The Madison journal. (Tallulah, Madison Parish, La.) 1888-current, 1915-11-20
PROGRESS IN COOPERATION
Attention OF Farmers Turning More
and More to Marketing Assoeia.
tions-A Promising Field.

me BTOWluS leellHS tnaC tnere Is
too much difference between the price
paid to the producer of food and the
price paid by the consumer has turned
the attention OF American farmers
ing associations. Producers of perish
able products have advanced the far
thest in this direction and the best
organized cooperative marketing as
sociations are now to be found among
the California citrus fruit growers and
among the deciduous fruit growers OF
the Pacific Northwest. In general it
may be said that the most promising
field for such associations is in the
marketing of highly specialized and
localized crops.
The work of the marketing asso-
Citations includes the establishing Of
grades and standards: the adoption OF
brands and trademarks; the securing
of capital and credit: proper advertis-
ing to encourage consumption of a
meritorious but little-known product;
discovery Of new and extension of old
markets; securing information as to
crop and market conditions: the
equitable division of profits; adapting
production to meet market require
ments; the use of by-products; secur-
Ing cold and common storage facili-
ties; the cooperative buying and
manufacturing Of supplies; co-opera-
tive use of expensive farm machinery;
securing of lower freight rates. more
equitable refrigeration charges. and
more efficient transportation service;
the securing of more and better labor;
and the general cultivation of a spirit
of cooperation in all community af-
fairs.
These objects cannot be achieved
without strong. capable management.
If farmer has not sufficient faith in
the cooperative idea to go into the
enterprise with his whole heart. to
hold up energetically the hands Of
the manager and work disinterestedly
for the success of the association as a
whole, he had better not become a
member, for he will be far from a
source Of comfort to his partners.
The manager should be employed
by the board of directors and should
have large powers. He should employ
and discharge all labor: he should Sc
cure information as to crop and mar
ket conditions and furnish same to
the members on request. He should
encourage the production of the best
varieties of products demanded by the
trade. He should conduct packing
schools. in order that growers may be-
come trained in the best methods of
grading, packing and labelling their
products. He should have charge of
the grading, packing and inspection of
all association products. and should
have control of the brands and labels
and their use on the association pack.
ages. IN accordance with the rules of
the association. He should enter into
contracts for the sale of the associa-
ton goods. He should have entire
charge of the marketing of all associa.
ton goods. subject only to the action
of the board of directors and the by
laws and rules of the association. He
cannot be held responsible IL he is to
be dictated to at will by each member
or the officers are constantly to med
die with his work. This does not i'm
ply that the manager should be a die
tator. He takes the suggestions of the
officers and members and, from those
of his own experience. he constructs a
business plan. Whenever a manager
loses the confidence of the members, it
is better to replace him with a man.
ager who possesses that confidence.
But no manager. however compe-
tent he may be. can lead a co-ope-
rative association to success unless he
has real cooperation from the men,
bers. In cooperative circles the dis
loyal member is the chief element of
failure.
It would appear that owing to the
very fine principle of mutual help in
volved, those forming cooperative
organization would be consistently
loyal in their mutual relationship. But,
on the other hand, unless exceptional
care be exercised by the leaders, an
organization from the beginning will
be burdened with drones. cheats, dead
beats and traitors.
When a grower joins a cooperative
organization and then refuses to pat
ronize it, he is a drone. He cannot
excuse himself even on the ground of
bad management. for 1t is his duty to
secure proper conduct of the business.
II in selling through his organization
a producer endeavors to pass on shod-
dy. poor-grade products. which inJure
the reputation of the body of which
he is a member. he is a cheat.
The member who uses the special
and private information of the asso-
citation in making sales outside, with
out contributing to its support. is a
deadbeat.
The man who joins a cooperative
enterprise and then through subtle
ways endeavors to obstruct it's prog.
ress and defeat its purposes is a trai.
tor.
Those experienced with cooperative
organizations have known all these
types. They are to be found in prac.
tically every community. They are
the greatest enemies Of agriculture
and agricultural cooperation. II al.
lowed to dominate with their dishon.
est practices. they will sap the energy,
brains and spirit of the officers. ex.