Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1920-12-09
From the Battlefield Of Organic
ing for the County, State
and National Farm
Bureau.
washington County, Mimi

TO 1nlSn, IL is war against
ignorance and misrepresented
facts, prejudice and suspicion
that this movement is only an
other attempt to bleed the farm
ers for money by which to Gre
ate some more high salaried Off
ces in which to place some
smooth talking white collared pa
per farmer, or another sham in
which a promise of relief is ex-
changed for cash, the experience
being that these promises have
not been fulfilled.
About ten per cent of the
farmers visited have been we'll
posted on the object for which
we are organizing ourselves
through the agricultural papers,
and they are ready and willing
to sign up for membership and
enlist their moral support in this
big national movement almost as
quick as | have made known the
object Of my visit-in less than
five mlnutes-so we can move on
to the next farm. 1t takes from
Is minutes up to one and one
half hours talk and arguments
to convince and finally line up
from 500 to 1870 more of those
visited. OF these | would guess
about half the number do not
read or subscribe to any agricul-
tural paper at all; of the balance
| would say one half are chronic
kickers against any peaceful set
Element and are inclined to set
tie their grievance by fist and
the other half say: What is
the use the big fellows have al
ways and will continue to win
and we will have to pay the bill
anyway so what is the use"
! have met only three farmers
who declared that they were full
ly satisfied with conditions as
they are and consequently did
not wish for anything better.
One of these said that he did
not get an average of SOC a day
for his labor on his farm annu.
ally. not talking about interest
on investment and depreciation
One of the others declared he
was an anarchist and did not
want to have anything to dc
with his neighbors. that they
were no good and that he did not
believe in the form of govern.
ment we have in the United
States. | told him that if that
was his opinion. | would not
accept him as a member for any
consideration. The third man
said that he did not believe in
cooperation. that he never had
nor would be member of any
association but his own family
The communities are very
much different in regard to ac-
cepting the opportunity of CO.
operation in the Farm Bureau
worked four days in Chisago
County and accepted member
ships for 81 farmers. The most
OF one of these four days was
wasted in a locality where some
promoters had succeeded in sell
ing a catalog for SIS cash. prom
Using the farmers that when they
bought that catalog they could
buy supplies at manufacturers
cost. However after ordering
and receiving their merchandise
they found they had paid more
than they could have bought SIM
liar grade of goods for at their
inland store. miles away from
any railroad. 1t was impossible
to convince any Of these that the
Farm Bureau would be of any
benefit whatever to them.
Here in Denmark township in
Washington county it is slow
and hard work. The principal
objection and criticism is lodged
against the Equity in Alton and
the Farmers Terminal Packing
plant in Newport. A large num-
Der of farmers visited claim that