Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1914-01-21
Cooperation Helps tho Consumer.

better eggs to the city, but sends them
in double or triple the quantity then
eggs will in the end be plentiful and
cheaper. AS result the consumer
will profit. This is particularly true II
the eggs are, under cooperation, pro-
duced at less cost and with less waste.
It will be readily understood that II
the farmer finds that egg producing
is profitable enterprise the quantity
of eggs produced will vastly increase.
Comprehensive figures for Ireland are
difficult to obtain, but this has proved
true In Denmark. In 1895, according
to official figures, there was exported
from Denmark something less than
100000 worth of eggs Fourteen
years later, when cooperative market.
ing had demonstrated the profit that
was in the business, there was ex.
ported in one year nearly 100000
worth of eggs. Wolf states that while
in 1893 the number of hens kept in
Denmark was about 100000, In 1911
the figure had reached the $4,000, 900
mark. 1t is significant that while the
number of hens had only little more
than doubled, the value Of the yield
had become nearly four-fold. This
was largely the result Of the fact that
the improved conditions under which
poultry was kept had greatly improved
the laying ability of each hen. The
same sort of thing is occurring every.
where in Continental Europe. In Ger
many, in France, in Belgium, in Italy,
cooperative societies have undertaken
the marketing of eggs with great
profit to the farmer and with consid.
cradle satisfaction to the consumer.
Democratic Management.
All the Offices of the concern are
In the hands of officers elected by the
members. 1t Is a most democratic or
ganization. Every man has one vote,
no man has more. The member who
markets eggs produced by a dozen
hens has as many votes as he who
owns thousand layers. In Dunglow,
and elsewhere as we'll, they consider
this lone man one vote" plan essen
tial. 1.-THE man should vote," they
say, mot his money"
They pay good price In cash fol
the eggs. And when the annual set
Element comes there is always divi'
dend to investors. But those who
have invested their money, much OF
little, get only five per cent. No so.
ciety under the supervision Of the
Irish Agricultural Organization society
Is permitted to pay dividends upon
shares in excess Of that percentage
What IL left is distributed to the mem.
bers in proportion to the amount OF
eggs they have marketed through the
cooperative society. It goes as an
additional price paid for eggs.
These two principles are considered
fundamental and essential; first, one
man one vote; second, all profits in
excess Of a small dividend to investors
must go to those who contributed ia
the profits by furnishing the product
Why Not In America?
Why hasn't this sort of thing been
done in America? It isn't because
the American farmer and his wife do
not need the money. They do. II
isn't because there is no demand fol
good eggs. Eggs were never so much
In demand and buyers are more par
ticular than ever about quality The
strictly fresh eggs find buyers every
where. The fact is there is no good
reason why American farmers should
not do business as intelligently as
Irishmen. Some of them do, but not
many. 1t takes no capital and can be
done on a small scale.
Interview With Dr.. Mccarthy.
DR.. Charles Mccarthy, who is look
ink over the Dunglow cooperative sit
uation, has studied cooperation not
only in Ireland, but in Italy, Germany
Belgium, Denmark and elsewhere
No one knows better than he condi
lions abroad and at home. He under
stands American rural conditions as
few understand them. In his opinion
cooperative organizations that exist
in Dunglow will do just as we'll In
Massachusetts or Minnesota as they
do in Ireland. One thing, however,
the farmer must learn and must learn
thoroughly. That Is, that simple co.
operation will not make over a bad
business man into good business
man nor will it make egg packing or
any other farm industry profitable.
Along with cooperation must come
good business methods, good book
keeping, good craftsmanship. careful
packing. full knowledge Of the market