THE STRUGGLES OF COOPERATION 101 



determine tlie area, the number of acres plant- 

 ed, but he never knows what the yield will be 

 because that is in the hands of Providence as 

 expressed in the Seasons and the Weather. 

 Frequently, our years of largest acreage result 

 in very moderate-sized crops due to lower aver- 

 age yield. During the war the constant stimu- 

 lation of wheat-growing failed to produce a bil- 

 lion-bushel crop in any year except one. 



The monopoly argument against farm organi- 

 zation has no sound basis because a successful 

 farmers' organization must in the long run con- 

 serve the interests of the consumers who pro- 

 vide the farmers' market. 



The demand on Congress for legislation le- 

 galizing cooperation continued for over two 

 years but nothing was accomplished until the 

 agricultural group compelled that body to give 

 attention to the subject and the Capper-Vol- 

 stead Act was passed. This law was hailed as a 

 milestone in history by many and cooperative 

 organization leaders immediately took new cour- 

 age in their efforts to organize farmers. A 

 small section of the public press, however, still 

 clings to the fear of monopoly by farmers' or- 

 ganizations and their effect on the consumer's 

 price. 



