Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1912-08-13
Great Good In Cooperation.
MANAGER OF FARMERS UNION PRESENTS
HIS VIEWS.

The promoters OF the plan to bring to.
gether the farmers OF Maine in compact
business units and then amalgamate
them all under one business head are
very much gratified because of the In
terest manifested in the movement by
those directly concerned. In consid.
ering the building and growth OF simi,
lar movements throughout the coun.
try, none can compare with that which
has gained such headway in Maine, with
the exception of the Farmers Educa.
tional and Cooperative Union oi
Georgia, which in niue years has secured
a membership of nearly 100000, and
the Eastern Shore Produce Exchange OF
Virginia, whose gross business 10 1911
exceeded $4,000. 900, and up to July 25
of this year has reached over ~ ,0OO, 600
with an estimate for the total business
of 1912 at over $4,000,000.
The opening of the campaign by the
commissioner of agriculture, j. p.
Buckley, through the medium of Farm
ers' Institute meetings at Grange ball,
Perry, Washington county, attracted but
little attention, but it was the start OF
reform in farm management that has
spread from this isolated part of Wash
ington county north to the Canadian bor-
der and south to the New Hampshire
line, covering almost every important
producing center.
Organizations were started at Brun-
swick, Brooks, Waterville, Dover, Pitts
field, Dexter, Pennington. Bridgton,
Auburn. Union, Preeque Isle, Farming
ton, New Sweden and other sections
are being prepared for organizing.
Three of the foregoing exchanges were
organized previous to the movement OF
the department but are about to be affil-
lated with the main movement.
The coming together of all these ex-
changes and the formation of the Farm
ers' Union of Maine at Bangor cemented
the union of what will become mighty
power, which If properly directed and
sustained by the rank and file, will place
Maine in the lead of all general farming
states In the Union, for Names possibili-
ties are unlimited in the agricultural
line.
The movement so inauspiciously
launched has assumed tremendous pro-
portions. From a discouraging lack of
interest, and in many cases an apparent
disposition to look upon the work of the
department with suspicion, the senti-
ment underwent gradual change until
now it bids fair to become one OF the
most important questions the state has
to deal with. To organize at the start,
much time and strong arguments were
necessary, but gradually all difficulty
passed away. First the commissioner
urged; now the farmers are doing the
urging, and the commissioner finds 1t
difficult to meet the calls to attend meet
ings and organize exchanges.
Even petitions signed by the growers
are reaching the department. From Lee
and Springfield the commissioner re-
ceived a petition signed by 157 Changers
asking for meeting having in view the
forming of an organization to be affiliated
with the Farmers Union. Calais, Dav-
export, and other towns have sent In a
like request.
With practically every important pro-
ducing center within the Union. the
farmers of Maine have increased their
standing as a power for good In the state,
and If properly directed they will become
q mighty force. The farmer has within
bis grasp the long desired opportunity
to solve the problem of the farm and
bring himself up and out of the old con-
ditions and place himself side by side
with those representing the other i'm
portant business interests of the country.
The vast interests amounting to
millions of dollars represented by the
Farmers Union is not realized except
by those who have given the question
serious thought, but as the farmers un-
derstand and appreciate the true meaning
and power of this amalgamation OF the
various farmers associations, be will
look upon his position with feeling OF
pride in the business In which he Is en-
gagged, and his sturdy nature will urge
him on to immediate success.
The Farmers Union, together with its
auxiliaries, should have capital
amounting to at least million dollars,
and the farmers of Maine will eventually
contribute that amount. To demon
strate the ease with which this amount
can be contributed, Maine shipped to the
markets the last season 1900, 900 BUSH
els OF potatoes. Five cents per bushel
would amount to $3.50, 900, and ten cents
per bushel would be 81, 1000, and
ten cents per barrel on the apples ship.
ped would bring $4,000 more, making
total Of 81, 100000. To demonstrate In
another way, il the farmers of Maine
will buy one share of stock at $40 each,
they will furnish running capital OF
5000, 900, which would be sufficient fol
present needs.
It is confidently expected that the
farmers In time will place their organiza'
tion on q strong financial basis, but 1t is
going to require many sacrifices on the
part of the loyal few who are determined
there shall be no such thing as fail.
The buying of fertilizer will receive
the attention of the management, who
estimate that over $500, 900 can be saved
In this line. The farmer who uses 10 OF
20 tons of fertilizer and who only bought
one share of stock will receive his money
back three times over, and he could well
afford to give the organization the
money and declare he was so much tc
the good &C. E. Embree, In Maine
Farmer.