The Hartford republican. (Hartford, Ky.) 18??-1926, 1913-02-28
EQUITY SOCIETY
GETTING BUSY
Will Make Effort To Cut
Out Middleman.
Pool on Towels In Ohio County Is
Said to Have Realized
$1,000.

The officials of the American So
ciety of Equity are making elaborate
plans to carry out certain provisions
of their organizations heretofore
neglected. In the organization of
the society for the benefit of farm
ers it was contemplated that cooper
alive buying should be carried on in
conjunction with the cooperative
idea in selling the products of the
planters. But one side of the plat
form has up to this time been car
ried out. Plans are now being pre-
pared by which members of the Or
ganization will receive the full bene-
fit contemplated by organization.
Proposals are bieng asked for and
received concerning wholesale prices
on most Of the necessaries of life in
relation to the farmers and their oc-
cupation. Farm implements, in, par
ticular, will receive the attention of
the promoters Of this proposition.
Just what plan is proposed to be
carried out has not been decided
upon at present. The question is
whether to open cooperative mer-
chandise establishment. or to have
some mercantile establishment at
some central point act as the agent
for the society. The idea of an ex-
change is receiving much encourage
ment from the officials. In this 1t
Is proposed to have a market for all
manner of produce raised by the
farmer displayed at some central
point, where sales will be made at
a fair price for cash at a much low
er price than the retail figure charg-
ed by the tradesman, and at a slight
ly higher price than that paid by
the commission house to the produc-
er. The claim is made that there
is too much margin between the
value placed on the farmers products
by the retail merchant when he buys,
and the same price placed on the
goods when he sells. This plan will
give fresh produce of all kinds I'd
the consumer at a much cheaper price
and bring the planter better value
for his produce. The idea is to elimi-
nate the middle man. At the same
time 1t is proposed to have for sale
to the producer, every article which
he has to buy, to be sold at the
wholesale price. plus the actual cost
of handling and carrying charges.
Each side Of the business is to be
handled on strictly cash basis, and
I'm this way great deal of expense
in the way of bookkeeping will be
avoided, and the natural loss by bad
accounts done away with.
The Equity society is strengthening
its organization in every part of the
district according to a statement
from the secretary on Saturday.
Regular organizers are being sent
out to the precincts and local unions
are being formed at all of the dis
trict school houses. Cooperation in
every line of farm economies is being
developed. Poultry and eggs are being
given especial attention as interest
in this line Of farm industry is grow
ing with leaps and bounds. The usual
modes of disposing of these articles
to the hucksters who usually pay
from one to three cents below the
quoted market price or delivering to
the city where low market is the
rule is being decried and the pooling
of the product of one cmmunity,
and selling in large lots to better
market. In the event of the estab-
fishing of the exchange by the So
ciety the products will be handled by
themselves. and any surplus will be
shipped to the foreign markets when
better prices can be obtained.
In the sale of a pool Of fowls in
Ohio county recently calculations
showed that for a period of a few
months $i.70O was realized over the
prices offered by local buyers, ar.i
the members of the organization In
that county are now following out
this idea extensively.
II Is contended by the officers Of
the society that as little can b eac-
complished In a small organization.
much more can be done by organic
ing the counties separately and when
possible, to act In unison.