EIGHTH ANNUAL YEAR BOOK-PART VII. 301 



distribution and manufacture of raw materials. It is only through such 

 combinations that American farmers can develop to the full their economic 

 and social power." 



The Chairman: Is there anyone here that would like to ask 

 Professor Webster a question 1 This is a matter that I think is of 

 great importance and I feel certain that he will be glad to answer 

 any questions you may ask. 



Gov. Hoard : I would like to have considered for a moment two 

 propositions which Professor Webster did not consider, concerning 

 the reflex effect of the two systems upon the welfare of the dairy 

 interests of this country. First, the co-operative system is like 

 the country district schoolhouse, it is an educational center Think 

 what the educational interests of this country would be if you 

 should destroy the country district school, depending only upon 

 the universities ! Why, the foundation of all the educations of 

 this country^ lies right there in the country district school. De- 

 stroy the root, and where would the branch be ? The promotion of 

 dairy education among the very men that need it most is wonder- 

 fully accelerated by the fact of the local creamery. The fact that 

 those men are brought into contact with each other each day and 

 in contrastive contact, so that A can talk with B and B with C, 

 and do that kind of co-operative reasoning which is at the bottom 

 of all progress, is brought out by the local creamery. Abrogate 

 that, remove the whole point of comparison and the co-operative or 

 communial effect and what is the result then upon the promotion of 

 dairy education and understanding. 



Second, you very well now, you men in Iowa, something of the 

 contest we had from 1900 to 1902 or from 1899 to 1902 in Washing- 

 ton on the oleomargarine question. Your humble servant was 

 then President of the National Dairy Union and knows something 

 of the roots of this question. The creameries of the United States 

 were the centers from which could radiate information and under- 

 standing upon this point, which could be brought to bear upon the 

 political understanding of the members of Congress. Where would 

 we have been at that time if we could not reach the farmer? There 

 was about $20,000 spent in double postal cards; on one half was 

 printed what the farmer was asked to say to his member of Cong- 

 ress, on the other half, using his own language, and it had a tre- 

 mendous effect. How would we have reached this great sentiment 

 of the country and thus arrested the progress of a counterfeit and 

 fraud if we could not have had these centers to which we could 

 appeal. These creameries are like culture spots in the study of 



