Arizona republican., 1921-04-11
Oklahoma Cotton Growers Sign
 Up 34,OOO Strong On New Plan

OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla, April 10. Persuading more than 34,O00 cotton growers of the state to sign a legal agreement to turn their cotton over to one association for period of seven years, to be marketed as that association believes best and to pay $10 for the privilege, and doing all this in four months, is the standard set by the organization force of the Oklahoma Cotton Growers associa- tion. Not only has record in the matter of time been made, but the organization work has been done at the remarkably low expense of s3 a member.
 When the task was started about ninety nine out of every hundred said | it could not be done. Some said it could not be done because farmers are not intelligent enough to grasp the business principles involved Others said it could not be done be- | cause farmers are too wise to tie 1 themselves up for seven years. Both were wrong, and the farmers have | actually formed a giant corporation to market cotton. They have demon strated they can understand a busi- ness proposition. Almost half of tho crop produced in the state is now tied up in the association, and it i. believed at least half of the remain der will in before the 1921 crop be. gins to move.
 ''The Oklahoma plan." as the Okla homa farmers choose to call it, is tc be given real test this fall and next and so on. The commodity plan O cooperative marketing will for tn, first time be tried in handling cot ton. Texas and North Carolina ar now organizing along the same lines and Arkansas is getting ready t, |, start the campaign.
 How did Oklahoma do it? By or ganization, appealing to reason an not prejudice, and by fairness an honesty in every particular.
 When several cotton growers iron , various parts of the state met in Ok , lahoma City last summer and form ulated the plan under which 1t wa proposed the farmers would sell thei , own cotton direct to the Ranufac turers. and sell only after learnin the grade and staple of their prod ucts, a publicity campaign was be , gdn- Little was done toward gettin signatures until fall. At that tim c. L. Stealey was elected secretary c 2 the organization committee, wit Carl Williams, editor of the Oklaho 3 ma Farmer Stockman, who is mainl 5 responsible for the idea, as chairma t of the executive committee NJ ' oltdiCy was tO l6du Lfle memDGTSnl 3 campaign.
 The secretary went into office O November l, and the campaign gC well under way about the 1st of De cember. Approximately 2000 mem bers were added in December, 5000 1 January. 1000 in February and 20,0C
 in March. Additional members wi
 be taken during the summer, and M
 Stealey says there will be not fewt
 than 5o,000 in the association, out
 possible 90,000 in the state. Fl The organizing of the forces COT sisted of getting men who coul handle people, who could explain business proposition to a crowd, WI
 would never become confused or irr if tated. who were willing to go day ar d night, who could talk to banker h worth millions as easily as to cottc t. farmers who were not able to bu 2 shoes for their children.
 e Difficulty was experienced in fins = ing this class of men. inasmuch
 employment could be promised on
 three or four months at the most
 was not until the 1st of Februal ,e that full crew was in the field.
 When an organizer went into
 county he first went to the coun -e agricultural agents office and g acquainted with the county. Gene
 
 ,f siderable work in an educational WI before the organizer arrived. Wi
 the agent as a leader in the wor '' the organizer called on the banks a, usually was able to show the banl A4 CTS that the association is aimed
 injure no one and has but one pu is pose, and that is to get fair pri
 for cotton for the cotton grower Ie Any banker in the cotton territo le wants that. The result has been tn
 most banks co-operated in putin le the move over.
 After the banks of the county h. ce been lined up, the county agent call
 a meeting of some of the leading co D. ton growers. These were sold"
 the contract, and then became mer SC bers. An organization was perfects
 and a working force lined up Aft ne each member of this committee h
 been drilled on all phases of the co Ia, tract. the bunch went out into t
 school districts to work. One work sl. during the day advertising the me. by ing for that night. When the farl ,l. CTS met at night, two organizers wt
 present, and as many as would sign ,, the contract. One of the workers I
 mained behind to continue the sig ". Ing by going from house to house a
 the other went to the next distri 6, Thus there was at least one man
 each school district for two days a to two men one night
 mt In all this work, the extensi
 forces of the Agricultural and N ne chanicaI college have taken the le