254 THE FARMER AS A COOPERATOK. 



constant source of small expenditures, and the items of dress, 

 fuel, and other necessary living expenses, mount to totals 

 which would surprise farmers. 



Now in a modest way the principal employees of coopera- 

 tive societies must be able to enjoy reasonably what are con- 

 sidered to be the necessary comforts of life by the class among 

 whom they should mingle, or they will cease to associate with 

 that class; their general knowledge of affairs and their touch 

 with them will become impaired, and their usefulness lessened. 

 If they are able men they are likely to abandon cooperation for 

 the greater [»rizes of competition and the society will incur the 

 expense of constantly breaking in new men and paying for 

 their mistakes. There will be discontent among tiie employees 

 and their families, and strong temptations to dishonorable 

 means of increasing their income. By some of these methods, 

 any attempt of cooperation to reduce the salaries of employees 

 below cost of acquiring and maintaining the necessary stan- 

 dard of efficiency, will certainly lead to trouble. If the 

 employee is able he will not permit himself to suffer; if he 

 lacks ability he is unfit for responsible service. Gratuitous or 

 half-paid service of able men can be counted on but for a 

 short time. They will soon tire of it and refuse to serve. At 

 the same time it is unnecessary to say that all these matters 

 should be settled in the light of common sense, and conserva- 

 tism, and with no tendency whatever to extravagance or 

 foolishness. The employees of a cooperative society can 

 never expect to receive the financial reward open to the high 

 grades of ability in competitive business. A large part of the 

 compensation received by the managers of important coopera- 

 tive societies must be in the respect and esteem of the com- 

 munity. This respect and esteem, when assured, have a com- 

 mercial value of which the society may avail itself. It is 

 doubtful if there is a lawyer in the country who would refuse 

 an appointment to the bench of the Supreme Court of the 

 United States, although the salary is far less than those fitted 

 for it can earn in private practice; but the honor attached to 

 it is immense, and this consideration suffices to })rocure for the 

 service the highest ability which the country affords. The 



