214 COOPERATIVE MARKETING 



sonal advantage at the expense of the general welfare on 

 which also their personal advantage ultimately depends, so 

 long we shall wait in vain for a completely organized sys- 

 tem of food distribution. To the present writer, this diffi- 

 culty appears to be insurmountable. Those with public 

 spirit and foresight have to continue to bear the burden 

 for their irresponsible fellows. 



The unquestionably correct assumption that the exchange 

 member's situation is superior to that of his independent 

 competitor is based on two facts: (i) The prices which 

 the exchange receives for its fruit are available to anybody 

 and are a matter of common knowledge, whereas the prices 

 of most independent concerns are not available. There- 

 fore, it is easy to surmise that the independents are not 

 eager for a comparison of results. (2) If the prices which 

 individual growers receive from the non-exchange channels 

 of marketing are entirely satisfactory, why do they con- 

 tinually join the exchange ranks? What possible motive 

 would cause the transfer if the prices which they are re- 

 ceiving should be higher than those of the exchange, since 

 they can easily ascertain the latter before applying for the 

 privileges of membership? 



Though some growers do not see fit to adopt the coopera- 

 tive method of maintaining the citrus market, they are 

 treated with all courtesy by members and associations. 

 Antagonism and animosity could certainly do no good, and 

 courtesy may lead to cooperation. Moreover, in an indirect 

 way non-members are of use in helping to work out the 

 problems of cooperation, for they make necessary loyalty 

 and internal harmony among the members and are a stim- 

 ulus to never ceasing endeavor toward progressiveness and 

 efficiency on the part of the cooperative organization. 



But some growers are not content with mere aloofness. 

 They adopt aggressive tactics, and unstable minds are likely 



