436 CALIFOENIA FRUIT SOCIETIES. 



co-operative stores, which necessarily grew up in a spirit of 

 altruism, and which systematically foster the altruistic spirit 

 from the instinct of self-preservation. The French peasantry, 

 tilling, in small holdings, a soil which has been cropped for a 

 thousand years, felt their greatest need to be economy in the 

 purchase of fertilizers and tools, and the result was the agri- 

 cultural syndicates for the purchase of fertilizers and the 

 purchase and rent of farm machinery. The thrifty people of 

 Denmark felt their greatest need to be the perfection and 

 economical production of a product for which their country 

 was best fitted, and the result was their remarkable success in 

 cooperative dairying. The peasantry of Germany were 

 groaning under the oppression of petty but conscienceless 

 usurers, and the result was Schutze, and RaifResen, and their 

 people's banks. Until lately, the rural people of the United 

 States have not been enduring particular trouble of any kind, 

 and, hence, have been unable to cooperate — a fact which 

 neither Professor Bemis, nor Professor Ely, nor Professor 

 Warner, nor any other of the learned men who have discussed 

 early failures in cooperation in America, have seemed to real- 

 ize. At last, the fruit-growers of California, who were con- 

 fronted with a great fruit product for which they owed money, 

 but which they could neither eat nor sell, found it necessary 

 to work together to create and maintain the necessary markets. 

 The pressure has made them cooperate. 



I was actively connected with this movement for about 

 three years as a leader. Since that time I have been one of 

 the rank and file. I know all those who are now leaders in 

 the movement too well to make it possible to give the indi- 

 vidual mention, which always adds to the interest of a narra- 

 tive, for I have learned that one's recollection is seldom to be 

 trusted in sucli matters, and I know tliat in giving credit I 

 should make errors, which would be excused in a stranger, but 

 for which I could hardly hoi)e to be forgiven. There arc 

 many men now active and prominent in cooperative work, 

 but of those who were so in the early days, when active friends 

 were needed more than now, I dare mention but a few. In 

 the organization of the California Fruit Union — the earliest of 



