
afford to do this Try cooperating
with other producers.
Secretary Wilson Of the. Depaart-
meni of Agriculture. has estimated
that but 46' per ceut Of what the con-
sumner pays for his, prOduct ever gets
back to the farmers If the preSent
charges Of distrib uting and retailing
farm products by private concerns
were not excessive, there would be no
need Of changing she SYSTEM Eut it
Is evident that 80 per cers Of the
selling price is high rate to pay for
putting the products into the con-
sumer's hands. Experience ia other
countries and to IL lesser degree in
this, has already gone far to show
that cooperative agencies give i'm
proved service at Il largely diminish
ed cost. How important Il further
application of this principle is. may
present annuar retailing value of
farm produce i'm this country is about
$4,000, 100000. Assuming that half
OF this represents the cost OF mar
keting under the pl plesert system, and
IL but five per cent of the other half
could be saved 10 the producers by
hiring their own cooperative mar
ayers and sales agents, it would ssill
mean - net gain of $225, 900, ,OOe.
Cooperation can unquestiouably
| accomplish more through the savings
which producers may realize 10y con-
ducting their own distribution. than
| through increases in the wholesal a.
price obtained. We need n better
adjustment of supply to- deman nd,
which will make it possible To mar
kct commodities when and where
thcy Will bring the largest net return
The time has now arrived ror the
/ interest in the cooperative move
mcnt within its borders. Wisconsin
, has passed through the pioneering
stage Of industry into one whore co.