Clinch Valley news. [volume] (Jeffersonville, Va.) 18??-2019, 1917-07-20
COOPERATING FARMERS.
County Agent Wall Makes Some Sug-
tiOnS for Buying ARsnciatinnr'

IN vivlring farme; over the count,
have found n very strong demand
for farmers cooperative buying as.
ISOLATION. have discussed the matter
with number of the leading farmers
in different parts of the county and
we feel that there is n great needs for
strong cooperation among the farm
ers. In all professions except farm
ing men organize and pull together
Lawyers, doctors, spectators, mer-
chants, manufacturers, miners, rail-
road people, and laborers all organ
ize for mutual benefit, protection and
to demand their rights. The farmers,
however, not only do not cooperate
but actually pull against each other.
When they want to sell their prod
ucts they just take what the other
fellow decides to give them and when
hey want to buy they pay what the
other fellow chooses to charge them.
Now, is there any good reason why
the farmers should not, or cannot
organize? None in the world! Have
they anything to gain by it? The
practical possibilities for benefits thru
cooperation and organization are I'M
doubtedly greater among the farmers
than any other class of men. Think
about it and you will realize this is
very true. | recently heard speak
er in talking on cooperation among
farmers say that they had it in their
and could starve the world into sub
mission. Now, this may be true but
it is not the spirit with which we
should organize. Below l will give
some of the purposes for which
think we should organize but first l
wish to say that have carefully con-
sidered a number of plans of organi-
cation before, taking up the one sug-
gested below. 1t will be noted that it
is very simple, requires no capital
and is to be composed and controlled
entirely of our own people. In the
past we had the Grange and the Far
mers' Alliance, both of which failed
and now we have similar organiza-
ton, the general plan of which is
that the farmer pays an annual or
monthly membership fee the most of
which goes to pay some outsider to
organize; he then takes stock in n
ware house which he is likely never
to see-then he has the privilege of
buying his supplies from the ware
house, but still he does not get them
at actual cost. The operating ex-
penses of the warehouse are about as
great as those of the MERCHANT. Mon
ey has to be invested, freight paid,
insurance and labor provided for, ov-
erhead charges borne and interest
paid on the investment. Under the
of an uninterested per-
son on salary it will not be conduct
ed efficiently and it offers unlimited
opportunity for all kinds of graft.
The result is that those who Snvest
money in it will be in an uncertain
position as to their returns and as
under the conditions mentioned the
costs of operation will be greater
than in the case of the local mer-
chants and consequently the profits
charged will be so great
that the farmer had just as we'll or
better have given his business to the
local dealer. have talked this mat
ter over with number of the lead
ing farmers of the county and we
know that we have n much better
plan, in which it will not be neces-
sary to invest money, there will be no
for graft, and the farm
ers will get supplies at cost with
no loss, and as the coun-
ty agent can be utilized to assist in
forming the organization the farmer
will not have to pay an outsider to
it. The purposes and plan
of organization appear below. It is
hoped and expected that every single
farmer in the county will join the or
ganization and give it his unwaver-
ing support. Half of success lies in
self confidence. A meeting will be
held the second Saturday in August,
the 18th, for the formation of the or
ganization, but to complete the or
ganization before fall it will be ne
cessary to start at once. Mr.. NJ. L.
Peery, of North Tazewell, has kindly
consented to be acting Secretary
Treasurer until the organization is
formed in August. Farmers should
make application to Mr.. Peery at
once and send him their lifetime
fee. Don't wait for some
one to come after you or you may
not get in the organization in time
to secure any benefit this year.
R. r. WALL,
County Agent.