Semi-weekly herald., 1913-10-27

enabling lower prices by wiping out
superfiuous but costly parts of the
middleman system, much attention
is being paid to the cooperative sys-
tens in operation in European coun-
tries. In former article the sys-
TEN in Denmark was dwelt upon, and
now from Eastport, Idaho, a letter,
signed l.. s., discusses further the
Danish method. The correspondent
writes:
While undoubtedly many factors
enter into the problem of the high
cost of living, the main factor de-
cidedly is the middleman. While no.
body would grudge this worthy fair
salary for this work the facts brought
to light in the stories of the Texan
farmers onions, the Michigan fruit
growers, the New York potato grow
ers, and several other instances, show
without a doubt that great many
middlemen mind you, do not say all,
contribute unfairly to the high cost
of living, injuring thereby the pro-
ducer as well as the consumer.
Now, it so happens that IN my
native country, Denmark, some 20
years ago, the situation was much
like that which today confronts the
United States. The farmer did not
get a fair price for his products; the
consumer paid entirely too much.
at was, so to speak, a question of
life or death; the prevailing condi-
tions were intolerable to all except
the middlemen. Then the people de-
cided to take the matter in their own
hands. Told in few words the his
tory is simply that of total elimina-
ton of the middleman, whom it was
found one could very easily do with
out, and today the official statistics
will show that practically all of Den
marks main products, bacon, butter,
eggs, are placed on the English mar
ket, Denmark's best costumer, thru
cooperative societies, run by elected
and paid officials, who very well
know that a falling off of dividends
would at once mean their removal
from positions well paid if honestly
handled.
Anybody who viii take the trouble
to procure the statistical data re-
ferring to this matter can convince
himself that conditions in Denmark
are exactly as set forth above, and
that period Of more than fifteen
years has proved beyond doubt tho
feasibility of saving each year mil
lions of dollars, about equally divided
between producer and consumer.
Now, here is the point. l was
talking a few days ago to an Ameri-
can business man of no ordinary in.
telligence, and undoubted honesty.
said:
GAS this is no theory on paper
but series of substantially PROVED
facts, why do not we over here pro
ceed in exactly the same way? Take
for instance eggs; the English peo
pie are perfectly willing to pay 9
very stiff price, as long as they are
absolutely sure of getting freshly laio
ones. The Danish Cooperative Egg
Export furnishes each of its members
with rubber stamps and requires that
each and every egg be given the date
on which il was laid. Weekly trans.
ports bring the eggs to the LondoI
market, where one is sure of never
getting one that is more than one
| week old
eff complaint should be made
il is very easy to find the offender
as his name and address is one eacl
| egg; the matter is carefully investi
gated, and if he has tampered with
dates he is Immediately dropped
from the rolls of the union, and can
not sell his products anywhere. The
same principle applies to the 'bacor
trade; the farmers have their owl
packing houses, and very large ant
elaborate affairs they are, run b,
competent and well salaried men.
after deducting the necessary ex
pense the whole surplus is divided
between the stockholders, and tn,
statistics show an enormously in
creasing business for each succeeding
year. Now, why do we not adopt
these methods There is nothing
very complicated about them
"The answer was so remarkable
that it certainly deserves comment
and discussion.
4 admit the correctness OF all yol
have said, he replied, but the prin
ciple would not work here, becaus,
our people are not honest enough. Oi
course, it would be great dea
cheaper Of such companies than tt
compete with them, and l do not be
heve that the average American
farmer would have the moral back.
bone to refuse bribe that would al
once make him rich. Now, if such
selling out of the stockholders inter