Montpelier examiner. [volume] (Montpelier, Idaho) 1895-1937, 1914-06-26
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 a distribu-
tive system which has put him abso-
lutely in the hands Of the commercial
forces that intervene between himself
and the consumer. II 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 win come in the exact
form in which it evidences itself in
foreign lands or in some other differ
ent form is immaterial. It 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 OF cooperative endeavor 1t Is
safe to assume that II certain prinei-
Piles 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 a number of American
farmers gather together to consider
an organization which has TO do with
mercantile or other financial enter
prise, It is but natural to talk about
profits and dividends. Their idea oil
organization Is a joint stock corpora
ton in which each man invests such
money as he can spare. In which eact
votes In proportion to the shares pur
chased, and the main purpose Of which
| Is to earn money and declare diyi
dends. Il Is difficult for him to con
eeive OF commercial organization
whose chief function is not to sdueezt
all the profit there is out Of every &C
} tivity.
True cooperation Is impossible 81
long as this idea OF organization Il
retained
! The purpose Of the cooperative en-
terprise is TO handle the product Will
4 economy and efficiency so that Their
: will be no waste and no profits di
verted from the producers pocket
: such concern pays a large dividend
: to shareholders It Is not evidence o
. success but a clear indication tina
+ money which should have gone to tn
: producer has been taken from hin
: and given TO the investor This cor
i ception has not yet reached the cor
9 seriousness of the American farme
e who still expects a cooperative cor
q Germ to pay dividends.
e The Irish Way.
= In Ireland we found that nearly Al
e of the effective cooperative organizi
3 lions were affiliated with the Iris
4 Agricultural Organization soclet
. which from the first has been tn
) power that has made cooperation poi
8 sible In the island II is rigid rul
o OF this organization society that n
) local society belonging to Il can unde
e any circumstances pay to exceed iy
z per cent per annum upon its shares {
e stock. The moment the shareholder
e conceive the organization is on
o which IL TO earn large dividends. tina
6 moment its usefulness ends. Nor
+. than one American cooperative ente
II prise has been wrecked upon thes
rocks.
} One Man One Vote.
It Following some bitter experience
+ It has been found necessary 10 adheI
y Tigidly 10 the principle that no matte
q shat a mans Investment may BE-.
n may have onfy one vote 10 the ma
Il agement OF the concern. ExperienC
J. has shown that this avoids jeaiousie
i and suspicion. and diseord. and pr
y vents mismanagement The rich ma
4 and the poor man have gone into
y for identical purposes. Both are 4
Il terested in and pledge themselves 1
It to manage the concern as TO turn ov'
II TO the producer the largest possib