Newspapers / The Carolina Union Farmer … / Jan. 11, 1912, edition 1 / Page 8
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i ■ ■:!M I ! ' ; • r* r V' THE CAROLINA UNION FARMER Thursday, January ii, I9^^‘ Co-operation carries with it an idea that seems to have been over looked by the majority of our members. To bring the point out clearly, I shall briefly refer to those societies formed for the purchase of supplies for their members. Agents or officers are elected with full authority to transact all the business, and the individual accepts the price put upon the goods with out question, having of course, the right, .through the Executive Com mittee, or otherwise, to investigate the books of the concern. In other words, in joining a society of this kind he surrenders the right to bar ter as an individual for his goods. It will logically follow that one who joins a co-operative society based upon either of the forms enumerated, must surrender to some extent his individuality. This is the key-note to the whole prop osition. Upon the proper accept ance of this depends the success of any co-operative enterprise. It is useless to talk about the co-opera tive handling of cotton or any other crop,, at the same time allowing the individual to have absolute author ity over the disposition of his por tion. This surrendering of all rights to an authorized agent, with authority to sell when and where he pleases, may seem radical to some, but that is exactly what co operation contemplates, and whether or not we are ready for it, the membership must decide. It is noticeable that organizations which have been uniformly-, suc cessful in handling perishable pro ducts, such as fruit and berries, for their members, have insisted upon this principle. The reason for insisting that so cieties formed to handle farm crops should be co-operative, are obvious to most thinking people, but it may be well at this point to discuss the relative merits of priv ate stock companies and co-opera tive companies. In the very nature of things the stock company meas ures its success by the earning ca- p-acity of its capital, and naturally expects to secure for its stockhold ers all the profit that the trade will stand. A company of this charac ter, though organized by members of the Farmers Union, and for the primary purpose of assisting all members, whether stockholders or not, in the sale of products, has no reason to hope for the patronage of such membership except as it can demonstrate superior ability for selling that which it handles than its competitors upon the same scale of charge, or can make sales for a smaller fee. It is very clear that the company will not, so long as it represents the whim of individual producers, becomes a strong factor in fixing and maintaining prices. To insure success in fixing equi table prices, and making sales at a minimum of cost, every producer, or a sufficient number of them at least, to control the bulk of the crop, must be given a direct per sonal interest in the organization. Many have held contrary opinions, I am aware. The impression was at one time general that if an in stitution was founded by some of the members, others would support it because it was a Farmers Union concern. But history has clearly demonstrated the fallacy of such an argument. It shows a weakness in calculation when we rely upon sentiment alone to insure the suc cess of an enterprise. We have omitted an important element—the individual and his pocket-book. Little it matters whether a private company is operated by his brother members or outsiders, so long as tliey remain independent and there is no concerted action among them in the same direction; he may be expected to buy service wherever he pleases. The Farmers Union started out to change the old order of things and substitute a plan of its own. It has always been pos sible to ship products to large cen ters, and secure an advance of money pending the sale, but this carries with it no pooling of inter ests in the sale. If we have any mission at all to fill, it is to pool the interests of our members and sell products through our own agencies. Co-operation is not at all compli cated. Its workings are very sim ple. Necessary working capital is paid a fixed rate of interest for its use and all products are handled for a fixed charge. The stockhold er’s interest in the affair is do greater, except of course, the inter est on his money, than that of a non-stockholder who furnishes the commodity to the company,^ be cause after paying interest for cap ital used, salaries and incidental ex penses, and providing the necessary sinking fund, any surplus is re turned to the patrons in proportion to t he amount of patronage. In my humble judgment this is the only way we have hope to enlist a sufficient number of producers of corn, wheat, oats, cotton, tobacco, or any other farm crop in an effort to handle the product. It is unnecessary to add that such an enterprise must cover more territory than a township, a county, or a state. Its power and influence must be felt over the entire belt where the product is grown. We hear lots of advice about marketing the crop gradually, but will some one please explain how that very necessary thing is to be done when every producer, every business con cern, and every state acts inde pendently. To accomplish this, sec tional lines must disappear and some agency be given power to pro rata the sales. Most producers not being able to carry their own crops indefinitely, will need financial as-' sistance, which can be secured as intimated before,—when the sys tem is in proper shape to guarantee the loans. Receipts for produce stored must be uniform, so that they may be used as commercial paper. Some Federal legislation along this line will doubtless be necessary. It may be well to state in this connection that Senator Aldrich claims his fi nancial measure, which may be en acted into law by the present Con gress, makes just such a provision. Please bear in mind that I am ex pressing no opinion as to the merits or demerits of the Aldrich bill, but merely stating a report. Necessary legislation can be secured with the proper efforts, if it has not already been done, when the time comes for Capella Local No. 1290. . Dear Editor; As I have not seen anything from this local, I write a few lines to let the Brother know what we nre union men doing agitation*. Brethren of the organization, let me appeal to you to study this ques tion of co-operation seriously. We have suffered some hard knocks in the past, but experience has taught us many things, the greatest of which is, we must work out our own salvation. We have been a mighty power notwithstanding the incompleteness of our system. Let us take another forward step and perfect a gigantic co-operative or ganization. A. C. DAVIS, Secretary-Treasurer. Rogers, Ark., Dec. , 1911. We have some good union men in this local, and we also have some dead heads. There are some of the members who have not answered to their names this year, 1911. U they would come out to every meeting) there would be some business done in this local. We want to see if onr members can’t wake up and come out again. If we will only co-opc rate we can save 'm.oney this The Union men are pooling them tobacco at Walnut Core, and nre doing very well. They have poo led j * about of a million pounds ^ ready and they are well please with the price they are getting- They say it is the only way to mat ket the weed. We want to do mot^ L'nion business another year, an beg the members to come out a ,nd put their shoulders to the w heel and help push the good work alono- I would like for more of the mem bers to read the Carolina Ln^m Farmer, and if you want to su scribe for it, see your secretaiy treasurer of each local and he ^ help you get it. If this escapes t^ waste basket we may hear r Capella again. Pete Smith, Secy, and Trc**- R—I, King, N. C. r H Farmers’ Banking Business WE GIVE PARTICULAR ATTENTION TO THE BUSINESS OF FARMERS. YOUR MONEY WILL BE ABSOLUTELY SAFE IF LEFT WITH THIS BANK AND WILL DRAW A REASON ABLE RATE OF INTEREST. WITHDRAWALS MAY BE MADE AT ANY TIME WITHOUT FORFEITING THE INTEREST ON REMAINING BALANCE. WE CORDIALLY INVITE THE FARMERS TO MAKE THIS THEIR BANKING HOME. Southern Loan and Savings Bank L JNO. M. SCOTT’Prei. CHARLOTTE, N. C. W. S. ALEXANDER, V. Prei. W. L. JENKIN, Ca»hier CERTIFICATES OF DEPOSIT issued, by this bank bear interest at 4 per cent from if deposit remains three months or longer. We want your business. Merchants & Farmers Nat’l Bank Charlotte, N. C. Capital and Surplus $350,000.00 GEO. E. WILSON, President. JNO. B. ROSS, Vice-President. W. C. WILKINSON, Cashier. H. W. MOORE, Asst. Cashi^
The Carolina Union Farmer (Charlotte, N.C.)
Standardized title groups preceding, succeeding, and alternate titles together.
Jan. 11, 1912, edition 1
8
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