Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1914-01-28

of activity developed mutually, CO.
operation, and finally concentration
then the farmer still held to his in
dividual efforts-and therefore has
fallen behind in the race.
The advantages of cooperation
and concentration in all business ac-
tivities are certain and bring sure
reward. The farmer must master
them and appropriate them to his
business or else he will degenerate
! toward peasantry. Nothing is more
certain than this. But his training
and habit of thought has been in the
opposite direction. Hence it will be
q slow and difficult task to have him
take advantage of this truth.
The great need is for farmers to
meet often in social, business and
public meetings to acquaint them
selves more with public procedure
of every kind, to develop in them
selves more appreciation of their own
privileges and power, and then apply
modern principles Of cooperation
and concentration to the manage
ment of their business.
The reports of the department of
agriculture show that the farmer re-
ceives less than half of the price of
| bic nrndnntc hinh hn ,a,.
pays. The reason for this is that
the farmer permits it. He is, on the
whole, content to receive the price
which the other man offers. The
need is intelligent cooperation in
collecting, grading, packing and for
warding his farm products.
Moreover, cooperation on the
part of the farmers is needful for
the solution of such problems as the
schools, roads, transportation, coun-
try church and other public ques-
lions. Then, having learned to labor
together with his fellow farmers, he
must learn to cooperate with the
city man, to solve questions of COM
munity interest. The farmers must
learn to insist that their cooperation
be taken and even welcomed in the
solution of transportation problems.
For a great need, of Iowa farmers is
more intelligent method of mar
keting their products. Overabun-
dance of products on certain market
Gays, to be followed by other days of
dearth of supply, is condition which
must harm all the interested parties,
and also puts the transportation
companies severely to the test. A
great need is a more evenly distrib-
uted supply of products on the mar
ket
! In this connection it might be
| pointed out that very great need
of Iowa is the establishment by the
railroads or by the state of bureau
of marketing, which should furnish
information in regard to location
J anu hlluS VI hCtdbiC PloduNto III
various localities. Also, it should
1 collect and furnish information as
to localities needing such products,
thus bringing producer and consum-
err in touch with each other. Much
local traffic might be developed to
the mutual advantage of consumer,
producer and transporter. In thus
increasing the volume of traffic, low
err freight rates ought to obtain.
The working Of Iowa farms in
wolves the use OF an endless variety
and amount of farm machinery. Fol
this the farmers of the state pay out
each year an immense amount OF
money. The manufacture and sales
of this machinery and kindred farm
supplies is in the hands of an i'm
mense combination which EFFORTS
millions of dollars yearly from Iowa
farmers beyond what is a paying
price. By combination and concen
tration, both of manufacture and Of
sales management, there is a great
economy of expenditure in. the pro
duction of this machinery. Blu
through manipulation these grea'
profits go to the stockholders of the
concern. The farmers do not share
in the lessened cost of manufacture
In this way immense fortunes are &C
cumulated in a few hands, and thu
many are compelled to pay tribute tt
them. This is fundamentally WRONG
and does not comport with a sense
of common justice. What is true
of the implement trust Is equal!
true of the lumber trust, the packing
trust and other combinations. The
reason for this is that the farmers
permit this state of affairs. The!
not only sell their products at thu
price the other man offers, but the!
also pay for their supplies the price
exacted by the sellers. The fedora
government owes it to the citizens o
the state that above cited condition
be speedily terminated. This shoult
he done not nv ahOlishing combina