The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1915-10-13
ADVISES COOPERATIVE METH.
DDS.
j. 9. Dunbar Tells OF Advantages to
Farmers of Organization.
Editor Daily Item.

Editor Daily Item.
have just read, with interest a let
ter sent out by the Sumter Chamber OF
Commerce, and published in your col
umns and feel that the writer struck
the key note to the situation in advis.
ing cooperation In the sale of cotton
whether raised in this or any other
county. The local buyers are in the
business for what they can get out OF
it, just as the farmer. who raises cot
ton or any other farm produce, Is in
his line Of business for what he ex-
poets to get out Of it, and If the farm
ers have not foresight enough to or
ganize themselves into a cooperative
protective association, they will only
have to accept the conditions brought
about, by their ignorance and careless
ness and quit abusing the purchaser
OF his produce because he Is looking
after his end of the business. It has
been demonstrated in other States be-
yond doubt, that by cooperating in
marketing Of farm products, the pro-
ducer has been greatly benefited, and
why can't the farmers Of Sumter
county come together In business mat
ters in which they are vitality inter-
ested? I can't believe it is ignorance.
but do believe it is carelessness and
lack Of confidence in each other. I
don't like to use such language, but
truth Is truth, and we may suppress
1t for while, but it will stare us in
the face again. The Chamber of Com
merce Is In a position to aid us If we
will only accept its services, and will
do us lot of good at small COM
mission, as 1t seems, we as a class are
too feeble to organize and help our
selves. The average farmer is too
prone to practice individuality and as
long as he does it, he may expect to
sell his produce at unsatisfactory
prices. He may think he Is fully COM
petent to manage his own business
and does not need the cooperation of
his brother farmer in the matter Of
intelligently marketing what he has to
sell, but there is where he makes his
greatest blunder. 1t matters not how
shrewd he considers himself to be
and how much independence he utiliz-
es in his own business, he Is as help
less as new born babe, when he
faces organization and combination,
and the sooner he awakens from that
state of mental simplicity the better
for him. A few years ago, the truck
Ing business around Norfolk, Va, was
a starvation livelihood and no one
cared TO own lands IN that section. for
the reason that those who were en-
gagged in the truck busines could
hardly live, but necessity, being the
mother Of invention. the farmers or
gsnized themselves into a cooperative
protective association; put their best
men at the head in marketing produce
and it was but short while before
they were getting prices at which they
could live and save money and lands
advanced to abnormally high prices.
The farmers can do. If they will, but
the greatest difficulty is, to instiIl into
them the will. Every other vocation
Is organized and its members are ex-
'ercising vigilance and business sense
relative to their interests collectively
and individually. They realize that in
union there Is strength, through which
their interest Is continually upbuilding
and materalizinG in commercial value;
yet the average farmer of this country
is plodding along in his antiquated rut,
solely. for the lack of business sa-
gacity and energy and confidence, in
his fellow farmer, and as long as such
is the case. he may be sure he will
never do much In the way Of finan-
cially coming to the front.
j. G. Dunbar.