Fulton County tribune. (Wauseon, Ohio) 1883-1925, 1914-06-12
Where FIFTY Thousand Belgian Peasants Cooperate
EUROPE's COOPERATIVE MESSAGE

what the consumer pays for his prod
uct. AS we investigate what is done
abroad and what could be done in
America in the way of efficient dis
tribution the wonder grows that the
American farmer with his intelligence
and independence and initiative has
consented to be victim of distribu-
tive system which has put him abso-
lutely in the hands Of the commercial
forces that intervene between himself
and the consumer. 1t is no less as
tonishing that the more businesslike
and more commercialized city consum-
er should have SO long consented to
pay price to the distributor of farm
products which is over 100 per cent
above the producers price
Cooperation is coming to America.
Whether it will come in the exact
form In which it evidences itself in
foreign lands or in some other differ
ent form is immaterial. 1t may not
come immediately but eventually and
inevitably the idea Of cooperation will
prevail in the future agricultural and
commercial organizations of the Unit
ed States.
Cooperative Lessons.
1t is safe to assume that Ireland,
Belgium. Germany, and Denmark have
learned some lessons from their many
years o. cooperative endeavor. 1t is
safe to assume that If certain princi-
pies have been found to apply through
out all these countries, then these prin-
ciples are at least worthy of care
full consideration for future use in
America.
There are some points as to which
all cooperative societies abroad are
the same. There are some as to
which they differ, as is but natural
when we consider the varying condi-
tions under which the various socie-
ties operate in the different countries.
We are of course primarily interested
in those fundamental characteristics
which are common to ALL
Whenever number of American
farmers gather together to consider
an organization which has to do with
mercantile or other financial enter
prise, 1t is but natural to talk about
profits and dividends. Their idea of
organization is joint stock corpora
ton in which each man invests such
money as he can spare, In which each
votes in proportion to the shares pur-
chased. and the main purpose of which
is to earn money and declare divi-
dends. It is difficult for him to con-
ceive of a commercial organization
whose chief function is not to squeeze
all the profit there is out of every ac-
tivity.
True cooperation is impossible SO
long as this idea OF organization is
! retained.
The purpose of the cooperative en-
| terprise is to handle the product with
economy and efficiency so that there
| will be no waste and no profits di
verted from the producers pocket. Il
such concern pays large dividend
! to shareholders it is not evidence oi
| success but clear indication that
money which should have gone to the
producer has been taken from hin
and given to the investor. This con
ception has not yet reached the con
sciousness of the American farmer
who still expects a cooperative con
Germ to pay dividends.
The Irish Way.
In Ireland we found that nearly al
of the effective cooperative organiza
tions were affiliated with the Irist
| Agricultural Organization Society
| which from the first has been tht
power that has made cooperation pos
sible in the island. 1t is a rigid rule
of this organization society that M
local society belonging to 1t can undel
any circumstances pay to exceed five
/ per cent per annum upon its shares o
stock. The moment the shareholder,
conceive the organization is on,
which is to earn large dividends, tha
moment its usefulness ends. Nor
than one American cooperative enter
prise has been wrecked upon thes,
rocks. So
One Man One Vote.
ohO"AA5 0Ouo pltleI experiences
it has been found necessary to adher
rtgidly to the principle that no matte
what mans investment may be, b.
may have only one vote in the man
agement Of the concern. Experienc
has shown that this avoids jealousies
and suspicion, and discord, and pre-
vents mismanagement The rich maj
and the poor man have gone into |
for identical purposes. Both are in
terested in and pledge themselves 8
to manage the concern as to turn owe
to the producer the largest possibl
percentage Of the price paid by tn