Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1922-12-14
The Tri-Weekly Journal Establishes
Department Devoted to
Cooperative Marketing

The hurley tobacco growers formed coopera-
tive marketing association They engaged
Aaron Sapiro, the man who prepared the cot
ton cooperative contract, and the whose
wizard touch had transformed improbable or
chards and vineyards of California into garden
spots of prosperity and contentment He drew
them contract based upon experience of other
co-operatives In the space of few weeks
eighty -four per cent Of the entire prospective
crop of hurley tobacco was signed, sealed and
delivered to the association. More than ninety
per cent Of the individual growers had placed
their the dotted line.
And with what result? This year the hurley
growers have already received for their 1921
crop an average of nineteen cents a pound, and
they still have payment of six cents pound
coming to them, making total Of twenty-five
cents a pound against one-half of cent
a pound for the previous years crop.
Is it any wonder that the dark tobacco grow
ers of Kentucky and adjacent states are forming
a similar association? Is it any wonder that the
blue grass seed growers of Kentucky are organ
izing? Is it any wonder that the cooperative
movement is absolutely dominant in the whole
agricultural, business and banking community
of Kentucky?
What the California raisin growers have &C.
complished what the California fruit growers
have accomplished, what the Kentucky tobacco
growers have accomplished, by cooperative
marketing the cotton growers also can &C.
complish.
Of course it will take longer to organize cot
ton growers. In numbers and in value of
product they greater than the raisn grow
ers the fruit growers, the tobacco growers and
numerous other co-operatives put together.
But the, operating principles identical in
each case. The substantial features of the con
tba no sic five
years. He consigns his crop to the association.
Having title to it, the association borrow
money on it. Dealing in bulk quantities, the
ISOLATION can fill bulk orders. Having financial
power, the association can put the product
the market and when the market wants it.
Oklahoma already has demonstrated the won
ders to be accomplished by cooperative cotton
marketing, described by Ralph Smith in a
series of very Illuminating articles in The Jour
nal year ago.
Georgia's cotton cooperative, though only or
ganized in April, already has given a striking
preliminary demonstration. Next year, we pre-
dict, it will not be necessary to solicit cotton
growers to join the association. Having seen
the benefits derived by their neighbors who join
ed ahead of them, they will want to come in
Another interesting and convincing demonstra-
ton is the success of the cane growers in South
Georgia, who have lifted themselves out of the
rut in the short space Of twelve months, in a
manner quite similar to the Kentucky hurley
tobacco growers.
One million farmers selling their
products through cooperative associations. Their
annual production is approximately billion
dollars.
What need now, to further encourage CO.
operative marketing, is adequate farm credits.
Representatives of all the co-operatives are meet
ing in Washington this week to frame legsla-
ton along that line.
We agree with Judge Bingham that co-opera-
tive marketing will revolutionize agriculture in
this country. 1t will establish business methods
in place of the old suicidal program of dumping
a years accumulated labor upon market manip-
ulated for the purpose of getting the farmers
products at the lowest possible price. 1t will
create prosperity in place of poverty. 1t will
create happiness in place of misery. 1t will
make the farm profitable place to work and
attractive place to live. It will create a
social atmosphere in the country 1t will keep
the farmers children at home when they finish
their schooling.
American life rests upon agriculture, and
less agriculture is revolutionzed, America will
not endure.