The Lubbock avalanche. (Lubbock, Tex.) 1909-1922, 1922-05-02

lean farmer to handle through coll
lective action the problems which he,
as an individual, has been power
less 20 combat or wen TO influence.
The farmers Of today are sorely
in need Of some form OF collective
marketing for their products, and
until some scheme is evolved by
which they can gain this objective,
their problem, as one OF the great
est by which they have been faced,
cannot be solved. There are no
magic forms of organization through
which a vital, living spirit can be
created in men which persuades
them that by working together they
are better able TO solve their in
dividual and common questions. The
ultimate success Of any cooperative
marketing effort depends on the
will Of the farmer 10 cooperate, and
spirit Of mutual confidence and
trust one in another, and a willing
ness to cooperate with the agencies
with which il has dealings No
farmers organization that is man
aged arbitrarily can live.
Through such an organization uni
form grades for agricultural pro-
duce, which is one Of the most I'M
portant questions affecting the AM
erican farmer, may be attained. II
is equally important TO the producer,
the trade and the consumer. The
waste that occurs in badly handled,
ungraded farm products, is one OF
the leading causes of the high cost
of distribution. II is important TO
the wholesale trade because the
merchant cannot sell at low gross
margins unless foodstuffs are uni
form and dependable in grade and
quality. A cooperative organiza-
ton may be able to eliminate the
unnecessary, wateful speculation
that is sometimes inherent in the
purchase of farm products at the
farm or local station, by selling
through their own agents TO the
trade on arrival in the places where
they are to be consumed. This sys-
TEN Of delivered sale, II Well adj
ministered and adapted to an in
dustry assures a more dependable
distributions; it eliminates specula-
ton in purchase and distribution,
and il supplies the trade with its
daily requirements at prices which
must necessarily closely reflect the
law Of supply and demand.
Take for example, the California
Fruit Growers Exchange, through
which over ten thousand members
sell nearly S100,000,000 worth Of
citrus fruits annually TO the whole
sale trade. BY standardizing their
products, selling them in enormous
quantities, cooperating with the
trade, creating larger markets, and
increasing consumption by contln-
uously presenting the desirability
and value Of the product TO the
people. they have built up a system
whereby their products not only
brought them a fair return for their
labor. but also brought entire sat
isfaction 90 the trade and consumer.
Il is imperative TO the future pros
perity of the Texas farmer that
some form Of cooperative market
ing be established. In union there
is strength, and no great course Of
prosperity can be expected until
InfN IttilaN NilAH Ia - anu NtAt.'
essary steps in their own behalf.
ANY group Of men with the proper
leadership, banded together for the
purpose Of just and Legitimate prof
II TO themselves, as well as giving
the public the best products at a
fair price, can operate with the
best Of good will to all concerned,
and until such an organization IS
perfected, the producer cannot ex-
pect 20 be anything but a practical
nonentity, however. absolute good
will and fellowship must be main
tanned between the membership and
the executive heads. Every organi-
cation must have leader, and the
leaders in this instance should be
chosen from the actual producers,
bat should be men with the exc
cutive ability to cope with the prob
lens that will confront them.
With the prospects and wonder
full future ahead this year for the
greatest crop yield in the history Of
the country, it is up to the farmer
whether or not he is going 70 be
able 20 demand a profit from his
products whereby he can at least
gain a living. What are they going
70 do?