Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1914-11-05

'csrfs Now euys and ssiis.
mere could not pay cash for what they
bought They had TO get goods on
credit. Once q farmer cot into debt
70 these retail dealers ha seldom got
free from the big mans clutches
While he was I'm thia state he was NO
better than a slave. Ha was charger
tremendous prices and had to pay hia
interest. myself have baen charged
interest ON what I bought on credit
ut the rate OF 144 per cent per annnm
My father had this sort az interest "a
par while ne was bringing up his tam
ily. That IL where the three pounds
went that II took mo siy months 70
earn when ] started 10 work.
What co-opsr1tlon " Deina.
"nut Notwithstanding the smallness
Of the holdings. and the poor Boil. con,
ditions In Danglow are improving Il
newer know an organization 70 do 90
much for q community a. the Temple
creme Cooperative Agricultural soct
ssy II doing for Dunglow The no
cieky started In b little one-room cot
tage ON o farm whore lived. We be
gan By buying manures and later .
few gTccsriea We had fierce oppost
tion at frss from tho gomheen man
and traders. Rs fierce aa any comrauni
ty ever had. Some or the members
were In debt 10 tho gomb@en mon and
had 10 come Into the cooperative guar
tera at night and over the back walks
IN order TO conceal from the gombeen
man that they were members IT.
the gombeen men found out that any,
one trading with them was trading
with az they refused him credit and
issued q writ II he owed them.
A Little Democracy.
I'VE wish no one any III. We do
not do business that way. We have
simply. demanded the right 70 attend
90 our own little affairs. We meet In
our little parliament hers TO discuss
cur business. We have given some
entertainments which have brought
the people nearer together and given
them good time This year we or
gani1ea an industrial show In which
we exhibited everything which we pro
dueed here. including lace and knis
goods. ms well 40 some dc oCr farm
pgcdncts We did this 10 encourage
others TO make these things. Now
we are looking around 10 get some
little local industry started. We noed
something OF the kind badly 10 that
more money can come into tbs com
NUDITY. Lace making. Knitting and
work az that kind Is important. too.
for every little helps here. We are
willing TO work when We can.
On the UPGRADE.
The boys are learning 20 farm bet
Ter than their fathers fsrmed. We
are raising better cows. and pigs and
chickens. and producing better eggs.
poultry and meat than we ever lid
before Through our little co-opsra
tive society wa have q steady market
nc good prices Cor all we can raise
We ara not rich. for this In not o.
rich coantry, aud never can be- There
are too many stones and hoGs In DON
sEal tor that. but We aNA doing our
beat. and we are going TO reach d
point soon where every man can so
mp and down Dunglow and say that
ne owes no man anything. coopera.
ton has brought us together. and we
are all coed friends We are no.
faghting with each other any more,
We are helping each other, We are
ssiu DOING business on d very small
scala. OF course, We are poor people.
and We must always be that, There
10 no chance for wealth In ave or
sixsaere farm. We raise i little patch
Of oats Cor oatmeal for our family.
Nest or as ges enough potatoes on
our little places Go last as through the
rear. We c0aldnt 1--we without potas
toes. You know the great famine OK
Isag. when 10 many died La ireland.
was caused wholly by potato blight.
The chtIdren around here are almost
brought up on potatoes. They ret
mashed potatoes. with q little malk In
Il. hsfore shay are weaned. Thay gruw
up On u and sometimes have little
elsa. Cooperation has helped "a 70
cell what We have. and we are dolns
frst rata
cssf % Living.
by purchasing goods dtrsct from
original sources. this society has made
Il psssihls Tor the poorest farmer 10
fertillss his potato patch and IN
crease tina crop whlsh 90 raises The