The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1914-03-27

from iucScayS Daitls
It seems to me my topic is the
most important one before this con.
vention. l only wish / had the
power to 50 present It that II would
take firm hold on every man here
and make every one Of US willing
and anxious to cooperate to the
fullest extent possible In attaining
the object OF this meeting, good
roads in Blue Earth county.
Co-operation is word that Is
familiar TO Minnesota farmers, ana
business men. Minnesota has been
made famous by the output OF It's
many cooperative ereameries, which,
with out -four mills, have given US
the name Of the Bread & Butter
State" There are many business
enterprises in this state made pcs
sible by cooperation. You are -YeEy
familiar with many Of them--ercau
cries! elevator companies, fRrmers
stock breeding companies tin some
cases whole neighborhoods breeding
the same kind OF stock, and by CO.
operation, making more money than
would be possible othefwisel, mer-
camille Institutions shipping associ-
ations. good seed 1associations, de-
velopment association, and a new
business is just coming in--farmers
laundries; indeed IA great proportion
OF the business enterprises OF the
country are made possible by CO.
operation 1T would be impossible
for us to enjoy the civilization, the
privileges, benefits and culture Of
modern life without cooperation.
Where would our churches, our
schools, our colleges, our hospitals,
our homes for the aged, our asylums
OF mercy be, IL there were no such
thing as cooperation? Every day,
every hour you and enjoy some of
the benefits OF cooperation. Our
government is one vast scheme OF
cooperation.
In the remote past, every man
depended upon bis own efforts for
everything he wanted or needed, but
he found in due time a better way.
BY helping others, he. in turn, re-
ceiycd h.lp, and by united effort, he
obtained many things he could not
get otherwise. II has been long
and painful journey from that early
day to this. We have learned much,
but there is much for us yet to learn.
Many believe the Golden Age Is just
ahead. when socialism, in many
ways another name for cooperation,
will correct most of the faults Of
the present. age. Maybe SO. As we
look bacR just a short time, and see
the advnnce made in governmental
methods within very recent years, 1t
would be a rash man who would
undertake to predict the future.
When a man pays his taxes, he
may not think especially of co-operat-
ing. but that is Just what he is
doing. He is joining with other
citizens in obtaining what he cannot
possibly obtain in any other way.
We alb want the good things Of life
for ourselves, but your arm and mine
is shortpour strength Is small, our
financial ability Is limited, but let
a hundred men, or a thousand, or a
million join together with Tong
pull and,.a strong pull and pull-all-
togetherib and the object Is generally
attained
This meeting is held In the inter.
est of cooperation. The men of the
country and the men of the city
are heisifor a common purpose. We
are here today to consider and plan
for something which concerns every
man, woman and child In Blue Earth
county. and which has to do with
every !dollar OF property in this
county. Am | wild and visionary?
Il is not long since 1t was thought
that good country roads concerned
only the farmer who hauled his
produce TO market over them, and
that a7ohy man who was interested
in or talked good country roads was
a curinsiiy or 'looney" or must have
something up his sleeve. The farmer
was suspicious of him, and most city
people, were quite content to cuss
the bad roads and the farmers who
made Them. and let Il go at that.
Now we are awake TO the importance
of goodbroads. or at least. some are,
though many are not. We know
good roads mean better cities,
villages. better farms. better business
for everyone. II all the men in
Blue Earth county were really and
truly awake 10 the Importance OF
this matter. II they realized what II
would mean 10 the people Of this
county to have really firstclass roads
everywhere. do you think we would
be content TO be as slow as We are
I'm getting them7 No, we are not
thoroughly awake-we simply are
not as deep in sleep as we once
were. hut we are very far from being
wide awake to the Importance, econ
omicallys socially. financially, OF good
roads
I hope the speaker who Is 70 follow
me win be able TO make your hearts
burn within you as he pictures to
you what it.would mean socially, II
Blue Earth co1rhty Dad good roads
everywhere. wish you farmers
who "ya broad acres OF the finest