Tensas gazette. [volume] (St. Joseph, La.) 1886-current, 1913-06-13
PRINCIPLES OF COOPERATION
There Is No Class About II, No Spe-
elal Privilege and No Benefit at
Neighbours Expense.


For a number of years the farm
press of the country has been urging
the farmers to cooperate in the mar
keting of their fruit and produce. But
have yet to see in a farm paper a
definition Of the true principles OF CO
operation, writes c. N. Gamble in the
Fruit Belt
Thomas Hughes, author of Tom
Brown, says its aim lis to change fun
damentally the present social and
commercial system" If that is the
ease. why is it that the first thing
farmers do when they build a ware
house or creamery, is to form a point
stock company and call II co-opera-
i've!
Stock companies with big dividends
and cooperation have tried to live to-
gether many times in the past with
out much success Still II has. become
Z proverb that farmers won't stick to-
sether. The trouble is, that in the
stock company a certain group Of
men are soon in control. They stick
together and become so sticky that
they stick their brother farmers for
Is to so per cent. interest as many so
called cooperative creameries are do
ing in Michigan today
Prohibitory laws are past supposed
b to prevent immoral acts. Michigan
has q law prohibiting one man from
banning money to another man for
more than seven per cent. But a
group Of men can loan to another
group of men money to build a cream
cry and take stock instead of a mort.
gage and collect 30, 40 or so per cent
Interest. II one act is immoral, is not
the other? What is the difference
nom the standpoint of justice and
morality? There is none.
That is the reason why stock COM
panies with unlimited dividends divide
NE farmers. Instead Of cutting out
middle man We have got a worse
one, disguised under the name CO.
operation. Oh, cooperation how many
ans are committed in thy name?
Now, Mr.. Editor, instead of teach
NC rs how to make two blades of
grass grow where one grew before.
zach US how to get more than 35
cents OF the consumers dollar. Teach
Us the true principles Of cooperation
sno we will do the rest. There is no
elass about 1t and no special privilege.
no one can profit a copper cent at
ue expense of his neighbor. II will
'eaeh them to do some things to-
se1her and they will finally learn to
70 all things together. II will pay
uem In dollars and cents and all the
nuts which will follow the practice of
justice and the sermon on the mount
vii be theirs
gel US law that we can incorpor-
ave under in Michigan, so I'VE won't
ave 70 go over to Wisconsin to in
"fporate, and then pay a license to
y business in Michigan. Wisconsin
va forbid by law the use of the word
cooperative" before the name Of a
"sporation that is not cooperative in
snnciple, and Wisconsin farmers will
aeceived no more. And the prin.
epies are plainly set forth in the law
Is follows:
One man, one vote, regardless of
A'estment or shares held. No voting
" proxy.
q
interest on shares to be limited.
oivision Of profits wherever a
iunage. ~ H'
sock 'N'
An educational fund to teach CO.
'cpeation ~
moen these principles are applied
~ come the equal distribution of
<.Ou's between worker, capitalist. pro-
s-eef and consumer concerned in the
uaasaction,