The Delta independent. [volume] (Delta, Colo.) 1886-19??, 1923-02-02
WEEKLY LETTER
By ROBERT F. ROCKWELL

general way the cooperative market.
ing law, introduced and recommended
by Mr.. Aaron Sapiro, the organizer
for co-Operatives in California and
other states. Next week and the
week following 1 shall take up the
consolidation and the water compact
bills.
First l wish to repeat a statement
that made in an interview to the
News a couple of weeks ago.
1.-THE fundamental difference be-
tween the agricultural program of the
Republican and Democratic platforms
during the campaign last fall was the
question of State-owned and operated
warehouses.
ut is Interesting to note that with
in the last few days, Mr.. Aaron Sa-
piro, the eminent authority and
spokesman Off the cooperative organ
Iizations of California and other states
who has been in Denver at the spec
ial invitation of Governor Sweet to
talk on cooperative marketing, has
spoken very firmly and positively in
opposition to any effort or policy
whereby the state of Colorado in any
way as a state would undertake to
build and operate warehouses. We,
therefore, are led to pudge that Gov
ernor Sweet has changed his opinion
upon this policy, leaving no partisan
difference of opinion as to the general
means of helping along farm legisla-
ton"
The cooperative marketing law as
introduced in our Legislature and
which in my. opinion will be passed
with few, If any, minor amendments,
is as we understand almost identical
with that of California and fifteen or
sixteen other states. The results OBJ
| tanned by cooperative associations
| organized under this law have been
of inestimable advantage to the pro-
| ducts in states like California and
several of the cotton and tobacco
states of the south. According to Mr..
Sapiro, fifteen years ago. the produc-,
ers of California were only getting s
cents of the consumers dollar, where
as today they are getting 48 cents. 1t
has raised the standard of their pro-
ducts very materially. and practically
nothing is shipped out of those COOP
erative organizations except produce
of the highest grade and of the finest
quality.
This law as now introduced in our
legislature is very similar to that in
operation in Denmark at the present
time. 1t is founded on long-term con-
tracts between the grower and his
cooperatives. Its purpose is to place
its products on the market as desired
by the buyer and not to ship as it is
harvested. The organizations are by
commodities and not by localities.
Another very important part of the
success of the cooperative marketing
law in California is the necessity OF
having the very best available men at
the head of the organizations, salar.
les seem to be of little moment, be-
cause. as Mr.. Sapiro says, II we ex-
pect to get the highest Hices for our
products, we must have men of the
highest efficiency to handle our bust
ness for us.
Another very important part of CO.
operative marketing as carried on In
California is the ability to borrow
money upon warehouse receipts at
small rates of interest. Banks, like
the National City Bank OF New Yory,
Durmm & Company and others are
very DESTROYS of loaning money to
California cooperatives at as low rate
Of interest as ~ and per cent. &C.
cording to Mr.. Sapiro, because they
feel that the security is absolutely
good.
The co-operatives Of California are
handling between $3.50, 100000 and
$500 .000, 900 worth Of products each
year. Fifteen years ago California
was in a similar condition, II not
worse, than Colorado is now, accord
ing to this authority, and only within
the last seven years has she develop
ed the present marketing facilities
which have brought such wonderful
results to the producer without mater
tally changing the price for the con-
sumner.
Under this proposed law the coop
erative organizations would take out
articles Of Incorporation and be in the
same class with any other corpora
ton. It would make contracts, bor-
row money, and do other things which
corporation can do. In fact, II
would be farmers corporation.
The problems in California are, OF
course, very different from those in
Colorado. For instance, they raise
raisins. oranges. prunes. nuts, etc.,
which most states cannot raise. This
is also true of the cotton and tobacco
states. where this cooperative market