272 THE PARMER AS A COOPERATOR. 



which can always be relied upon, in any industry when the 

 demand equals or exceeds the supply. When, as in the case 

 in question, the supply has outrun immediate demand, buyers 

 refuse to take the product in quantities sufficient to relieve the 

 producer, but offer, instead, to act as commission merchants in 

 its sale. 



This introduces an entirely new element. The farmer, 

 unaccustomed to business, and with no means of distinguish- 

 ing between honest and responsible, and dishonest and irre- 

 sponsible men, is practically compelled to put his product for 

 sale into the hands of those who may be entire strangers to 

 him, and who have no settled place of business within his 

 reach. 



Such a state of things is a direct temptation to dishonesty, 

 and the possibility of dishonesty with small likelihood of 

 punishment or even public exposure, is as. certain to attract 

 those disposed to dishonesty as sugar is to attract flies. This 

 results in drawing to the commission business, among many 

 as honorable and trustworthy persons as can be found any- 

 where in business, an undue proportion of the dishonest and 

 contemptible. An observation of some years convinces me 

 that a large number of those engaged in the produce com- 

 mission business really merit the unenviable reputation 

 they have among producers, and from wliich even the most 

 upright conduct of many individuals is unable to relieve 

 them. The consequence has been an immense amount of 

 friction between producers and those who should be their 

 confidential and friendly agents, leading to a profound dislike 

 and distrust of the entire class of commission merchants, 

 honest as well as dishonest; and there is no question tliat the 

 amount of dishonesty and trickery practised by those among 

 them who have that disposition, while by no means so great 

 as is popularly supposed, is really sufficient to cause serious 

 loss to the class of producers, and consequently to demand 

 remedy. The standard of honor among commission men 

 is certainly far lower than the proper conduct of business 

 requires, and lower than among merchants who buy and sell 

 upon their own account. 



