The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1918-05-08
SPECIAL FARMING
ENCOURAGES WORK.
TOGETHER METHODS
Need for Cooperation Basis for Or
ganizing Conditions May
Not Be FavOrable-Faith in
Principle Necessary-Depart-
ment of Agriculture Will
Aid Communities Desir-
ing to Form Organ
iZatiOns

Every cooperative organization
should result from widespread de-
mand based on a well-felt need.
community which specializes on
one or few products offers a more
promising field for cooperative mar
keting organization tnan one which
produces small amounts of large
number of different products. A farm
er naturally will devote more ;.tten-
tion to an organization which markets
his principal products than one which
handles products which are raised by
him as side lines.
If the service rendered by existing
marketing agencies is unsatisfactory,
a 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 it can
perform profitably some definite serv-
ice, for an organization without def
mite purpose is not likely to accom-
pllsh very much. Prejudice and mis-
conception make very insecure foun-
dation for cooperative effort.
A cooperative organization is a
democratic institution in which it is
customary for all members to have
equal voting power, while in q non--
cooperative company each share u.s.
ually has a vote. Thus the basi., of
representation in one is men, while in
the other 1T is money. Another princi-
pie usually followed by cooperative
organizations is to limit the financial
interests of individuals as a further
safeguard against allowing one mem
Der to gain control of the organiza-
ton. 1T is customary for cooperative
associations to admit as members all
who desire and are qualified to be-
come members and agree to abide bv
the rules. While non-co-opcratiye
stock companies distribute their prof
It's in the form Of dividends on their
capital stock, cooperative organiza
tlons having capital stock, make a
practice of limiting The dividends to
a fair rate of interest on the capital
invested and distribute the surplus,
II any, on the basis of the business
done through the association.
These suggestions by specialists of
thc U: ). Department of Agriculture
are given IN Yearbook Separate 1888
Just issued from Washington,
There is a close relationship be-
tween cooperative marketing organ
lZations and the more general asso-
cations formed for educational and
social purposes. Many communities
are not ready for cooperative market
ing activities. and frequently social
or educational organization in such a
nIlelghborhood is invaluable IN teaching
It's members the value Of cooperation
and how to cooperate. just rs a child
creeps before it learns to walk and
run, so community has to under
stand the fundamentals and the re-
qulrements of cooperation before
great results can be obtained from or
ganlzation. An educational or social
association, when properly directed,
furnishes an excellent place for full
and free discussion OF organization
and marketing problems, and in this
way lays the foundation for future CO.
operative, marketing activities.
:. when the organization of coopera
i've purchasing or marketing associa
ton comes up for consideration, it is
advisable to conduct preliminary
survey of the local situation in order
10 ascertain whether or not conditions
are ripe for cooperative work. Since
organizations founded on well-feIt
need are more likely to be successful