The Coop Organizational Meeting

"Senores," he cautioned, "all too often we have given vent to our emotions, but as time passes, we forget about the abuses and exploitation. We say it can't happen to us. I say to you now, senores campesinos, that we must organize ourselves to learn about this cooperative movement. Yes, we have had a cooperative in Anaime which has failed, but we never really understood how it was to work; we had no experience in establishing markets; we had no contacts in the major cities. Now it is the time to act. We have in our midst, an expert who has come from the United States to help us.

Senores campesinos, I have a proposition to make. Let us meet with the gentlemen from the Cuerpo de Paz and learn about establishing a cooperative. What do you say?"

"Si, Doctor. Si, Si."

"Si, reunimos a aprender."

"Tumba los intermediarios."

"Queremos precios justos, si Doctor.”

Refrain after refrain filled the air as the campesinos picked up on the various passages of the speech. They were pent up and were ready to discuss a cooperative now. But, of course, the process of learning needed a more dispassionate atmosphere. Setting up a cooperative was a major undertaking, requiring a dedication and commitment to the principles of the movement. Unless the campesinos understoodthese principles a coop would fail again, like the Anaime one.

"Senor Smith, when can you come again to give classes on cooperativismo?" asked the Doctor on the microphone. The crowd turned to me and I smiled: "Anytime that is convenient for the campesinos. I am here to serve you all."

The campesinos nodded their heads in approval. Someone shouted next Sunday at the same time, 1:00 P.M. Several others shouted "Si! in agreement. The Doctor next conferred with the Personero. After a few moments hesitation the Doctor announced: "Entonces, senores, la proxima reunion es a la una en la escuela publica por la esquina. Do not forget, 1:00 o'clock at the public school on the comer." He pointed to the school so that all could see.

"Thank you senores." Click. The microphone was turned off. Dave came over and slapped me on the back, his eyes crinkling and exulting in my success. "You were terrific-- almost as good as I would be.”

Several campesinos approached and shook hands with me and then walked on their way. I told them that I would be looking forward to seeing them next week. Of course they assured me that they would be here. Finally, the padre of Anaime, a fairly young priest came up to congratulate me:

"Sr. Smith, I admire what you have done here today; I am even envious, but I wish you all the success in the world. You see, the campesinos don't listen to me. I'm finally convinced that you are right, and the campesino's salvation depends of self help and cooperation through such institutions as cooperatives and acci6n comunal. Again accept my congratulations, Mr. Smith. I will assist you in any way I can."

What a contrast to Padre Rojas in Cajamarca I thought; and by the compassion in his eyes and the fervor in his voice speaking of the campesinos, I implicitly trusted the padre as a friend. Dave and I hurried across the plaza, the campesinos staring even more at us now with my recently acquired fame. We had to be in Cajamarca by 2:00 o'clock for the other campesino meeting. We passed Casa Morales in the jeep, and the Navajo, Don Juan Martinez, stood in the doorway, still transacting business. He caught sight of the jeep and recognized us. Through the inscrutable brown eyes, he stared at us from the recesses of the cunning in his campesino soul. I stared back, and I swore I saw the Navajo wink, but his face was as imperturbable as a mask. We bounced back toward Cajamarca kicking up a cloud of billowing dust behind us.