Omaha daily bee., 1896-11-30
LOOKS BRIGHT FOR IRELAND
Plans Proposed for Bcttering the Economic
Conditions of the Country.
COOPERATION THE REMEDY FOR EVILS
Hon. Horace pIunISctt, VI. -, for
County Dublin, Talks Enter
tniningIy of Condt-
tiuns There.

Hon HCracc plunkett, member OF Parlla-
mont for the southern division of County
Dublin, Ireland, is in the city, where he
is looking after his real estate and ether
interests. MIR Plunkett has taken an active
part in developing the agricultural and
industrial resources of his own country and
he obtained considerable notoriety In Brit
sh and Irish politics of late by his success
in persuadng leading lrishmen, irrespective
of religious belief and political opinions, to
join together for the same purpose. He ia
the founder Of the Recess Committee"
which was composed of parnellitcs and con-
servative members of Parliament; lawyers,
Catholic priests and Protestants. together
with prominent men in manufacturing and
commercial circles The committee thus con-
sttuted met after the election of 1895 and
proceeded to discuss what, II any recon-
mCndations for legislation such body or
lrshmen could agree to make to the gov
ernment. A new administration had Just
come into power, with an immense anti
home rule majority, but with declared
anxiety to promote by every reasonable con-
Cessiun the material welfare of the coun-
try. The committee delibcratcd for several
months, and 1t was not until August, 1876.
that 1t published its report. This document
was received by the British and Irish press
and the action which the government may
take toward the committees report when
Parliament opens is awaited with much IN
terost. The Importance Cf the report Is that
it recommends a radical change in the gov
ernmCnt of Ireland, and calls upon the state
to foster in various ways prac.iccd in other
European countries, the agricultural and
industrial interests Of Ireland
A Bee reporter called upon Mr.. Pmnkett
yesterday and asked him If he would state
!, fIN tsanl Gtt
uation in ireland.
LOOKS FOR BETTER THINGS.
"If you will excuse me- | had rather
avoid giving my views on Irish politics.
| am much more concerned with economies
than the political condition of Ireland Just
now"
"Well, there are thousands Of Nebraska
citizens who would be glad to hear any news
of Ireland"
81 am aware of that and shall be glad
to tell you anything | know about that
country. | look to a considerable industrial
revival over there in the near future
but on what do you base your antici-
pations of a better state of things in Ire
land?"
why In the far greater interest which
the people at large are taking In their own
social and industrial advancement. There is
a growing desire to build up the agricul-
tural and other industries of the country
and recognition that this must mainly
be through the efforts of the people them
selves. They are making demand for state
assistance as we'll, of course, but only such
demand as the government ought, and
hope will, accede to-
''In what direction do you look for the
chief Improvement
"In agriculture. You know that, outside
a few counties in the northeast Of the island,
its whole wealth depends upon agriculture,
including stock raising and dairying. Nine
tenths of the population over the greater
part of Ireland are farmers, or are depend
ent upon farming directly or indirectly, for
their subsistence So the first way 10 beneft
such a community Is to improve the ccndi-
tion of that industry
But bow can it be improved? Is it not
suffering mainly from foreign competition?
How can you deal with that"
II was coming to that. We cannot stop
foreign competition, and we don't want to-
But great deal of it owes it's success
to the better methods of production and dis
tributiCn practiCed by foreign countries.
This superiority has been found 10 be largely
the result Of a system of agricultural CO.
operation which prevails in these countries
aud which, in common with some other
Trishmen, | am trying to introduce into
Ireland. After two years of effort in this
direction l founded, in 1894, a philanthropic
association known as the Irish Agricultural
Organization Society to preach the eco
nomic doctrine OF cooperative production
and distribution to the Irish farmers Al
ready we have a big movement started in
ireland. over II 900 farmers have joined 1t
and have formed l25 separate societies in
districts scattered all over the country"
''Will you tell me what is the exact advan-
tsge of these combinations to the farmers?"
ADVANTAGES OF CONDENSATION.
well It would be a big story to tell you
all the advantages which our farmers find
that they can obtain by combination. |
will give for a few instances. In darying
LII. H..
equip with all the best centrifugal and
other machinery, butter factories
creameres. These they erect with their
own capital at their own risk and for their
own profit. They are under their own con-
troll and are managed by committee elected
by the members OF the society. They in-
yariably succeed, In other districts So
cities are organized for the joint purchase
of seeds. feeding stufs, manures Implements
machinery, in fact everything the farmer
requires in his agricultural production By
this means his production Is greatly cheap
ened the quality of the output is improved
and the quantity increased. In some Cases
they undertake the combined sale OF agrlCul-
tural produce and have Il multiplicity OF
middle profits. There are also credit asso-
Citations which enable the farmer to get
cheaper money for his industry and to get
it on terms which have regard to the require
ments of his business. These combinations
are able to secure a loan to help in spring
sowing which shall not fall due before har-
vest time The societies obtain better trans
pOrtation arrangements at lower freghts by
bulking and Cqual2ing their consignments
and by Jointly approaching the carrying
companies. But / cannot exhaust the ad-
vantages of combination to farmers. What
have told you viii illustrate the point
sufficiently. 1t Is enough to say generally
that combination in agricultural production
Is the great agency OF progress in the farm
ing industry and that we are developing
the idea In Ireland and have great hopes
Of the beneficial effect both economic and
social which is liable to follow"
"But, Mr.. Plunkott where does the neceS-
sary capital for these enterprises come fromf
| suppose they require some, Does your or
ganizatlon society provide lt?"
Certainly not. That would be quite un-
sound even II we had capital for the pur-
pose. We act merely in an advisory capac-
ity. We have men we call Organi2ers-men
that have studied these combinations In
other countries and who are capable OF ex-
planning them TO Irish farmers. This is no
easy matter at first, II is easy enough 10
show the theoretical advantages Of cOmbina-
tlon, but to devise constitution for a
society with such rules as Will harmonize
the interests Of all concerned and make
II the object OF all to secure the success
OF the project, requires a good deal OF ex-
position as you may imagine. But | have
digroesed, You asked me where the capital