The comet. (Johnson City, Tenn.) 1884-1916, 1915-01-28
TO THE FARMERS
OF TENNESSEE
BY CAPT 7. + PECK,
Commissioned OF Agriculture.
COOPERATIVE MARKET SYSTEM
A NECESSITY.
BY CAPT t. Il. PECK,

Every farmer has a right to demand
that price be paid for his product,
which will pay for the cose of pro
duction, interest on his investment
and fair profit just as does any othe,
business man. This country does moi
produce such an oVer-supply of food
stuffs but what fair profit could he
realized by practically every grower il
there was efficiency in distribution,
II every person in this country could
get his proportionate share of what
the country produces, at reasonable
price, consumption would increase
and markets would be steadied. That
farmers have not been getting their
share and that consumers certainly
have been paying their share is gener-
ally admitted. The question before all
producers and consumers, is how this
great waste can be prevented.
The lack of storage facilities causes
a rushing of perishable commodities
to market before cold, freezing wealth
er sets in. This condition coupled
with the condition made by the crop
which must be sold to meet obliga-
tions, naturally brings about COMPETE
tive underselling, for the buyer, know
ing that certain percentage of the
crop must be sold, will not pay any
more than he is obliged to for the
same. In any case they act as inter-
mediary for the grower, shipping the
commodity to the distributing end,
selling same for what they canget, |
deducting brokerage and commission,
and giving the grower what remains
Sometimes small cash advance is
made on the car as bait. Cash has
a psychological influence and there
are very few farmers, unless some
restraint such as cooperative asso-
citation might impose, has been placed
On them, who will not undersell
1eighbor in order to secure it. It is
his pitting of farmer against farmer
hat causes ruination of prices even
at times when normal crops are
'aised.
Another cause of market depression
which links up with competitive un-
lerselling is the fact that only few
armers sell on rising market. The +
Usual custom is to hold for higher
'rices, but as soon as the market
reaks and the decline sets in, the
aster the decline the more crop is dis
osed of. Large operations knowing
his are prepared to buy and store
ntil markets right themselves. In
act this depression is very often
rought about by skilled operators l
Tho know farmers natures better
han most farmers know themselves.
The farmer has not studied the SELL
lg end of his business. He has given F
lost attention to production. Impro- I,
er grading has been a serious draw
ack in securing better prices for
)rm commodities and has, more than1
ny other one caues, brought about
he numerous middlemen. Few farm tt
RS are familiar with the condition
which their commodities arrive at
lie other end and more of them are
,ss familiar with the condition the .
must be in to sell readily
, the trade. If more growers took
live interest in putting up a good
rade of product and visited the other
nd of the business occasionally there
ould be much less complaint at both
ads.
Getting hold of the growers until a
bod effective working organization is
established is the hardest problem Of j
l cooperative societies. It is hard 4
r any organization to fight outside
fluence and inside influences as well. {
the inside influence is loyal it is not
hard task to overcome outside in :
fences for the latter depend entirely {
ION dissatisfaction within the ranks l
disrupt the association thereby fur {
ering their own ends. I
Cooperating is essential. The same !
lsiness sense and the same organiza- {
g genius which have placed this ma 8
IN in the front rank in industry (,
ust be invoked for agriculture. a
One of the greatest stumbling {
ocks in cooperative organizations is I