The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1920-10-08
HANDLES FARMPROBLEM'
PREUS URGES CO-OPERA.
TON TO SOLVE ILLS
He Points To Evidence Of Success
Through More Thorough
Understanding
ASSOCIATED Press Dispatch

Red Lake Falls. October 2.-J. A. o.
Preus, republican candidate for gov
ernor delivered an address before a
large gathering Of people here today.
Touching chiefly on the Eoblems OF
the farmer Mr.. Preus spoke In part
as follows:
THE platform adopted by the re-
publican national convention of June
8, 1920, declared that, the farmer is
farming is the basic industry of this
nation has always been recognized
and asserted by the republican party.
That 1t Is the basic industry of the
state of Minnesota was recognized at
the republican convention held in ST.
Paul, May s, 1920. Until the time OF
the Civil war, the United States was
recognized as being almost purely an
Agricultural country. Since that time
the United States has moved with
marvellous rapididity toward becom
we find that approximately seventy
four per cent of the population Of the
United States is in cities as against
twenty six per cent in the country
Here in the state of Minnesota, rec
ognized as one Of the leading agri-
cultural states in the union and fire.
quently spoken Of as the Bread and
Butter State We find that-our city
population is now sixty eight per cent
ind our country population is approx
imately thirty two per cent of the
total population.
Back to The Farm.
For a number Of years, We have
heard in Minnesota as well as
throughout the United States the cry
of back to the farm The reason Is
that the United States has gradually
approached the point, despite its
tremendous agricultural areas and
fertile soils, Of becoming an indus
trial rather than an agricultural ma
ton. This ia demonstrated by the
fact that today our importations OF
foodstuffs practically equal our ex-
portations thereof While many
causes have contributed to this great
change in the activities OF our people,
the chief reason, it must be agreed is
that city life Is more attractive than
rural life.
There Is but one way OF remedy
ing his evil both in our state and
nation and that is to make farm life
so attractive and so remunerative
that the young man in the cities will
wish as much to seek employment in
the country as the young man in the
country seeks occupation in the CT
ties. This statement cannot be TAX
en- as an appeal to class, for sue
cess in this direction will be a boom
both to our state and nation.
Adjust Farm Prices.
There is, perhaps, not farmer In
Minnesota today who is not dissatis-
fed over the difference in the price
which he receives for his raw mate
rial and that which the consumer
pays for the finished product made
therefrom. Some people would have
you believe that this tremendous dit
ference which can be observed IN
some of the most ordinary necessar-
les of life is due only to the abnor-
NAL profits of the middleman whom
they call profiteers. This is partl
true but 1t is not the only reason for
the wide margin Of prices between
producer and consumer.
"Our farmers of Minnesota nave
been awakened to the benefits which
can be derived through CO. operative
exchanges. We have today approx
mately $500 cooperative organiza-
tions. Among these might be men
toned the farmers mutual fire 1rsur-
lance companies. In 1879 the first
mutual fire insurance company was
ORGANIZED lot Tue pui poSS VI ihouA AA6
farm buildings only. Since that time
down to the present there have been
organized 161 companies. They have
sold insurance to our farmers ut an
average Of fifteen cents per hundred
The lowest annual rate in stock COM
panies is seventy FIVE cents per an
mum and most farm Insurance Is
written on an annual business. More
business las been written at a rate
of $3.50 and $500 per hundred and
it is safe to say that the CO. operative
organizations have saved the farmers
from $20,0O0,000 to $30,000,000.
Co. operation Is Keynote.
1.-THE cooperative creamerios OF
which there are total number OF
$50 in the state disclose daily to the
farmers what cooperative insti.
tuition can do. The prices received
at the creamery by the farmer for
his raw product which Is made into
butter is not to exceed Ave per cent
less than the price paid by the con-
sumner in the cities. The difference
is contained In the actual cost Of
manufacture and transportation.
Under the agricultural depart.
ment established at the last session OF
prises have been greatly encouraged.
"Just recently, Senator Harding,
the splendid republican nominee for
president Of the United tates. stated:
"T believe that the American peo-
pie, not only In behalf Of the farmer
but in behalf of their own welfare
and the pocketbooks Of the consum-
ers of America will encourage, make
lawful and stimulate cooperative
buying, cooperative distribution and
CO operative selling Of farm prod
ucts.'
Believe In Method.
IT think the farmers Of Minnesota
believe in the cooperative method
which has already done 50 much for
them contrasted with the state own
ed method which II once applied to
farm products will steadily grow and
expand to embrace the completed
program of what is known as social
ism, will confiscate all property
which Is held for gain whether 1t be
stocks, bonds, mines, on farms, that
they may be operated for the benefit
of all our people and ultimately de.
stroy the independence, liberty and
private property OF the greatest rural
civilization known in the worlds his.
tory that which is found In the United
States today" ~"
Dan w. Griffith has resigned his
position with the New Ulm Stone
company, and left last night for