260 



THE THIRD POWER 



-n_^ 



to their interests to belong to the A. S. of E. If, after a fair 

 trial, great benefits can not be shown, then farmers can not 

 cooperate. It would be useless to bind farmers in an ironclad 

 agreement, as many would break the agreement, and then 

 they wouuld have disrespect for it. If farmers will hold crops, 

 as they do now, for an uncertain advance, will they not market 

 conservatively to maintain a profitable price? 



24. Q. What is the membership fee and dues? 



/\y0-Gs{ &^{ A. jr ijty cants . This also pays for the official paper, badge, 

 certificate, all advice and crop reports from the National Union 

 and all dues for the first year. Future dues will be small, as 

 the membership will be very large. Membership to his wife is 

 free, also to his sons and daughters, between 14 and 21 years. 



25. Q. What is the local union membership fees or dues? 

 A. No membership fee. The dues will be fixed by each local 



union to meet their requirements. There is, however, an or- 

 ganization fee. 



26. Q. Will not 



profitable prices for farmers make higher 



prices for consumers i 



A. No. We expect consumers' prices to average lower when 

 farmers cooperate. At present the middlemen and trusts often 

 get more than the farmers. They pile up mountains of profit 

 between the two. This will be regulated or cut out entirely if 

 they do not deal fairly. 



27. Q. How will the farmers' organization effect labor? 



A. When farmers get profitable prices the labor problem on 

 the farm will be solved, as they can then hire the help needed. 

 It will make a market for a million or more laborers the year 

 around. This movement is the greatest thing for working peo- 

 ple that ever was proposed. 



28. Q. How will this movement effect the producer of per- 

 ishable products? 



A. Cold storage houses and warehouses will be provided 

 where fruit, butter, eggs, vegetables, meat, etc., will be held 

 as the producers' property until the market can use them. In 

 the case of berries, peaches, etc., the markets will be known 

 and supplied to the maximum consumption at good prices, but 

 no more. By knowing the needs of all the markets a much 

 greater volume of products can be directed to them than in the 

 uncertain way as at present, and if an actual surplus exists it 

 will be left to spoil at home, or be preserved by canning or 

 otherwise. The society will be of enormous benefit to produc- 

 ers of perishable crops. 



29. Q- How about meat? Will you advance the price? 



A. Beef is too high to the consumer and too low to the pro- 

 ducer. The society will elevate the farmer's price and reduce 

 the selling price. Other meat will be put on an equitable basis 

 and kept there. 



