Tensas gazette. [volume] (St. Joseph, La.) 1886-current, 1914-01-09
COOPERATION THE SOLUTION
Only Possible Method Of Heading On
the Rapidly Increasing Tendency
Toward Landlordl0m.

All thinking men see and realize
that reform must come from the bot
tom up. Then let US begin at the
bottom, the very foundation OF our
civilization the American farmer.
Let him search for and demand the
truth, put aside the plausible and mis-
leading arguments of the capitalistic
press, use reason and by cooperation
use his powers to demand and secure
prosperity, enlightenment and happi'
ness; for the possession of these safe
guards the prosperity Of every legiti-
mate means of earning livelihood,
writes p H. Boothroyd, Jr., in the
Denver Field and Farm. Cooperation
among farmers is the only possible
method of heading of the rapidly In
creasing tendency toward landlordism
and peasantry, toward crowded cities
and neglected farm lands.
1t is the only solution because farm
ers can no more stand alone and I'M
organized before the organized forces
of every other business, than could
undisciplined and unarmed masses
hope to stand against fully equipped
army. 1t is the only solution, because
the farmers must look out for them
selves as every other class from the
railroad magnates to the bootblacks
are doing. Study history, think. rea-
son and We can arrive at no other
conclusion. Cooperative banks and
credit societies in Germany, under
only one of the three systems in use
in that country, are annually doing a
business without mortgages and at
a rate of five per cent and less inter-
est. of over 81 900, 100000.
Cooperative societies among the
Irish farmers have in 20 years raised
them from the dupe Of the loan
sharks-who charged interest as high
as so and sometimes even 100 per
cent.-to a position of profitable In
dependence. Not much over a Gen.
fury ago the peasant farmers of Den
mark were pitifully poor. Today ~
families out OF every 100 own their
farms and Denmark has more wealth
per capita than any European coun-
try and more evenly distributed
wealth than any country In the world.
The Wisconsin state board of public
affairs Investigated these conditions
in Denmark and found them due to
two things: first, land holdings easily
obtained, not high land values, and
second, universal cooperation.
The farmers of Denmark are the
most thoroughly organized in the
world. They buy, sell, study. market
and slaughter stock and pack their
meats comparatively. Our farmers
must not wait until reduced to peas.
antry to make use Of the only success
full antidote to corporation. The only
successful remedy which history re-
cords or reason dictates is co-opera'
tion-broader than partisan politics
broader than class prejudice. over
riding all selfishness and greed and
helping and uplifting the toiline
armies not only on our farms and
ranches, but also those other toilers
and wealth producers in the shops
mines and factories.
True cooperation has ever lowered
the price to the consumer while rails
ing 1t for the producer, and hurts only
the middlemen whose numbers were
more or profits greater than the serv
ice they performed justified. Already
scattered throughout the country co
operative enterprises are being oper
ated to great advantage. We already
have in this country close to 5000
farmer elevator companies having
100000 members, hundreds Of cottor
warehouses and the numerous co
operative stores in the southern states
are saving the planters millions O.
dollars annually, while cooperative
creameries and fruit growers asso
Citations are operating successfully II
many of our western sections. Money
saved by buying and selling in car
load lots is rapidly educating thu
farmers of many sections to greatel
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