Organization of an Association 73 



a profit on the capital invested. The degree of success 

 depends on the character of the men who organize and 

 manage them. If the stockholders are composed largely 

 of growers, the organization is likely to be conducted with 

 some of the cooperative features included, but if it is com- 

 posed of fruit-dealers and shippers who have little interest 

 in the production of crops, then, like any other corpora- 

 tion, the primary object is to handle the farmers' business 

 in such a way as to bring to the capital invested the larg- 

 est possible return. Under these conditions, the coopera- 

 tive organizations may be systematically exploited by those 

 who represent them in the marketing of their products. 



The cooperative method of conducting business is 

 growing rapidly in favor in the United States. It is dis- 

 cussed widely by educators, legislators, and by the public 

 press. Already there are many signs that the stock cor- 

 porations promoters are laying plans and are at work to 

 induce the farmers to organize so that their business may 

 be handled more effectively by those who are interested 

 in their formation. These movements need to be scanned 

 carefully before the producer identifies himself with them. 

 If they are formed as money-making projects for the pro- 

 moters, they will not help the American farmer reorganize 

 his business operations in a way that will promote the 

 solution of the rural economic problem. 



Cooperative Associations and Public Policy Questions 



One of the grave dangers that confronts a cooperative 

 organization is the temptation to take part in partisan 

 political questions. There are many enthusiastic farmers 

 who try to commit their organizations to candidates for 



