Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1932-05-19
What Cooperation
Brings to Farmer

In the Congressional Record of
April %, 1882, was printed, upon
the request of Senator Elmer
Thomas of Oklahoma, radio
address by John A. Simpson,
president of the National Farm
ers Union, given that day. The
address deals with a visit Of Mr..
Simpson to Denmark a year ago,
his observations, and the bene-
fits derived by farmers there
through cooperation, resulting in
better prices and more home
owning.
BY JOHN A. SIMPSON
At this time last year l was in
Europe, Primarily l went there to
attend a worldwide wheat conference
held in Rome, Italy, the last two
weeks of March, 1881. Delegates at
tended this convention from 4S ma
tions. Wheat-importing nations all
told of governmental assistance to en-
courage farmers to produce more
wheat. Exporting countries such as
Canada, Argentina, Australia and Rus
STA all declared they would be in
creasing acreage and production for
years to come. Under such circum-
stances there is little hope for prof
table export market to the farmers
of this country in the near future.
One of the features of the conven-
ton was session addressed by Mus
solini. He spoke in French, and as
| read it in English it was a very
sensible talk. He is a man with
lot of personality and doer of things
as we'll as a preacher. Those with
whom | talked, who had been visiting
Italy for the last 80 years, told me
of the wonderful changes in cleanli-
ness, in policing, in undermining
homes, farms and cities since Mus
solini has been in charge of the ltal-
ian government. Italy has a king,
but no one talks about the king; ev-
erything is Mussolini. Italy is diff
ferent in the matter of agriculture
from many European countries. The
farms are large estates operated by
tenants. In France and Denmark
agriculture is made up of small home
owning farmers. The landlords OF
Italy for hundreds of years have
treated their tenants like slaves.
These tenants live in hay huts that
had neither windows nor doors, just
openings. The hay huts are round
like a ball cut into halves. A hut II
feet in diameter would house whole
family. Since Mussolini has come in
to power he is requiring landlords to
build Large, modern apartment build
ings in the center of their estates
with an apartment for each tenant.
Where this has been done the hay
huts have been destroyed. Likewise,
these landlords have been compelled
to drain and torrance where needed
To increase acreage and production
of wheat the government of Italy
guarantees minimum of price equal
to S1.6O a bushel. This assistance has
resulted in the farmers sowing wheat
everywhere. l saw hundreds of thous-
ands of acres of wheat growing be-
vineyards. The rows of grapes are
so close together that the cradle would
be the only means of harvesting the
wheat Italians told me that during
the World War they suffered because
they depended on overseas countries
the wheat production in their country
to the point that in the next war
they will have bread of their own.
Visits Denmark.
But | must get to Denmark for my
subject is organization and co-opera-
ton as / saw it in Denmark. At the
wheat conference in Rome the dele
gate from Denmark was a Mr.. Holm,
president of the Farmers Union OF
that country. When he found out l
was going to visit Denmark he made
me promise to allow the Farmers
Union to be our host while there. |
say sour host" because my wife was
with me. When we landed in Copen-
hagen, we reported to Mr.. Holm's
office. After about a half days visit
in their headquarters, he placed us
in charge Of Mr.. and Mrs. Claussen,
workers in the headquarters of the
Farmers Union there. Mr.. and Mrs.
Claussen spoke English fluently. Both
of them had attended school in the
United States after finishing in their
country. In fact Mr.. Holm worked
as hired man in the United States
for several years. He worked for
some farmer out in Oregon. He told
me that while working for this man
he was invited one time to speak
to farmers union county convention.
He rode 40 miles on a horse to at
tend this convention, and returned the
same night. The man he was work
ing for gave him just one days vaca-
ton for the purpose. Mr.. and Mrs.
Claussen took my wife and l for two
days in their car. | would ask to see