Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1922-03-03
| fatory observations to state that the

| cooperative cotton movement Is no
without it's enemies and critics in Okla
homa, among all classes Of people
farmers, bankers, merchants, member!
and non-members Of the association
In most cases, however, I am con.
strained to believe that much Of the
enmity and criticism arises from either
a misconception Of cooperative mar
keting or from selfish motives.
That progress has been made II
Oklahoma in the cooperative market
ing of cotton cannot be denied. was
informed in Atlanta and my informa-
ton was corrobOrated here, that pro-
gress also has been made in Arizona
Mississippi and Texas. l hope to as
certain the extent and character of this
progress before I leave this country.
| came to Oklahoma first because IL
was here, in Oklahoma City that the
cooperative marketing Of cotton hal
its birth-here in the office of Carl
Williams, editor of the Oklahoma
Farmer -Stockman, one Of the great
agricultural papers Of the southwest
To Mr.. Williams belongs the glory of
having set the movement going-;l
movement which he believes to be the
greatest thing ever undertaken for the
Southern farmer, or any other farmer,
for that matter.
Purpose of Investigation.
"Mr. Williams" said /, by way OF
introduction, II am here representing
The Atlanta Journal to- get the low
down on the cotton cooperative move
ment. l am neither q booster nor a
knocker of the association. The At
lanta Journal wants the facts, and only
the facts, of the organization and
operation of your association in Okla.
homa. Personally, am open to con-
viction either way. l expect to inter-
view your bankers, for, frankly, many
of our Georgia bankers haven't waxed
very enthusiastic about the co-opera-
tive marketing of cotton"
"Our cards are on the table, face up
replied Mr.. Williams. ''The books of
our association are open to your in
spection. or to the inspection Of any
one else. Our employees are at your
service. Go as far as you like and
form your own conclusions. We are
pleased with the progress We have
made, and we feel that any intelligent
person will convince himself of the
soundness Of our movement If he will
only investigate 1t. in detail"
At my suggestion, Mr.. Williams pro-
ceeded with an outline Of the Oklaho-
ma association. 1T is," he said, IAN
organization of $4,000 Oklahoma cot
ton growers 1t Is q marketing organi-
zation, composed orly-of actual cotton
growers, landowners and tenants,
operated directly by and for the grow
ers through the best technical cotton
specialists that money can employ.
Mr.. Williams paused in his outline
here and remarked that he hoped l
would check him up on every state
ment he made and fire away with
whatever question might occur to me.
I'VE are not a social nor fratcrnal
order" he continued. ours Is not a
dues collecting club. We have no con-
Germ with politics-and we mean 1t,
from the bottom up. None of our Of
ficers are in politics. When one gets
in politics, he gets out Of the associa-
ton. It Is a business organization,
chartered under the laws Of Oklahoma
and the United States government. The
membership of the association pools
us cotton through the association for a
period Of five years.
What Association Does.
Specifically, we do the following
things for the association members, as
we pointed out in our prospectus:
81. Grade, class, staple and weigh
each bale, which places a true value
on the cotton in terms of quality.
"2. We warehouse and store cotton
wherever necessary, thus reducing the
tremendous loss from country damage.
d. we Sell llle SOhlNh III N'N'i
running lots, each grade, class and
staple within its own pool. Thus in
surfing a higher price than can other
wise be obtained.
"a. We sell on samples and ware
house certificates, saving the heavy loss
from what is known as the city crop
"5. We sell collectively and only
when the market demands it,. in this
way reducing speculation.
&c. We sell cotton as directly as pos
sible, eliminating many wasteful and
costly operations.
az. We intend to attempt to deter
mine the cost Of cotton production and
will assist in asking a price that will
satisfy both the producer and con-
sumer.
"S. We intend to encourage and de-
velop the cooperative production OF
uniform and standard varieties, which
will assist further in pool selling.
SO. We will advise with growers, on
production methods and problems
After having outlined what the as
sociation has done for it's members
during the nine months period of its
existence, Mr.. williams invited ques-
tions and, in this connection, told in
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