STOCK-TAKING 165 



minimum of profit. The same was true of goods 

 sold by the company for the farmer. While it 

 took time to develop the machinery, it is needless 

 to say that the appeal was irresistible where all 

 other arguments failed, with the result that 

 today the United Farmers have the splendid 

 company described in an earlier chapter. In the 

 commercial company there lies one of the chief 

 elements of permanence. 



Passing over the necessity of wise management 

 with the mere mention of the fact, we go on to 

 consider dangers peculiar to the company which 

 members should think about. One of these lies 

 in the gross overstatement of benefits to be 

 expected, made by enthusiastic persons in their 

 anxiety to boost the U.F.O. Many of these 

 benefits can be realized only after years and 

 years of patient and determined effort. For 

 instance it has been frequently asserted that the 

 packers would be put out of business, the 

 manufacturers brought to their knees, and the 

 farmers would dictate prices, all in the twinkling 

 of an eye, once the farmers started their own 

 commercial enterprise. Leaving aside the 

 question as to whether this would be a desirable 

 state of affairs or not, it is to be noted that not 

 only has little been done in this direction, but 

 also that the profits of the company have been 

 very moderate, The service also has con- 



