178 THE THIRD POWER 



chine is being built for benefits. We will leave you 

 to judge if the plan as explained does not provide 

 for every needed timber, all the wheels, levers and 

 cranks ; is there a nut, screw, bolt, rivet or nail lack- 

 ing ? Don't it look that all that is needed is the co- 

 operative help of one million American freemen to 

 man it, when it will start and continue forever to 

 supply the needs of the entire agricultural needs of 

 this greatest of countries ? In order to be sure either 

 that it will or will not work we must give it a trial. 



We have seen what it would accomplish, assuming 

 that it will work. Are not these objects worth tak- 

 ing some risk — especially when the risk is so slight 

 to secure? If the machine breaks down the loss 

 to each individual will be inappreciable ; if it moves, 

 his gain will be tremendous. You risk infinitely 

 more on every crop you put out or every head of 

 live stock you put in the stall, not knowing whether 

 you will get your money back or not. If the ma- 

 chine works, it will insure you a liberal return for 

 every dollar invested, or every hour employed in all 

 future time. But why should it not work? It all 

 depends on the farmers. If they come into the or- 

 ganization, are loyal to its rules, are true to one an- 

 other, and cooperate faithfully and intelligently for 

 the general good, there can be no possible doubt of 

 the success of the plan. No, I will not expect this. 

 All do not need to be loyal, considering the great 

 number of farmers, and the fact that only a small 

 portion of any crop needs to be controlled at any 



