San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1924-03-09
FARM C0-0PS'
HAVE ARRIVED:
IN WASHINGTON
Big Sister to Farm Bloc to
Tell Congress What
Farmers Want.
HAS 100000 MEMBERS
Business Of Cooperative
M arke ters Almost
Doubles in 3 Years.

Washington. ID. C., March S.-The
Farm Coop" which is sort of big
sister to the Farm Bloc. has arrived in
Washington and henceforth will un-
dertake TO keep Congress advised on
just what the organized farmers of the
country want. Heretofore the head
quarters of the National Council OF
Cooperative Marketing Associations
have been located in Chicago but at
recent meeting it was determined the
executive headquarters should be in
the national capital.
While the organization is now some
what loosely knit, il has member
ship of more than 100000 and dur
ing 1923 did business somewhat in
excess of $1,000. 100000. Figures
compiled by the Department of Agri
culture. which is making n survey of
tie Farm Co-ops," show these or
CARNATIONS have had an enormous
growth during the last three years.
almost doubling their business every
year. thus out-stripping the phenome-
nal increase in the automobile indus
try.
Cooperation among farmers has
long been urged as one of the impor
tant steps they could take to better
their marketing facilities but little
real progress was made until the Cali
fOrnia plan was worked out. This
was devised by the fruit growers of
the Pacific coast and under this each
member of the association guarantees
.la1. l, 70 hn ~.
ganization which. in turn. handles all
details of sale and delivery TO mar
kct.
Saves Orange Growers.
This plan virtually saved the orange
growers of California, and with slight
notifications it is now being utilized
by the cooperative associations or
ganized among the cotton growers OF
the twelve southern states. the wheat
farmers of the northwest, the tobacco
growers, potato producers, livestock
growers and SO on.
As an instance of what can be done
by this system it is pointed out that
cooperative cotton producers in Texas
last year will show profit of from
SO to $50 bale more than their
neighbors who are not members of the
association. The year before an even
greater return per bale was made be-
cause of the wider fluctuation in
prices. Similar tales are told regard
ing the hurley tobacco growers of Ken
lucky and Tennessee as well as The
potato producers of Minnesota.
Former Governor Frank q. Low
dea of Illinois is an enthusiastic Farm
Coop and is sponsor for the assertion
that instead of Increasing prices. rs
has been charged by commission mer-
chants. that cooperative marketing
really will reduce prices.
Will systematic Marketing.
This method" he declared recently.
"will systematic the marketing of
farm products so that there will be a
steadier stream in accordance as the
demand warrants. There will be less
stealing of perishables and the pro-
Queer will be able TO count on fair
profit. This will prompt him TO pro-
ducc more and prices will come down
under the age-old law of supply and
demand.
1T is our new national business
policy. Thirty states and the federal
government have passed laws estab-
fishing it and the United Suites Su-
preme Court has found these OrganiZa-
lions legally formed. They have the
endorsement of the Department of Ag-
riculture. War Trade Board. Farm
Loan Board and the Federal Reserve
board. At the rate they are growing
and with the service they render, no
intelligent farmer can afford to re-
main outside much longer"
ON the record of 1923 the grain "Co-
ops" led with $500. 900, 900 gross sales.
Dairy products were second with
O0.000.000: livestock third with
S22O,OO0.00O: cotton. S150,000, 900;
and tobacco, S132 100000.