The Mena weekly star., 1921-08-18
Defensive
 Methods Necessary
By CLIO HARPER

Little Rock, Aug. 11.--It seems possible that the Southern farmer is being forced by circumstances to adopt defensive methods which have proven effective in other states. 1t is admitted that he has been too long dependent upon the exploitation of those who have profited most from the efforts of his labor. The average Southern farmer has been good ag- riculturalist, but a poor business man. As result the business of farming has proven less and less attractive un- til the future of the industry has be- come serious problem. It has been known for long time that the dis ease existed and there have been diag- noses of the malady, but there has not been proper pathological conditions to guarantee a remedy, nor has there been an effective agency to administer it.
 All of which is preliminary to the statement that the way out of the difficulty seems to have been provided by the Farm Bureau organization and movement for the American Cotton Growers Co-Operative Association which is now being promoted turnout the South. The plan is not so com plex that it should be obscure, but as explained by experts who have had many years experience in similar or ganizations, it presents system for the scientific distribution of the Souths' staple crop which promises emancipation for the cotton farmer.
 There have been many other organi- zations in the state having the same ends in view, such as the Wheel, the Grange, the Farmers Union and the American Cotton Association and oth- CTS. Each of the older organizations lacked something, principally adhe- sion, and with the exception of the Farmers Union, which is still a strong and growing concern, they have been abandoned. The Farmers Union, however, the Farm Bureau and the agricultural extension forces of the state and federal government be- lieve they see in the cooperation of the cotton growers themselves the means whereby the production of cot ton may be placed upon a business basis.
 During the past week meetings of farmers representing possibly 40 counties, were held at Helena, Pine Bluff, Little Rock and Newport. each meeting being largely attended by men directly interested in the produc- ton of cotton. The meetings were ad- dressed by Aaron Sapiro, an interna- tionally known expert on cooperative marketing who is reputed to receive one of the most liberal salaries paid in the United States for what he knows and his ability to direct others along the proven pathway of success in the organization of cooperative systems. Mir. Sapiro brought to Ar kansas the experience of 25 years of failure and success in the handling of agricultural products of California. During that period many errors have been made, but the farmers have pro- fited by their mistakes and, disearding methods which failed, have adopted only those which offer a maximum of success. California is riow thoroly or ganized and it's federated marketing associations, with more than S0,000 members, handle hundreds of millions of dollars worth of staple products every year. There is stability in their markets and their brides which spells prosperity for the entire state. Tine producer does not pretend to be more than a producer. When his pro duct leaves his farm or his orchard, he has nothing to do with the sale. This is entirely in the hands of mar
 eting experts who are paid big money for the use of their brains. All that the farmer has to do is to collect his part of the proceeds after his product has been marketed in an orderly man. ner thru an internal pool. There are no amateurs in the selling game, just as there are no amateurs in the pro ducing end of the industry. Special izing thus produces experts all along the line and when their efforts are correlated prosperity must be the re- ward of all.
 Arkansas is making rapid strides in the organization of state branch of the Cotton Growers Cooperative As sociation and when a minimum of 200,. 900 bales of the 1922 crop has been signed up on five year contracts, the association will be ready to function Officers will be elected and Central Agency established. Each member agrees to turn over to the association , absolutely all title to his product ant
 with one-fifth of the states crop ir l the hands of the association, it will bs I enabled to dictate largely the prices ] that are to be paid for cotton A:
 rapidly as the states are organized i thev will be federated into the Ameri - rm4s H~~-<<&af E~~I~svs<<a ~w<