Baxter Springs news. [volume] (Baxter Springs, Kan.) 1882-1919, 1914-03-19

In 1894 the cooperative movement
has become SO great that there was
need of O central society to carry on
the work which had heretofore been
done by volunteer propagandlsts.
The !. A. o. s.
There was needed an organization
which should help rural communities
organize their marketing and business
processes, be q central federation Of
all existing societies, and become a
supervisor and auditor of their busi-
ness methods. Such society is the
Irish Agricultural society. At its
head has been and Is Sir Horace
Plunkett, who has been the John the
Baptist of the gospel Of cooperation in
Ireland. He is ably assisted by the
secretary, Mr.. R. A. Anderson, a man
of rare executive ability and Of emil
nent common sense. Associated In the
movement also is Mr.. George w. Rus
sell, brilliant journalist and editor Of
the Irish Homestead, a man who is
practical as well as poet and painter.
The vice-president of the organization
is Rev. Father Thomas A. Finlay, pro-
lessor OF economics in the National
University at Dublin, Catholic priest
who has a most rare and kindly
knowledge Of human nature, combined
with q splendid head for the details of
the business Of the cooperative organi-
zation.
Seldom has so we'll balanced q quar-
tet Of men been associated together In
any economic movement. They are
in very fact q power for the business
regeneration Of rural Ireland. Practic-
ally all of the cooperative societies In
Ireland have been organized by the ].
A. o. s. Its organizers meet with the
promoters of a news society and give
them the benefit Of the experiences Of
the older societies. They furnish a
set of rules, advise as to equipment,
install a system Of bookkeeping and
good business methods. The society
has O staff Of skilled, experienced men
who are organizers, editors and inspec-
tors. To 1t cooperative societies make
certain definite reports. To 1t they
constantly go for advice and council
and over them 1t maintains most
complete power Of audit. The func-
ton of the society is to unity and CO.
ordinate, to inspect, to audit, to advise.
It has been its achievement to pilot
all cooperative organizations through
the struggles and difficulties inherent
In the initiation Of the movement to ul-
innate success. Always and every
where the society insists on good busi-
ness methods, upon the most effective
system Of accounting, upon fair and
broad-minded dealings with all con-
cerned, and upon the maintenance Of
the highest quality in all products.
American cooperation must have a |
;iinilar central society II 1t is to be
effective.
During the parliamentary recess OF
1895, through the efforts Of this same
statesman, Sir Horace Plunkett, there
was brought together q committee OF
men Of various parties
md creeds, who later presented a pc
.ition to the government praying for
he institution Of a state department
which would fulfil the functions Of
Of agriculture for Ireland.
These proposals were embodies in a
aw enacted In 1899 and Immediately
the department Of agricul-
ure, with Sir Horace Plunkett at its
read, began fits career Of education.
rhe present head Of the department
4 agriculture and technical instruc-
ion," as it is now termed, Is the Hon.
Thomas W. Russell
Agricultural Wholesale Society.
As was but natural, the cooperative
after they had estab-
Ished themselves and began furnish
ng q product Of high quality, found
hat the individual managers Of the
eparate societies had not facilities
or obtaining q knowledge Of the mar
ct To understand fully the conditions
q all markets to which Irish products
night reasonably be expected to have
ccess was too large . task for each
organization to undertake
Dr. itself. Consequently the Irish Ag-
Icultural Wholesale society, limited.
cyan business. At nrSt 1t confined
self to the marketing Of Irish prod
cts. Later. when local cooperative
ocieties found trouble In getting
Gods Of high quality at reasonable
rices, the organization took mp the
,bbing business as q side issue. Now
maintains two branches, oneseventh {
I its business 10 performed a. q job {
or, Elx-sevenths Of its business h mar
sting Irish goods. About one-third Of !
70 Irish products handed 80 aToaS
n channel 10 England and 0ootlan6 {