Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1916-02-17

there is more than | 400 co-opera-
tive societies all over the coun-
try, each one operating its own
store, and saving at least 10 per
cent on the cost of living, More
than half of the rural population
il connected with these societies,
Nearly all of them are organized
into common federation or CO
operative union, that is buying
lin large quantities direct from
the producers and manufactur-
ers, even in far off countries,
thereby saving large sums for the
consumers. II. also has estab-
lished q number of manufacture
ing plants, and is carrying on its
very extensive business at an eS-
pense of. two per cent on the
sales to the members OF the or
gatlization. This must be regard
ed as quite a success.
The consumer cooperation,
which is spoken of here, is
founded upon certain principles:
I I'D Cash payment, to insure the
lowest price, and helping each
man to realize what he il able to
buy, as well as to keep him indie.
pendent by not owing anything
to anybody. (2) Dividing the pro-
fits among the members in pro-
portion to patronage. (3) Each
member s,lbscrihes for one or
more shares to help accumulate a
working capital. Besides, more
money is borrowed jointly by all
the members, on an all including
responsibility plan, making the
best possible security, and pro-
viding for easy terms. Interest
is paid on shares as well as on
borrowed money. But besides the
right to this interest, no other
right nor power belongs to the
owners of the money as such. az
Every member has one vote---no
more and no less~--(5) The. men,
bership is unlimited, the societies
always being ready to receive
new members, and never making
themselves closed circle, trying
TO make money by trading with
non-members. ..@
These principles--when carried
ont--have proved TO make coop
Grafton a success, while every at
tempt to do cooperative work
without following ,these princi-
Piles has been a failure. No at
tempt has been made TO make 1t
obligatory for members TO buy at
their own store. But almost all
realize the profit in doing SO.
Consequently very few go, TO
other stores.
| In the year 1882 cooperation
was started for producing more
and better butter. Until that time
the farmers had mainly been
raising grain. and to some ex.
tent. cattle and hogs. But it be,
came evident that this method oi
farming would not continue to be
profitable. A change had to bt
made. and in few years dairy.
ing was pushed forward from +
comparatively unimportant posi-
ton to an almost all-commandinG
place.
Today there are more than
1000 cooperative creameries ir
Denmark. The number Of cows ir
Denmark has not increased more
than % per cent since 1882, but
the amount Of butter made a wear
is now eight times as large as al
that time. And the quality Of the
butter is much better. II com
mands almost twice as large a
price as before cooperation be.
oan. and IS per cent more than
butter from any other country
sold in England.
The production Of butter runs
up to 200. 900 900 pounds a year,
and il brings a return of more
than $50 900, 900. This produc.
ton of butter is now the fonnda,
ton of the prosperity of the Dan.
ish farmers, and it is by far the
principal industry Of the country.
The principles Of the co-opera'
ton for producing and selling
butter are the same as mentioned
above. except the first one, con.
cerning cash payment, which has
nothing TO do with production. In
its place is inserted the rule max.
ing it obligatory for every mem
Der to deliver all his milk to the
creamery for certain number OF
years. mostly ten. The tilling OF
the soil and feeding of the dairy
! COWS is carried on according to
agricultural science, and the land
is more and more divided mp in
small farms, each Of from s to 2(