Solaris Farm: A Story of the Twentieth CenturyEdson, Milan C. (Milan Chappel)
General
Solaris Farm: A Story of the Twentieth Century
Edson, Milan C. (Milan Chappel)
Agriculture, Cooperative; Cooperation; Utopias
"Finally, and most important of all; they have learned that all
manufacturing industries, naturally grow out of agriculture. That the
success of one, is the measure, for the success of the other. That they
must co-operate to such an extent, that a constant, healthy growth of
both, may be maintained.
"They have become convinced of the imperative necessity for this
equable, co-operative, progress, by a careful study of the threatening
conditions which obtain, in countries where agriculture has declined;
and where manufacturing industries have become abnormally predominant.
In such countries, the food supply at once becomes a question of daily,
nay of hourly importance. It must be imported from distant lands,
subject to the tax of insurance, import and export duties, freight
charges, and commissions. Under such adverse conditions, available
supplies for but a few days only, stand between the toiler and gaunt
hunger. Any catastrophe which may happen to already congested lines of
transportation, will precipitate a famine. Then prices would go up with
a bound. The constant menace of such a possibility, always serves to
keep food-prices above the natural level of a fair profit. On the other
hand, in countries where progress in agriculture and manufacture goes
hand in hand; a constantly increasing home market for manufactured
products is steadily maintained. A most important consideration! At the
same time, the industrial centers have the advantage of the immediate
vicinity of abundant food supplies, which are not subject to the
vicissitudes of traffic or transportation, or to the tax of much
handling.
"In considering these things, the minds of a great majority of the
laboring people, have been prepared to accept the conclusion, that the
great question of the hour is, how to open the way for every worthy
worker to become his own employer. The co-operative farm opens the way.
Therefore, it is to these self-educated toilers in the ranks of the
labor organizations, that the manifest advantages of co-operative
farming will appeal most successfully. If properly approached, a
majority of them would be, not only willing but anxious for an
opportunity to give this new system of co-operative agriculture a
thorough trial.
"Having once become practically interested, these people would soon
learn to consider the object and purpose of life from a new standpoint.
From this new concept of the meaning and necessities of life, they would
perceive that it did not require the hoarding of much wealth, in order
to satisfy them. The insurance system in providing for the wants of old
age, would forever banish the haunting specter of a pauper's death in
the poor-house. They would then realize that money, was not so precious
as a human life! They would clearly understand that money was an
absolute necessity, only to those under the competitive system who had
lost confidence in each other, and faith in the fact of a common
brotherhood for humanity!
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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