Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1920-03-14
TENDENCY ID. ORGANIZE
GROWS AMONG FARMERS
Extension Division Director Declares
Agriculturalists Will Cooperate
in Increasing Degree.
BY JOHN IT. HUTCHINSON,
IIrGCtOr Extenaioa Div. AlarE AhurH


For number OF years tho people
o. this country have believed that tho
iarmers could not cooperate and.
therefore. would never organize. The
charge has been that farmers az n class
were too independent und selfish.
However. In recent years there has
III regard to this matter. Al the pres
cnt time the thinking people of the
country realize that tho farmers. like
amy other cluss OF people. will organ
izc when tho necessity becomes great
enough. The Eastern shore Truckers
irving examples OF what turner's will
AND san do when they are forced 10
sell The products OF their tabor below
Inc cost OF production.
During recent years tho growth of
Big business" and strong organiza.
labor have made the farmers OF this
country realize TINT they must be. or
Sanized Il they arc TO compete success.
All Want Cse.p FOOD.
Organized capital wants cheap farm
products SO as to get cheap labor in
Organized labor wants cheap farm
products. short hours, high. wages. II
best interests IL with neither of these
cassca. The thinking farmers real
izc this. and are now rapidly organic
Ing throughout the United States for
icvcs that his children should have
"ducationa! facilities equal TO those
brich!ayers. lawyers. doctors. preach
cra. etc. in the cities. lie believes.
further. that he should have price
for his products that will allow him
20 pay labor wages commensurate Win
wages paid labor In other industries.
nc knows that he will never get these
things unless nc has voice In the
affairs OF tho State and tho nation. and
that his voice Will not be heard unless
he is organized.
In many of the States the farmers
have already organized into coInmun-
iy county, STATE and . nS,ien 1noo oean,
large amounts to perfect their organ.
izations by employing the best talent
;ha, can DC secnrea' IN so son, o OF t ne
farmers belong TO county orGaniEa-
tons and support the same oy mem
bership fee of $40 per farmer per year
to $4,000 annually. In THIS way the
highcs: type OF county agent Is Sc
farmers along the safest cooperative
lines. When cooperative enterprise.
sif1ir as creamery. grain elevator OF
shipping association. IL organized. the
live enterprise on IT'S feet, and then
insists .hat the farmers put up enough
possible 10 run the enterprise. In
other words the farmers oeHcNe th~'
n order 20 have successful co-opera
ton they mus, have trained men 70
help them 10 90 bushes on business
Co-operative Spirit Growing.
ing among the farmers In Virginia is
evidenced By the fact that the county
agents OF this State reported !aIEsl
inc the last year than ever oe!oIe,
These agents report tina. during TIC
gss aSrv Worked sn si
,rs' CO. operative buying and selling or
saniza,!ons; These o:.an , iza', ,... On s
,nsiSa isss , esct 81 .eTI savin= OF
sas.soai5 They ma ndied $3.50 tons OF
limo. valued At 'I:,Sls snd , saved -, ;s.i
valued at Slol.23i.se. and saved 3d..
1880 They handled machinery and
iniscc ella neous supplies valued at $50
5000. In other words, the small CO.
operative organizations in. the counties
saving OF sliS,Gl:.3O This. OF course,
docs not include The big eo-operstive
exchanges. etc. but represents tho say
Ing on the purchase OF raw material:
sueh az fsr;iii2er lime; feed ETC. .:,, and
wool. lambs. hogs. potatoes and other
farm product. co-operatveiy
The farmer believes that he has q
nerfcct right TO buy. tho raw materials
which he uses In the manufacture o.
his crops comparatively just as any
other manufacturer does. He believes.
homie distribution is ever solved il
must be solved by the farmer. The
rroblem o! Tarketin: is ;hc big prob
lrm confronting the farmer today and
everyone interested in the development
Of the country as whole should be
.n1ioMs ana wiliins 10 help him solve
II. There can be no decrease in the
nigh cost OF living until there is an
Increase In production and there will
thc producer gets fair price Tor his
products: so X is 10 the interest OF
both consumer and producer to see
thar more economical methods OF die
tribution arc brought about in this
country.