Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1919-04-11

Inc M3fKet Pr0hlem
Frank S. Adams Of Bowcoinham.
chief OF the bureau Of markets Of the
Maine Department Of Agriculture. in
his annual report just fled with the
Governor and Council. declares that
there never was a time in tie history
Of agriculture in this country when
20 much attention was given 10 the
market problems, as al the present
time. and as the result, Of a public de-
mand during the past few years. mar
ket bureaus have been established in
most Of the state. and a federal bu-
reau at Washington
These market bureaus have been
Of great help to the farmers along
certain lines of work in assisting
them in disposing Of their crops and
purchasing their supplies says Mr..
Adams in his report.
There are certain things that the
Bureau Of Markets can DO. working
with individual farmers, namely.
sending ont to the public a daily
news market bulletin. establishing
grades for the different farm crops,
government inspectors in the large
markets. and educational work by
means of bulletins. but to get the full
measure Of success, the farmers must
be organized so that the different
market bureaus may come in contact
With groups Of farmers interested
along the same lines OF farming, in
stead Of single units.
Il: is self evident that this lire C
work can be conducted much more
efficiently in groups than in units.
and the problem Of successfully mar
keting farm crops can only be accom-
plished through farmers o-ganiza-
tons. This is the only method to
properly grade. sort. inspect and put
On the market in a condition 70 at
tract and hold buyers. farm produce.
and a continuous supply assured the
customer during the season Of the
crop to be marketed. These are the
essentials that must be complied with
II success in marketing is to be at
tanned. The object OF farmers
business CT organization, whether en-
gagged in buying farm supplies. or
selling farm produce, is to eliminate
some Of the expenses. The State Of
Maine has made good start in farm
ers' organizations.
During the last year 2a new local
unions were organized. At the pres
ent time We have 122 loca, Unions in
Maine, and some IS Of these locals
have stores we'll established During
the past year they did a business Of
over 100000. making a large saw
ing for their members. This organ
ization has given the members a
business training along certain lines
ant some business principles have
been learned. Some Of these are as
follows:
We must not expect financial re-
sults too soon. Ii is more important
to establish a good business founda-
ton than immediate financial returns
The members must have enough
confidence in each other and them
selves to properly finance their own
business.
After paying interest on the stock
sold. a certain amount Of profit
should be retained in the treasury for
working capital. 1t is not safe to do
business without some capital. One
OF the most successful locals that we
have in Maine has never paid any
stock or trade dividends but has kept
all its profits for working capital. and
the report of the treasurer at the last
annual meeting showed that they had
assets enough so that their stock was
worth 1925 per share.
1.-THE locals should be loyal to the
central organization.
THE organization should be con-
Quoted as much as possible on a
strictly cash basis. We hear great
deal about the cash and carly plan.
and we have certain chains OF stores
in Maine that are run on this plan.
This means pay cash and wait on
yourself as much as possible. Ap-
piled to our farmers union. it would
mean pay cash for what YOU buy and
anticipate your wants in time to your
local manager SO he can pass them
along to the central organization.
For the past several months the
work Of the farmers unions OF
. Maine has been handicapped by reg
ulations and changed business condi-
tions, made necessary by the war.
While the central organization Is not
supposed to be a making cor
| poration, it is necessary to have in
come enough to pay overhead
| charges and to carry some stock in
trade in the warehouses. etc, at GER
tain times Of the year. Now that the
| war is over and we are getting back
to normal conditions. it is only nee
essary for the members to show the
came spirit of loyalty. patriotism and
confidence to their organization. that