The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1910-07-29
LIFE AIDS IN
LANDS ACROSS THE SEA
SOCIETIES OPERATE WITH sue
CESS IN EUROPE.
Cooperative Among the Agricultural
Results in Great Benefit; Helps
to the Small Farmer; the Syndi-
cate in France and Its Workings;
What Is Being Done in Ireland;
Organized Progress. seq

Washington, d. c., July 27.-Country
life societies are operating with success
in Europe, according to reports made
to the state department. The expert
ences of foreign nations with such
agencies are of direct interest in view
of the purpose of former President
Roosevelt to revive the movement he
inaugurated designated to make farmers
more contended with their existence, to
stop the drain of cities upon the youth
of the country, and even to induce a
flow of men and women from the cities
to the farms.
According to a report made by Con-
sular Assistant Mason at Paris there
has been during the last twenty-five
years an extensive movement toward
organization and coordination of agri
cultural interests in France. Agricul-
tural societies have existed in France
since the middle of the eighteenth
century, but their most rapid extension
and development have taken place
since the passage of a law in 1884
permitting the. creation of industrial or
agricultural syndicates by persons Of
the same or similar professions with
out special authorization of the gov
eminent.
Aims to Aid Small Farmers.
The principal aim of the agricultural
syndicate is to enable the small far
mer to purchase or dispose of his sup
plies as advantageously as his more
important competitors, and to en-
courage number of social movements
toward the betterment of the rural
population, such as the establishment
of insurance or credit societies. For
a small commission, never exceeding
three per cent, they sell, purchase, or
exchange the products and supplies of
their members.
An agricultural syndicate is not taxed
like business enterprise, and is auth
orized by law to act only as an agent
of it's members.
Some 1900 agricultural syndicates
having $4,000 members, have joined
the Union Centrale des Syndicate des
Agriculteurs de France. The union
does not restrain the independence or
initiative of the societies included with
in its membership, but furnishes adj
vice at the request of the members and
in matters of Importance, where col
lective effort or influence is necessary,
has proved an efficient representative
of agricultural interests.
Keeps Members Informed.
The Union Centrale corresponds with
its affiliated syndieates, which it keeps
informed as to the activities of other
French syndicates and for which it
carries on investigations of practical
utility 1t publishes an agricultural
review containing a large amount OF
useful matter, and holds a general, con-
ference of all it's members every two
wears. This general conference is pre-
ceded by series of meetings OF presi-
dents or special delegates of affiliated
associations, in which matters of special
interest are discussed, and these meet
ings have proved useful in rendering
associations mutually helpful and in
investigating matters of special inter-
est. Methods of agricultural produc-
ton, mutual assistance, insurance,
social development and welfare OF the
agricultural population, and matters
requiring special legislation are dis
cussed or studied.
The Union Central, as the representa-
tive of 1900 agricultural syndicates
with 100000 members, exerts con-
siderable influence on legislation, fis-
cal measures, and customs regulations
affecting agricultural interests. The
lawyers of the union investigate
gratuitiously the complaints of any
affiliated association as to ad-
ministrative abuses or incorrect in
depreciation of the law. S8
Irish Society Doing Well.
In Ireland the Irish Agricultural
society came into being in. 1894 as q
result of the efforts of Sir Horace
Plunkett and others to develop agri-
cultural cooperation in Ireland. The
movement was slow in getting
unQeT way duu IL WdS w
educate the agriculturists to the ad-
vantages involved and to create
a sufficient interest among them
to establish necessary organizations.
The present progress of these organ
izations, however, has clearly establish
ed their Importance to the welfare OF
the country and particularly to the
agricultural classes. Their growth
during the last year has been far great
err than for any other period, and ap-
parently they are to become most
important factor in the agricultural
development of Ireland.
These cooperative societies teach
the possibilities of organized progress
among persons independent of govern
ment assistance They develop and
cultivate a spirit of self-reliance and
apply the principles of community OF
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