Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1919-12-30
AMONG THE FARMERS.


II S sono HoAty ~ S0eoP0aoe
L. 81. Bailey. New York. In Hoard's Dairyma
George and James are raisers Of poul
try. They bad difficulty In the marke,
ing OF the eggs, feeling that they receive,
too small share Of the ultimate sales
They put their heads together for pro
lection and to pool their interests, ant
James went now and then to market I,
follow the sales. The results were good
They found also that they could pur
chase feed and supplies to advantage II
double quantities. They acted ss one II
seeking advice on new breeds, on dis
eases OF the fowls, and with keeping uI
with the times in their business. Thsy
shared the expenses of their mutus
work. Yet each man was complete mas
ter of bis flock and his business. Thsy
became inseparable friends.
Henry bad looked on for q year OF
more. He asked the privilege Of sharing
in the enterprise. Three of them oper
ated together harmoniously and profit
ably.
Others joined with them, all operating
as one man and yet all separate aud IN
bound. The advantages came TO be great
They purchased fertilizer together, alsG
seeds, paint, fencing, and tools. They
loaned freely to each other. Certain
books were purchased in common and
passed around from one to another.
Most Of the correspondence came tC
James. ae bad been often to the mar.
kets. He wrote letters easily and was
good at keeping accounts. He was keen
to follow missing shipments, poor debts,
and market quotations. He was ener.
getic. And everybody knew that he wal
honest.
The cooperation became so large that
after time they organized under the
laws of the state, and assumed legal
existence, with power TO act together.
They were careful to maintain the de-
mocrscy of the enterprise, which was that
every man had voice and vote and the
business was carried in common, all
sharing In gains and losses and RESPONSE
bility; in other words, 1t was q real CO.
operation.
The association co-operated within 1t
self, but for the most part countersc,ed
the parties with whom they dealt, from
trans portstion agencies to market and
supply people; they had to encounter
them. These parties were corporate or
at least worked with common under
standing of their interests. There grew
up the two sides, the cooperative asso-
citation and all The others.
These others were also co-operators In
their way. Each side brought pressure
on occasion, and sometimes there were
sharp conf cts. The law stood behind
either party to safeguard justice as
against the other.
Yet the business went well, as business
goes. The conflicts were few, on the
whole. Each side soon learned the limit
of Its power, and experience taught them
wisdom. Yet James, at least, was not
wholly satisfied. The relationship was
essentially producer vs. trader. What
was behind the producer and beyond the
trader? However well the association
was serving the co-operstors, was 1t also
serving anyone else?
James became interested In tracing
many of the products to their destina-
tion. This destination was for the most
part the kitchens and tables Of persons
10 much the same circumstances as him
self. Some Of the persons worked In
shoe factories; he had their shoes on.
Others were iron workers; he recognized
some of their product in his wagons.
These men had nothing TO do with the
marketing of their products. They were
workers. he wished that they might
have more eggs and poultry that his as
sociation produced.
In one Of the meetings James expressed
himself briefly on the situation. They
bad organized TO protect and better them
selves. They soon found that there were
two parties to the business. Now he was
convinced that there were three parties
10 the business, and he was not sure but
that the third party 10 the most impor.
tant of the three. Certainly II the third
party does not buy the first party will
not produce. :,
James was answered that they had all
along been aware OF the third party; had
not the association taken palms to sdver-
tiss its product in order to stimulate
sales and thereby to increase produc-
ton? Yes; but this action was purposed
for the benefit of the first party. was
there any further obligation? Suppose
the consumers should cooperate? Could
not they outweigh both other parties and
throw them together on the defensive?
James was not prophet; but be bad
a vague feeling that their association
was concerned too much with itself and
its mem bers, and that some day the pre-
ducsr and the trader might find them
selves outciassed and opposed by supe-
rior forces. The very success" of their
as they had measured II,
might have its influence in setting up
obstrucsious and counter-currents. Had
not the great industrial corporations
been too successful? Were not the labor
organizations at present too successfulY