Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1939-08-03
Advocates
Adjustment OF
Profit System
Speaker Tells Coop Picnic
Audience Need for More
Cooperatives.

Favored by ideal weather, the Pine
county cooperative picnic held Sun
day at the Chengwatana picnic
grounds near Pine City, was well at
tended. The Pine City band was on
hand, as was also the Askov Little
German band to furnish music. The
high-ight of the day was the address
by Charles D. Egley, manager of the
Farmers Union Livestock Commission
of South st. Paul. Mr.. Egley took
for his topic, "The Depression, Its
Cause and its Cure"
'The question before the American
people," said Mr.. Egley, sis how to
keep from starving to death because
we've got too much. 1t is relatively
simple matter, but human beings
under the present system don't seem
able to solve the problem. We are
always looking for something hard
and pulling"
Mr.. Egley cited the case of the
Ford Motor Company which last year
added six million dollars to its sur
plus, already huge amount. In order
to do that, the business had to show
a net profit, and in order to show
net profit, it had to pay its workers
six million dollars less. This occurring
the country over, means that the
workers cannot buy back the things
they, themselves, produce. The prob
lem is one of spreading purchasing
power among the people. Greater
production does not mean correspond
ingly more employment, or more SAL
aries and wages. Production in the
United States has increased much
faster than payrolls and employment.
This is because business has piled up
bigger profits by using bigger and
better machines and by speeding up
workers.
Would Abolish Profits.
SURPRISES in commodities, cause
layoffs or unemployment. So Presi-
dent Roosevelt hit upon the matter
of issuing bonds, mortgaging the flu
ture generation in an attempt to save
the present generation. When we issue
bonds, we put people in bondage, by
borrowing against an uncertain flu
ture.
To solve the problems now con-
fronting us, said Mr.. Egley, we must
get rid of the profit system and re-
place it with system of production
for USE In this replacement the
cooperative ventures can serve the
people and gradually a new social
order can be built. We must have
consumers co-ops and producers CO.
ops and replace the system of pro-
duction for profit with system of
production for use. Some private
business men may tell you that you
can't get honest men to handle CO.
operatives, but don't believe that. 1t
was private business that bribed out
public officials-it wasn't a coop.
will not find graft between co-ops.
Graft can be gotten rid of when we
can get rid of private profit.
1--WE have not built the coop bust
ness far enough as yet" said Mr..
Egley. "We have only one percent
of business done comparatively, and
80 percent is still in private hands,"
Through cooperatives, people must be
enabled to buy back what they pro-
duce and profteering must be abol-
ished. We got rid of barbarism, and
we got rid of feudalism and we can,
if we cooperate, get rid of the profit
system.
Following his talk, Mr.. Egley Of
fered for sale at cost a number of
copies of Upton Sinclair's booklet,
''The Flivver King" and these were
sold rapidly. A loud speaker system
enabled the large crowd to hear Mr..
Egley very easily.