QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS 259 



world who have not heard of dollar wheat, or can not hold, 

 have marketed. Remember, there is a shortage of wheat for 

 the world's needs this year. 



18. Q. Who are eligible to membership in the A. S. of E. ? 

 A. Farmers (owners and renters) of all descriptions, and 



friends of farmers, with their wives and sons and daughters, 

 between 14 and 21 years of age. 



19. Q. Why do you admit merchants, bankers, etc.? 



A. Their's and the farmers' interests are mutual. The suc- 

 cess of one class makes it better for other classes. The mer- 

 chants want the farmers to organize and get good prices, so 

 they can pay good prices for good goods, and not buy the 

 nasty cheap goods, as they now oftentimes do. Bankers want 

 farmers to organize, because it will add stability of value to 

 all property and insure permanent prosperity. The farmer may 

 as well take them into their society if they want to come, as 

 it will be easier to control them on the inside than to shut 

 them out, arouse their antagonism and control them on the 

 outside. Besides, most merchants and bankers are farmers 

 also; therefore, you could not debar all unless you limit a 

 farmer's business to farming. In the A. S. of E. we hope all 

 the people in the country and small towns will cooperate to 

 the upbuilding of rural America, get more profit for the goods 

 in the country and spend the money there. 



20. Q. Is the A. S. of E. a secret society? 



A. No. The farmers don't need to have any secrets from 

 anybody else. Where equity is given and received, you don't 

 need to hold your meetings behind sealed doors. The farmers 

 cooperating will be so strong that they can go boldly before 

 the world, make their equitable demands and get justice, or 

 take it. 



21. Q. Must a member belong to a local union? 



A. No ; a member anywhere can get the full benefit of na- 

 tional cooperation without belonging to a local union. The 

 official paper will be the key and guide for action. It will give 

 advice regarding markets, crops, prices, etc., so all can act as 

 one man. Local unions are particularly for local affairs, social 

 features, and assisting each other to hold crops. 



22. Q. Will farmers stick together? 



A. They will when there is something to stick for. In the 

 old attempts they did not get enough benefits. What is buy- 

 ing at lower prices as compared to selling at fair prices? The 

 A. S. of E. is built for benefits, from the ground up. Once 

 let farmers realize some of the benefits of cooperation on this 

 plan, and no influence on earth can drive them apart. 



23- Q. How are members bound? 



A. There is no binding agreement. It is proposed to make it 



