The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1911-08-10

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 his conscience of
guard. City life. too. tends to develop
q cynical attitude in a man. He knows
that an imported thug from neigh
boring city is likely to kill his vote II
be does stand up for what he believes
to be right The machine has been
giving the city 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 politician. There
has been a wide variation of views on
details, even though all stood firm fol
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 independ
ence of the. Danish farmer. 1t has
given him a sense of responsibility ant
power. When he saw how quickl!
the business of the country came un
der the control Of his organized
: strength it was but natural that h'
i should try his hand In politics. H
, was as successful here as In business
and today Denmark is governed b.
farmers. Every one in Denmark rec
: ognizes the influence of the farmer
and the name is symbol of respect
The policy that has been advocate
+. so long in this country, that the pros
perity of the manufacturers is tn
chief index of the prosperity OF til
nation, has been reversed in Dei
: mark. There. while acknowledging tn
n Importance of manufacture. the pro-
perity of the farmer Is recognized a
the true basis of prosperity.
The problem of land ownership tn;
has been solved in Germany by c.
operation has been met in Dehmar
v by the government. A farmer WI
v wants a farm Of his own can have
n purchased for him by the government
He has from forty to fifty years
which to pay for it. so that the a
le nuai payments amount to little mo-
,e than the cost Of rent. AS result
ID this system more than so per cent
Q. the farmers of Denmark own the lal
a which they cultivate. This is one
- the factors that give to the Dani
- farmer a sturdiness and Independent
. which make him famous the wor
over.
Nowhere have the evils Of landlol
!. ism been felt more severely than
:. Ireland. In 1908 the farming class
secured law for which they had be
~ lighting for years-a land purchase !;
e similar to the one in operation TN d.
D. mark. In little more than a ye
nearly cne-third of the land IN !
an land was purchased by the men "
:. were working it. The results W.
y quickly seen in better farming. mt
no industrious farmers and better cen
"a tions throughout the whole country
all The farmers of the United Sta