Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1910-08-31

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COIN FIsHN'-oNE COUNTRY JOY WHERE
COOPERATION IS EASY.
day often finds his conscience on
guard City life. too, tends to develop
a cynical attitude in a man. He knows
that an imported thug from a neigh
boring city is likely to kill his vote If
he does stand up for what he believes
to be right. The machine has been
giving the city a fair sort of govern
ment. and he is too often content to
let good enough alone.
With the farmer it is different. He
has more confidence in the power of
his vote. He sees the issues unob-
scured by petty outside considerations.
He has time TO think and read. He
takes an active interest in politics, and
this interest does not end with election
day. He watches the successful can
didates to be sure that they fulfill
their promises.
AS yet the farmer has hardly real
lied his power as a politician. There
has been a wide variation of views on
details, even though all stood firm for
ACIC OCCh A4lI4C az
tempt at organization.
In Denmark the farmers appreciate
the advantage of their position much
more than they do in this country.
In many ways Denmark is an interest
ing country and in no way more so
than in its system of politics. Coop
Grafton has developed the independ-
ence Of the Danish farmer. 1t has
given him sense Of responsibility and
power When he saw how quickly
the business of the country came IN
der the control of his organized
strength it was but natural that he
should try his hand in politics He
was as successful here as in business,
and today Denmark is governed by
farmers. Every one in Denmark rec
ognizes the influence of the farmer,
and the name is a symbol of respect
The policy that has been advocated
so long in this country. that the pros
perity of the manufacturers is the
chief index Of the prosperity Of the
nation, has been reversed in Den
mark There, while acknowledging the
Of manufacture, the pros
perity of the farmer is recognized as
the true basis of prosperity.
The problem Of land ownership that
has been solved in Germany by CO.
operation has been met in Denmark
by the government. A farmer who
wants a farm Of his own can have 1t
purchased for him by the government
He has from forty to fifty years in
which to pay for it, so that the an
60
than the cost Of rent AS q result of
this system more than 80 per cent of
the farmers OF Denmark own the land
which they cultivate. This is one of
the factors that give to the Danish
farmer a sturdiness and independence
which make him famous the world
over.
Nowhere have the evils Of landlord
ism been felt more severely than in
Ireland. In 1908 the farming classes
secured law for which they had been
fighting for years-a land purchase law
similar to the one in operation in Dem
mark. In a little more than a year
nearly one-ttird of the land in Ire
land was purchased by the men who
were working IT. The results were
quickly seen in better farming. more
industrious farmers and better condi-
lions throughout the whole country.
The farmers of the United States
have yet to decide whether to settle
the land owership problem by Co
operation or by government assist
ance This is the most important ques-
tion before the country today. 1t is
a question that directly affects crop
production. The farmer, as the one
most directly concerned, must be fore
most in the solution. Yet he is by no
means the only one affected. The
Of the whole nation is d.
rectly concerned. for the nations food
supply is hanging in the balance.
If the high prices impress upon the
country the fact that national pros
perity depends as much upon the pros
perity of the farmer as upon that of
the manufacturer. the farmers exist
ence will be justified. The day Of q
government of the people, by the farm
ers, for the cities. is at an end. The
farmer must be considered in legisla-
ton. He will force consideration Of
his interests. He is already demand
ing his rights.
There need be no fear Of the farmer
of government in this coun-
Try. Our territory is too large and our
interests too varied. At the same time
Ill indications point to the fact that
business domination must end. II ,
cannot thrive without special |
iavors from legislatures it would bet-I
'er be left to exc out sickly exist