The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1918-05-24
SECURE RESULTS
IN COOPERATION
Special Farming Encourages
Work Together Methods
Among AgricuIturists.
FAITH IN PRINCIPLE NEEDED
United States Department Of AqricuI-
ture Will Aid Communities De-
string to Form Organizations
Some Good Suggestions.

Every cooperative organization
Should result from a widespread de
mand based on a well-felt need.
A community which specializes or
one or few products offers a more
promising field for a cooperative mar.
keting organization than one which
produces small amounts of q large
number of different products. A farm
er naturally will devote more attention
TO an organization which markets his
principal products than one which han
dies products which are raised by him
as side lines.
IL the service rendered by existing
marketing agencies is unsatisfactory.
cooperative marketing organization
Is likely to receive heartier support
than If the farmers are satisfied with
the existing system. An association
should be formed only when 1t can
perform profitably some definite serv-
Ice, for an organization without q def
mite purpose is not likely to accomplish
very much. Prejudice and misconcep-
ton make very insecure foundation
for cooperative effort.
Democratic Institutions.
A cooperative organization is q DEM
ocratic institution in which it is custom
airy for all members to have equal
voting power, while in a nonco-opera-
tive stock company each share usually
has a vote. Thus the basis of repre-
sentation in one is men, while I'm the
other it is money. Another principle
usually followed by cooperative organ
izations is to limit the financial inter-
ests of individuals as a further safe
guard against allowing one member to
gain control Of the organization. It is
customary for cooperative associations
to admit as members all who desire |
and are qualified to become members
and agree to abide by the rules. While |
stock companies dis |
tribute their profits in the form of divi- |
1ends on their capital stock, co-opera-
I've organizations having capital stock
make a practice of limiting the divi-
lends to a fair rate of interest on the
'apital invested and distribute the sur
)lus, II any, on the basis of the busi-
less done through the association.
These suggestions by specialists of
he United States department of agri-
'ulture are given in Yearbook Separate
3S just issued from Washington.
There is close relationship between
cooperative marketing organizations
nd the more general associations
ormed for educational and social pur-
oses. Many communities are not
eady for cooperative marketing activ-
ties, and frequently social or educa- /.
Ional organization in such neighbour (
God Is Invaluable in teaching its mem :
ers the value OF cooperation and how {
cooperate. Just as child creeps I
efOre IL learns TO walk and run, so a
has to understand the fun
amentals and the requirements of CO.
before great results can be
Dtained from organization. An edu-
luonal or social association, when 4
-operly directed. furnishes an excel C
Mt place for a full and free discussion p
organization and marketing prob (
ms and in this way lays the founda- c
IN for future cooperative marketing d
'tivities. Ii
Preliminary Survey. II
When the organization of a co-opera-
re purchasing or marketing assocla.
III comes up for consideration, it is
visable TO conduct preliminary sur +
of the local situation in order TO II
certain whether or not conditions are 81
'e for cooperative work. Since or q,
nizations founded on a well-felt need n
more likely TO be successful than /,
which are not, the need Vi