The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1910-08-25

COIN FIsHIN-oNE COUNTRY JOY WHERE
COOPERATION Is EASY.
er is in favor of clean government, be-
cause that is the kind of government
which serves his interests.
There are few complications in the
country to influence the farmers vote
In the city the question of employ
ment. of special favors. of social rec
Ognition. often swings votes where
they would not otherwise go. A multi
tude of influences surround the voter.
and it is little wonder that election
day often finds bis conscience of
guard City life. too. tends to develop
cynical attitude in a man. He knows
that an imported thug from neigh.
boring city is likely to kill his vote II
he does stand up for what he believes
to be right The machine has been
giving the city fair sort of govern
ment. and be is too often content to
let good enough alone.
With the farmer it is different He
has more confidence in the power OF
scured by petty outside considerations
He has time to think and read. He
takes an active interest in politics, aud
this interest does not end with election
day He watches the successful can
ddates to be sure that they fulfill
their promises.
AS yet the farmer has hardly real
lied his power as politician. There
has been a wide variation of views on
details. even though all stood firm for
principles There has been little at
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 sc
than in its system Of politics. Coop
Grafton has developed the ndepend
ence of the Danish farmer 1t has
given him sense Of responsibility and
power When be saw how quickly
the business of the country came IN
der the control Of bis 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
ognizes the influence Of the farmer
and the name is symbol of respect
The policy that has been advocated
so long I'M 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
Importance 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 it
purchased for him by the government
He has from forty to fifty years IL
which to pay for 1t, so that the an
nual payments amount to little more
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
lighting for years-a land purchase law
similar to the one in operation in Den.
mark In a little more than q year
nearly one-third 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