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Show ORGANIZE ON ROCHDALE PLAN Farmers' Union Co-Operatlve Corporation Corpora-tion Is Not a One-Man Affair New Ideas Developed. Our Mitchell County Co-operativa organization came about through the Farmers' Educational and Co-op erative union, a fraternal order, founded found-ed by Newton Gresham, in Texas, U years ago. He had a vivid idea ot the necessity of organization among farmers -but only a vague notion of how to co-operate on a large scale. The plan presented was an awkward makeshift which had been tried out by the grangers and by the farmers' alliance al-liance and proved complete failures. Our county was organized in 1910 and the man who was elected business agent, provided in the order, was a widely read farmer who had been interested in-terested in the Rochdale system for years. He made the members of the county union see that the job of county coun-ty business agent was too big for an individual and we voted to form a cooperative co-operative corporation, organized on the Rochdale system, writes W. F. Ramsay of Kansas in Denver Field and Farm. We have been working on that job ever since. Our success has been so brilliant that the officers of the order had to concede its value aud although they gave us no assistance they allowed us to work out our own salvation in fear and trembling and the result is that the grass roots are being organized. or-ganized. 1 am stating the case frankly frank-ly because I believe that the order is very valuable and has great possibilities possibili-ties of development. We find that we are developing along four lines of work: Social, business, educational and legislative. We find here in Kansas Kan-sas that we can appeal to open-minded men of all parties for support of such measures as we want. In stating a movement of this kind organization at the county schooltiouses, about five miles apart, is necessary. The movement is really an educational educa-tional one educational with a big E. In beginning a movement of any value, there are sure to be many points not clearly understood by everybody, but if there is a systematic plan, it will enable the public to talk things over and rapid progress can be made. The farmers as a class are ready for organization. or-ganization. The only objection is it never has been done. A co-operative corporation on the Rochdale system does do this. This Farmers' Union Co-operative corporation movement is not' a one-man affair. It arouses thought and interest and new ideas are developed. It can be adapted to any set of conditions by any community. commu-nity. A community can now have the benefit of our experience and in many cases can do better than we have. |