American Falls press. [volume] (American Falls, Idaho) 1907-1937, 1914-08-06
Where Fifty thousand Belgian Peasants Cooperate.
EUROPE,S COOPERATIVE MESSAGE

No n cnn make such a trip OF In
veatigation as we have made without
becoming convinced that into Ameri.
can rural life must come some form OF
cooperative enterprise. II II costs as
much TO take the farm produce from
the farm TO the city az Il
does TO produce II land this Is an ad-
mitted fact) It necessarily follows that
our distributive system Is wonderfully
wasteful. How long will the lntelli-
gent American farmer tolerate a sys-
TEN which nets him 25 10 30 per cent
OF the retail price OF his farm product
after he knows that the Danish farmer
gets a little over ninety per cent OF
what tho consumer pays for his prod
uct. AS we investigate what Is done
abroad and what could be lone 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. IL Is no less as
tonishing that the more businesslike
II moro commercialiaed city consum-
er should have so long consented to
pay n price to the distributor OF farm
products which is over 100 per cent
above tho producers price.
Cooperation 10 coming to America.
Whether Il will come in the exact
form In which il evidences itself in
foreign lands or in some other differ
ent form Is immaterial II 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 Lessona
1t In safe to assume that Ireland.
Belgium. Germany, and Denmark have
learned some lessons from their many
years OF cooperative endeavor. II is
safe to assume that II certain princl-
pies have been found to apply through
out all these countries, then these prln-
ciples are at least worthy OF care
ful 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 diner, as Is but natural
: when we consider the varying condL
lions under which tho 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. 1t is but natural to talk about
profits and dividends. Their idea OF
organization Is n joint stock corpora
ton IN which each man invests such
money as he can spare, In which each
votes in proportion to the shares Dur
chased, and the main purpose OF which
Is to earn money and declare divt
dends. II is difficult for him to con
ceive OF a commercial organization
whose chief function is not to soueexs
all the pront there Is out OF every no
tivity.
True cooperation Is impossible so
long as this idea OF organization Is
retained.
The purpose OF the cooperative n
terprise Is to handle the product with
economy and efficiency so that there
viii be no waste and no pronts d.
verted nom the producers POCKET II
such a concern pays a large dividend
TO shareholders II is not evidence OF
success but n clear Indication that
money which should have gone 10 the
producer has been taken from him
and given TO the investor. This con-
cepuon has not yet reached the con-
s~eiousness OF the American farmer
who still expects a co operative con-
Germ to pay dividends.
The Irish Way.
In Ireland we found that nearly all
OF the effective cooperative organiza-