Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1933-02-23
MORE ON COOPERATIVE LAWS
Editor Askoy American: ar~

MORE ON COOPERATIVE LAWS
Editor Askoy Americans: er~
l am very much pleased to see Sig
urd Stovring say that he disagrees
with my criticism of the proposed
New Cooperative laws for. Minnesota.
1t shows that Mr.. Stovring is interest
ed in cooperation; that he thinks CO.
operation needs special protection.
This is where we differ in that !
consider special protection as detri-
mental to a sound and healthy devel-
opment l hold that there is nothing
that stimulates and strengthens man
or an association more than unbound
ed criticism, even though it is ma
licious. l will try to explain:
Any person of persons who induce
or attempt to induce member or a
stakeholder of an association to violate
his marketing contract shall be liable
to association for $500 for each Of
tense, that is the first part of Sec.
XVI B and would apply independently
of the following sentences. How would
that work out if | did criticize an
associations integrity or soundness?
That could be interpreted as trying
to influence a members mind as to
the soundness of the enterprise. Let
us say that | did so in a meeting like
| did some years ago at a rutabaga
canning meeting in Askov. If then
as a consequence ten members broke
|
to such association in the sum of
$500 for each of those 10, but even if
none Of the so or more members
present broke their contract, it could
not be denied that | had attempted
| to influence the members minds by
my criticism, and as consequence |
would be liable for so or more times
$500 regardless of whether any one
broke his contract or not.
Then we come to the next: cor,
who maliciouSly spreads false reports,
ETC." We do not need to worry about
that part of the law as this would
| be case for the courts to decide,
whether it is special law or not.
and undoubtedly in some instances
could be valued in court decision
for several thousand dollars, more ~
less, according to the actual damage.
| What you see or believe, depends to
q large extent on your eyes influenced
| by your mind. with which you see.
A few days ago chain of newspapers
in Germany were forbidden to publish
for a week for allegedly misconstru-
ing a market report and thereby it
was assumed undermining confidence
in the government. | have no doubts
that Mussolini has a number of laws
of his own making that arbitrarily
curtail free speech and so has,-per-
haps Russia, and now Germany is in
line. Are we attempting to be next
in that line? Yes, really we are in
line by the way our immigration au-
thorities are depOrting aliens, for
talking and distributing Communist
literature. | am confident that we do
not need that kind of legislation, that
it is dangerous step in the wrong di-
rection, that cooperation does not
need special protection, that it is and
will be harmful and tend to weaken
the responsibility, loyalty, and love
we should feel and practice in our CO.
Operative movements.
Let us step back to the words: ''Tc
attempt to induce any member 70
violate his marketing contract"
suppose any contract 1 sign is bind
ing for me, and that it should be
whether anybody attempts to induce
me to violate said contract, or not.
We should have binding marketing
contracts, with our creameries for a
period, say 10 years or any period in
which the entire debt for buildings
and equipment should be paid for
And so in any other produce marketing
association. Only a very few to my
knowledge are based upon such prin-
ciples in the United States. At the
end of such stipulated period anyone
could step out or renew for another
period.
Mr. Stevring indicates that attempts
to induce or influence members
mind to violate his marketing con
tract, etc. are crimes no less hideouS
than theft and murder. Crimes nc
Christians and God-fearing people
should tolerate. He would welcome
most any kind of legislation to curl
. such OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES activities
These are rather big words and we'll
} meaning-but iucOnseQuent. Don
} you know that MinneSota's snakes-in
, the-grass are one IF the farmers hes
friends? in that they devOur large
number Of mice end insects that 9th
erwise would destroy large part o
, our crops? Why Islander faithful
r worker?
{ Another point had in mind in tn
= proposed new Cooperative Law TO
Minnesota is in Sec. XIII. Quorum.
that point | am afraid will be grea
handicap, especially in association
spread over a large territory such
e Pine Coop Oil Association and Pin
t County Mutual Fire Insurance CO
| think it will be impossible to gathe
e 20% of the members at general
r special meeting, unlesa perhaps if W
d could manage to pay a large DIVIDEND