No. 4.] RIGHTS OF THE PRODUCER. 105 



of the town, where I am working out some problems on the 

 land, come together this year they would to-day have been 

 richer by $25,000. Instead, as glib agents pictured the tre- 

 mendous crops and glut of fruit, a great many rushed to sell 

 as best they could. The chief obstacle in the way of this 

 movement for protection lies in the necessity for the com- 

 plete surrender of individuality, in handling or disposing 

 of any product, and the merging of each grower's product 

 with every other. In California one large grower joined 

 the association, but insisted that his packages of fruit should 

 carry his name in addition to that of the association. The 

 result was a regular cut in price for his goods, simply be- 

 cause the association was known and the individual not 

 kno'wn. 



Co-operation means only the union of those of like inter- 

 ests that more effective results may obtain in meeting adverse 

 interests. If individuals feel the press of united influence 

 the lesson is to organize, and this is co-operation. 



The fundamental purpose in all these movements must be 

 to insure more equitable returns for the commodity pro- 

 duced. For co-operation to be possible there must be a 

 common need recognized, a thorough organization perfected 

 and incorporated, and funds provided, not for revenue to the 

 members, but for effecting certain business results. If the 

 producer is to minimize the waste between himself and the 

 consumer there must be rigidity in the contract holding each 

 member to the articles of incorporation. The failure, all 

 along the line, of like movements is to be explained by the 

 go-as-you-please system of organizing seen in nearly every 

 case. Something more is now demanded if permanent suc- 

 cess is to be made possible. 



There is another step to be emphasized. Justice will not 

 be approached until in every village, town and city public 

 market places are established at convenient centers, where 

 the grower may display his goods and meet the consumer 

 face to face. The immediate effect of such market places 

 would be manifold : — 



First, they would insure the grower a better price for the 

 commodity. 



