icism
of their modes or practices they say to me, 'Mr. ----, if you do not
want my cream I will let the other creamery have it. Do just as you like
about it; take it or leave it.'" But the loss of one or two cents a
pound on the net proceeds of a season means five or ten per cent of its
value, or of the entire season's results enough difference to make any
community in a few years rich or poor, thrifty or unthrifty, according
to the circumstances in the case.

Further: the idea of co-operation implies the doing of equal and exact
justice to all included within the co-operative limits. This, an
excessive and unprincipled competition greatly interferes with. It can
properly be demanded by every fair and honest patron of a creamery that
every other patron should be as fair and honest as himself. Indeed, this
is an essential part of the implied contract. But in the case of
excessive competition no restraints can be imposed and no penalties can
be made to follow attempts to violate the principles of equity, except
the possible inconvenience of changing from one creamery to another. The
straight and honorable patron is powerless; the owner of the creamery is
powerless; and the co-operative element is rendered a nullity.

Further: the co-operative element, in the relations of creamery and
patrons, requires that the price of milk or cream shall vary with the
market price of the finished product. Contracts for the future are mere
speculation, as a rule. If the transaction is large and the turn of the
market unfavorable to the creamery, ruin is liable to come to the
business, and loss and disaster follow to all concerned. If the turn of
the market should be the other way, among the numerous patrons there is
sure to be more or less dissatisfaction and a more or less breaking up
of the condition of friendly reciprocity which should exist between
creamery and patron. Patrons may damage their own interest by exacting
too much from the creamery as well as by accepting too little, and a
greedy grasping after an unreasonable share of the profit on the part of
the creamery owner is sure to bring retaliation, disturb cordiality of
feeling, and bring loss to all concerned.

The remedy for most of these evils can only come from intelligent and
wise action on the part of the creamery patrons of a given locality.
They should study to prevent an unseemly and expensive competition.
They, as the encouraging source, will surely in the end pay t