FIFTEENTH ANNUAL YEAR BOOK — PART VII 473 



STATE SHOULD PROTECT INVESTORS. 



Dairying must be considered as one of the state's greatest resources, 

 and, as such, it must be protected in the same manner and degree as are 

 other state industries and enterprises. Think of the hundreds and 

 thousands of dollars that have been wasted and lost in the abandoned 

 creameries. They stand as a disgrace to the locality and state in which 

 they are allowed to rot down. In my Western work I am meeting large 

 numbers of men who have moved away from the Middle "West. Many 

 of these men relate to me their experience with such creameries and tell 

 of the money they have lost, and of the hardships and discouragements 

 they endured. At present, their faith in dairying, especially in creameries, 

 is very small. Now, I believe there is a remedy for this condition. 



We are all interested in dairying, and I take it for granted that asso- 

 ciations are organized for the promotion of a better feeling and a better 

 understanding between us. We gather from several different states, be- 

 cause of our faith in the continued usefulness and ultimate triumph of 

 better dairying. Associations were founded because men have learned 

 the practical values of closer association with one another. We know 

 that by promoting good fellowship and unselfishness we have much to 

 gain and little to lose. We know that ruinous competition and creamery 

 failures go hand in hand. We have learned that judicious organization 

 and true co-operation between dairymen and factorymen mean success. 

 By helping one another we will all sooner attain the desires of each. 

 And what is the first step? Knowledge. 



The man who wants to invest in a co-operative creamery must have 

 knowledge, and the right kind of knowledge. And the associations, and 

 we, as individuals, and the dairy press, must be the source of this know- 

 ledge. 



I believe that the state of Montana has taken a great step forward in 

 the way of protecting its dairymen, and it is the duty of every state to 

 protect its people. Montana has vested the authority in the state dairy 

 commissioner to say when a new creamery shall be started in that state. 

 Consequently, I predict few creamery failures. Before a creamery can 

 start, a solid foundation must be laid. As the foundation is being laid, 

 the dairymen are being supplied with useful information. That is a great 

 work — a work that all our states should take up. 



Now, in closing I wish to say that my idea in regard to the "Essentials 

 in Organizing Co-Operative Creameries" is: Assist the dairyman first, 

 place useful information at his disposal, and encourage him to be a strong 

 individual. After he has become a strong individual, he will be only too 

 eager to co-operate. By that time he will understand the true funda- 

 mentals of co-operation and will realize when and how to organize a 

 co-operative creamery. 



