New Ulm review. (New Ulm, Brown County, Minn.) 1892-1961, 1918-07-03
THE REASON WHY

subject which has been of considerable
interest in Minnesota for the past SIX
months and altho the article is rather
long it says some things so we'll that it
is hardly possible to cut out any part
of it and have the subject complete; for
that reason the entire editorial IS re-
printed herewith.
We entertain Bankers But Not
Farmers, Why?
Last month Group No. 2. Of the Wis
consin Bankers association held their
convention in Madison. They were
entertained They were given boat
ride around Lake Mendoza. Luncheon
was served at Bernard's park, etc: etc.
On Tuesday, 700 representative farm
ers from all parts of southern Wisconsin
came here to attend the stockholders
meeting of the Farmers Cooperative
company operating the local packing
plant. No message of welcome on the
part of Madison was given the farmers.
This community offered no entertain
ment, - made no move to make the
farmers feel that Madison was glad to
see them.
The parallel showing the difference
in the manner in which bankers are
treated and the manner in which farmers
are treated in this city offers for re-
Election one condition in this COM
munity.
We extend the hand of welcome to
bankers, - and rightly so.
Why do we not extend the same hand
cOf welcome to the farmers?
There is just one reason, - and the
difference in the reception accorded the
banker and that accorded the farmer
typifes that reason eloquently.
The line of demarcation is Big Busl-
mess. If you are with ''the gang here
in Madison you will be accorded the
treatment accorded the banker. II
you are not with 'the gang you will
farmer.
We do lot of talking about COM
munity building We talk of bringing
trade to Madison. We hold smokers
at the Madison Association of Com
merce. Sophomore platitudes are dis
.cussed by local apologists for Big Bust
MSS. Superficial generalities are uttered
That do not offend the street railway
company, the gas company, the bankers
and the special interests.
f. W want the farmer to come to Madi-
son, - O, yes. We want his money.
We want his trade. But we want him
to come INDIVIDUALLY. We do
not want him to come in an ORGAN
lZED way.
The thing that is worrying Big Bust
mess more than anything else today is
ORGANIZED laborer. The new move
1nent of democracy that is spreading
over the Northwest like wildfre is
bringing terror to the hearts of those who
have been exploiting the UNORGAN-
TZED farmer and the UNORGANIZED
laborer. North Dakota has already
Joined the movement. Minnesota will
undoubtedly fall in line this summer.
And then the battle will be shifted to
Wisconsin. In 1920 we will have a
showdown in this state between the
organized famer and laborer and Big
Business.
That is why Big Business welcomes
the banker and snubs the farmer
The Madison Association of Com
meres. is the tool of big business in this
l.ommuzdtI. Its directorate has been
packed with those who do the bidding
of Big Business. 1t would probably be
more genteel to say it is ''business in
Auence'' Therefore we have, as the
organization which is supposed to lead
in community building, an Association
~ Commerce that leads along the line
that Business wants it to and drags
along the line that is Of the most vital
interest OF the community.
For that reason the ORGANIZED
worker gets but little consideration at
7ths hands of the association. The Or
CANNED farmer gets no consideration
sat the hands of the association. The
association takes this attitude because
Business does not want the ORGAN
lied worker or the ORGANIZED
farmer to grow in this community.
big business knows the value Of or
ganization. 1t is organized to the nth
power lof efficiency. Because there is
pttNar in organization they don't want
<sge farmer and the laborer to organize.
They fear the spirit of the great north
west these days.
And so when the banker comes to town
we entertain him.
Rken the ORGANIZED farmer comes
Io town we let him shift for himself.
We talk lot about mail order COM
petition. Mail order business will grow
j ust so long as the present attitude is
maintained. The mail order house calls
on the farmer, - ORGANIZED and
UNORGANIZED. Their highly colored
catalogues are sent TO farmers, - OR-
CANNED OR UNORGANIZED.
Madison should look conditions square
ly in the face. This business of giving
the farmer the cold shoulder and then ex-
pecting to get his trade isn't Gin the
cards" This community must recog.
nize the ORGANIZED farmer is here
and is here to stay. The ORGANIZED
worker is here to stay. And we cannot
afford to have this city being represented
as against them.
Do the business men of this city know
that the membership of farmers in Dam
county in farm organizations is growing
by leaps and bounds?
Let's not let Big Business put hand
scuffs on the hands of welcome in thi
community.
Whenever the Society of Equity come
here, let's welcome them.
Whenever the Non-partisan Leagu
comes here let's welcome them. .
When the stockholders of the Farm
ers' Cooperative Packing company com
here let's Welcome them '~~..' y s.g