St. Tammany farmer., 1922-06-10
FORMING A COTTON 7
EXCHANGE

Tie story Of the origin and organization
of.tke Texas Farm Bureau Cotton Associa-
ton reads like myth. In the fall of 1919
the ioea was looked upon as beautiful
t. cory but impractical in its execution.
But at that memorable meeting in Mont
eon1ery, the idea made sufficient impress
sion in the minds Of few OF the great
leaders OF agricultural thought in the
Southern States, that they were not will
ing to give up the thought Of the benefits
which tie operation Of such plan might
bring to the farmers Of the South. Hence
such men as Carl Williams of Oklahoma,
Dr. Pee and Dr. Kilgore OF North Caro-
lima, AMI Oscar Bledsoe of Mississippi.
along with a few Others Of similar type,
continued the study of the Sapiro plan.
It was Oklahoma which put the plan to
tie test Of overcoming the objections
which we're raised on every hand to It's
impract;cability, and it Is now matter of
historic interest to know that all Of the
| objections that were raised by both the
| friends and the enemies of the plan, have
Iecn o ercome; that the farmers would
sign tie contracts, and that the plan was
not only not impracticable, but the very
features of the plan which appeared to the
lay mind as impracticable, were the strong
features that meant the assured success of
the organization when put into operation.
Since t; e Oklahoma farmers demonstrated
that ey would Sign the contracts no
time was lost by the Texas Farm Bureau
Federation in bringing the plan to Texas.
MIR. Sapiro made his FIRST address In the
State al Dallas at the Fair grounds during
tie Fair of 1920. He made such favor
able Impression on all who were present
at that meeting that out Of it came the
demand for the organization OF cotton
market ;ng association under the auspices
OF the Texas Farm Bureau Federation.
accordingly, the president appointed an
organization committee Of twenty-one Of
tire leading cotton growers, educators,
economists, bankers and business men.
and a careful study was made Of co-opera-
tive marketing in general, and cotton
marketing in particular. Scores Of letters
we're written to bankers, chambers Of COM
merce and growers in California, and the
Northwest, and without exception the
highest endorsement was given Co operative
marketing as practiced in California, and
its benefits to the grower, banker and
business man and practically all who were
heard from, attributed the wonderful
prosperity Of California farmers to the
success Of the various cooperative market
ing associations in that State There was
not one letter from anyone who did not
favor cooperative marketing, and the
stories 0! the success Of the prune growers
ralsin growers, citrus growers, egg pro-
ducers, walnut growers. alfalfa growers,
etc, was such as to 1re the enthusiasm of
the most conservative OF our organization
committee and staff.
The plan that forms the basis OF the
Texas Farm Bureau Cotton Association |
incorporates the accumulated experience !
and successful operation Of cooperative
marketing associations throughout the
world during the past fifty years, and it |
is interesting to note that up until 1913
there was more or less experimenting In
forms OF marketing associations, but since
that time tie plan has become practically
standard, and no organization based upon
the standard plan has failed since that
time
The task of explaining the cotton con-
tract to the farmers of 135 counties, and
the subsequent house to house canvass of
the cottow growers in those counties,
resulting in approximately 10000 men
turning over to their association the sale
Of their cotton for period Of 6ve years,
was not an easy one. Without the CO.
operation of the County Farm Bureaus,
County Agents. the press, and the bankers
and business men of this State, task of
such tren'endousness could not have been
accomplished. But as the farmers them
selves were brought to realize the oppor-
tunity for having voice in the marketing
Of tie product of their year toll, so it was
also that the bankers and business men
were not slow to realize the benefits which
would come to them through the increased
buying power of the members of the
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