The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1914-06-10
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 a 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. 1t is no less as
tonishing that the more ~businesslike
and more commercialized city consum-
er should have SO long consented to
pay a 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 1t 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 if certain princi-
Piles have been found to apply through
out all these countries, then these prins
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-
tons 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 of
organization is a joint stock corpora
tion 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. 1t 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 &C.
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 80 that there
will be no waste and no profits d.
verted from the producers pocket. II
such a concern pays a large dividend
to shareholders it is not evidence of
success but a clear indication that
money which should have gone to the
producer has been taken from him
and given to the investor. This con-
ception has not yet reached the con-
seriousness Of the American farmer
who still expects a cooperative con-
Germ to pay dividends.
The Irish Way.
In Ireland we found that nearly all
of the effective cooperative ~organiza-
lions were affiliated with the Irish
Agricultural Organization Society
which from the first has been the
power that has made cooperation pos
sible in the island. 1t is a rigid rule
of this organization society that no
local society belonging to it can under
any circumstances pay to exceed five
per cent per annum upon it's shares Of
stock. The moment the shareholders
conceive the organization is one
which is to earn large dividends, that
moment it's usefulness ends. More
thar n American cooperative enter
prise has been wrecked upon these
rocks.
One Man One Vote.
Following some bitter experiences,
it has been found necessary to adhere
rigidly to the principle that no matter
what a mans investment may be, he
may have only one vote in the man.
agement' of the concern. Experience
has shown that this avoids j%ealousies,
and suspicion, and discord, and pre-
vents mismanagement. The rich man
and the poor man have gone into it
for identical purposes. Both are in
terested in and pledge themselves so
to manage the concern as to turn over
to the producer the largest possible
Dercentaoe of the Drice Maid nv the