The Glenwood post., 1912-06-08
Every State in the Union Can
Profit by Example of Danes
Who Use Intense Methods
FACTS AND FIGURES

Washington, June 1.-The wonderful
story of how the Danes, upon land but
poorly suited to grazing and in the fact
of repeated reverses, have brought
thair country to state of agricultural
prosperity second only to England
among the old world countries is told
by DR.. Maurice Francis Egan, Ameri-
can minister to Denmark, who recently V
completed, on behalf of the state de
partment, lecture tour through the
farming districts of the south.
DR.. Egan, together with several other
of the American diplomatic officers in
Europe, has, under instructions from
the state department, made thorough
Problem in the European countries, of
the part played by the governments in
advancing the material prosperity OF
the farmers, of the success of the farm
ers themselves in forming cooperative
societies for mutual assistance, and OF
the advantages secured to the whoie
people of those countries from the pro
motion of their agricultural resources.
He is engaged now in preparing re
port upon the methods of the Danish
government in supplying cheaper money
fn ~
Taft hopes 10 introduce into the Unit.
ed States to benefit American farmers.
Speaking of his recent tour through
the south, DIR. Egan said:
~ was sent by the department OF
state to expose the da rymen, AMI
farmers especially interested in dairy
ing, the methods by which the Danes
have become the most prosperous peo
pie agriculturally in Europe. When i
say most prosperous, l mean by com
palison, and taking into consideration
the obstacles they have had to meet
and overcome. The wealth per capita
of Denmark is comparatively next to
ever, is equalized. There are no very
rich people there. Every man is fairly
well off, but the poorer he is the more
carefully does he conserve his resources
Material well being is as common II
Denmark as education.
There is no iliteracy in the coun
try Every man woman and child aver
the age of seven years, unless he be an
idiot, can read and write The meth
DDS by which they have achieved their
present prosperity are three: education
practical education-a perfect sys
TEN of cooperation and the intelligent
assistance of government.
''For instance, the only means OF
living which the Danes have is agricul
ture. Denmark, like julius Caesars
Gaul of ancient days, is divided into
three parts-butter, bacon and eggs
Now, the government, being dependent
upon the farmers, does everything in
its power to increase the number of
small farmers and this it has done by
making money as cheap as possible for
the farmers. 1t contrvIs great series
of banks, managed somewhat after the
manner of the credit fancier.
can agricultural laborer in Den
mark who has worked on a farm for
five years, who is poor, and who has a
character so good that two reputable
members of his commune will certify
to it, may obtain from one of these
banks a loan of about $1,5S2 in our
money. He obtains this solely on his
character and ability and not by any
material security he can offer. With
this money he may purchase a farm Of
from 3h, to 12 acres This farm means
live and dead stock on the land and
the necessary implements for the work
ing of it. The amount loaned by the
bank covers probably nine-tenths Of
the value of the farm-not of the land,
because land in Denmark is never sold
merely as land. The farm is judged by
the value of its production for, let us
say, at least seven years in hard corn,
which represents in its ability to sus-
tain dairy cattle and hogs. This is an
example of the way in which the Dan