104 THE THIRD POWER 



the sources of income to the farm, and a like appre- 

 ciation of value in other products would add ad- 

 ditional millions to the total. Suppose this amount 

 was to be expended for a few years, the farmer could 

 own all the facilities for reporting their crops and 

 markets, holding for advantageous prices and trans- 

 porting them to markets. 



Another way : 



If it was not desired to raise money by an assess- 

 ment on the crops, each member, when he is getting 

 benefits such as this society will give, will willingly 

 pay a few dollars a year to provide facilities for 

 handling his business. With a membership of five 

 million, an assessment of $10 each will raise a fund 

 of fifty million dollars. If this amount is expended 

 each year for five or ten years all the really necessary 

 facilities will be provided. It is not, however, pro- 

 posed to decide on the way to do these things now. 

 But rather to organize and put the farmers in con- 

 dition to do whatever they want to do when the time 

 comes. Thus with no compulsion to sell, with facili- 

 ties to store, with power to make prices, the farmers 

 will be what they ought to be and now are in theory 

 — independent. 



But it is proposed to use this power fairly and 

 honorably. It is not proposed to favor a high price, 

 but simply a profitable price. And every one is en- 

 titled to a profitable price if he can get it. The ques- 

 tion is how to get it. By the plan of the A. S. of E. 

 no hardship will be imposed on any one, and the con- 



