The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1921-05-28
Cooperation.
Weekly News Letter..

Farming in the future will no
longer be matter Of brute force. 1t
will be business for brains, organ
ization, intelligence" Reads as if IL
were taken from an editorial written
yesterday, or a speech by some eX-
tension worker out in the field, The
quotation represents the vision of one
John Skinner, editor Of the American
Farmer, the first edition Of which ap-
peared in Baltimore in April, 1921,
just 100 years ago.
The thing Of chief interest now.
perhaps. is found in the fact that the
editor. influenced doubtless by the
current discussions around him, be-
gan writing 100 years ago about the
subject which has never ceased since
his day to engage the attention OF
thoughtful people everywhere. Inves-
tigation shows that men have been
trying all these years to achieve the
perfect organization for agriculture,
and they still are trying.
The minds OF farmers today are
turned, for the most part, toward CO.
operation as means Of reaching sue
cess. Just how far they may so with
their efforts is a disputed matter.
Many business men. many of the
great consuming public, appear to
question TIE farmers right to pro-
tect themselves in this way, forget
ting that every branch OF business
has done precisely this thing.
There are about $4,000 farmers
MI IN hi ,fY~1-
said George Livingston. chief Of the
Bureau Of Markets. United States de-
partment of agriculture. These or
CARNATIONS have a membership Of
approximately 100000. A move
ment so widespread should benefit
both producers and consumers. Once
the public believes cooperative mar
keting. for instance, will result in bet
ter quality. standardization Of pro-
ducts and packing, the reduction Of
waste, the public will wish to do its
rart to encourage such united effort.
Everything should be done to dis
courage a seemingly growing belief
that such organizations are for the
purpose Of controlling prices. The
public should be brought to under
stand that farmers are organizing to
get for themselves and their families
fair reward for the labor they have
put into production. With the object
Of having higher standards of living,
better homes. schools, and churches.
Although he may not know it, every
man in town or city has close,
personal interest in the success Of
American agriculture. 1t is, or
should be. cycle in results; better
farming, better prices, better homes,
better people. because the strength of
the cities. as all thoughtful persons
know, lies in the strength Of the
country by which / mean the rural
regions.
In his weekly conference with
representatives of the press recently.
Secretary Wallace, of the United
States department of agriculture,
said in speaking Of the meeting Of
the Committee of Seventeen in Chi
cago: There seems to be fear
that the farmers will go to price
fixing. but | think this fear is un-
founded. The Chicago gathering
should give reinsurance as to the
farmers ability to bring about a mo-
nopoly It should be remembered
compulsory pooling Of agricultural
products was rejected. and that the
final vote gave a majority for option
al pooling. The conference gave
hopes of much Improvement in grain
marketing methods.
Belfast. May 25.-Wholesaie charges
Of Intimidation and perSonation dur