31 



the mercy of the contractor to take whatsoever price may be 

 offered, if he will only put himself in direct commnnicatiois 

 with the consumer and take the responsibility of sending his 

 own milk to market. 



The economy of cooperation commends itself. One man, one 

 horse, and one wagon may take the milk of a dozen, or perhaps 

 of a less number of producers to the railroad depot, or deliver 

 it when possible, directly at the doors of consumers. The 

 outlay of capital is thus borne by all interested in the ^under- 

 taking, and not by one individual. 



" If farmers understood the business details of their industry, 

 if they had sufficient business discipline to confer with each 

 other, and carefully determine, on commercial principles, what 

 they ought to charge for their products, — having formed such 

 cooperative associations as could execute their united will — 

 they could then fix the prices of all their commodities, and 

 hold them as steadily as they are now held after they get into 

 the hands of commercial dealers. But the difficulty is, that 

 farmers associate so little with each other, have never entered 

 into any rational cooperation, but rather considered each other 

 as competitors to be out-manoeuvered in trade." ..." If they 

 understood the situation, they would see that the real interests 

 of farmers are mutual and reciprocal — that there can be no 

 natural antagonism between them." 



" Until they are educated in common business principles, 

 and can see the identity and mutuality of their interests, and 

 form associations to direct in the disposal of their great staple 

 crops, their interests will be traded upon without consulting 

 them by the whole middle-men class. 



" We do not condemn the middle-men. They merely act 

 for themselves — buy the best they can, and sell the same. 

 They, form commercial alliances and boards of trade, and 

 strengthen themselves in the most sensible way, although there 

 is not the necessity for it as with farmers. But farmers pas- 

 sively submit to their decision — submit to the inevitable. And 

 this must continue, there is no help for it, till farmers shall 



