THE PROBLEMS OF PROGRESS 25 



limitations to co-operative endeavor. It took 

 many hard experiences for our farmers to learn 

 these truths. But back of all lie some inherent 

 difficulties, as, for instance, the number of people 

 involved, their isolation, sectional interests, in- 

 grained habits of independent action, of indi- 

 vidual initiative, of suspicion of others' motives. 

 There is often lack of perspective, and unwill- 

 ingness to invest in a procedure that does not 

 promise immediate returns. The mere fact of 

 failure has discredited the organization idea. 

 There is lack of leadership ; for the farm industry, 

 while it often produces men of strong mind, keen 

 perception, resolute will, does not, as a rule, 

 develop executive capacity for large enterprises. 

 It is frequently asserted that farmers are the 

 only class that has not organized. This is not 

 strictly true. The difficulties enumerated are 

 real difficulties and have seriously retarded farm 

 organization. But if the progress made is not 

 satisfactory, it is at least encouraging. On the 

 purely business side, over five thousand co- 

 operative societies among American farmers 

 have been reported. In co-operative buying of 

 supplies, co-operative selling of products, and 

 co-operative insurance the volume of transac- 

 tions reaches large figures. A host of societies 



