Part 15 The Challenge of the Country

Part 15

_Our Debt to Immigrants_

Unquestionably this great cooperative movement of the last two decades means an entire redirection of rural life and the ultimate conquest of its worst enemy, individualism. We must thank our adopted citizens for the main impulse given to this movement. Cooperative principles and the cooperative spirit have been imported from Denmark, Germany and Italy, where they had already proved successful, and have taken deep root in our middle-western and north-central states, gradually overcoming the native Yankee individualism characteristic of the older settlers. Dr. Eyerly of Amherst is authority for the statement that the only successful cooperative stores organized in New England for a generation past have been, with one or two exceptions, among foreigners.

In connection with the interesting fact that _interstate_ immigration also stimulates cooperation, the same writer says: "In those parts of the country into which there has recently been a considerable influx of interstate immigrants, as in the Pacific coast states, in Texas and certain other parts of the south and southwest, the cooperative movement has rapidly developed. While this is due in part to the intensive and specialized agriculture practiced and to the nature of the crops grown, e. g., fruits and vegetables, it is due also in part to the _transplanting of individuals into new social groups_ in which the 'cake of custom' is likely to be broken up and new adjustments made under some intellectual leadership."[30]

_The Cooperative Success of Denmark_

Sir Horace Plunkett in Ireland, Raiffeisen in Germany and Wollemborg in Italy have led the cooperative movement in their respective countries to remarkable success; but the cla.s.sic ill.u.s.tration of the wonderful possibilities for rural transformation through cooperation is the story of modern Denmark. s.p.a.ce forbids adequate description here. Suffice it to say that from a condition close to bankruptcy, following a devastating war in 1864, and with sadly depleted fertility, that enterprising little nation of farmers has become the richest in Europe in per capita wealth and about the most productive. An enlightened patriotism working through cooperation accounts for the change.

The Central Cooperative Committee of Denmark controls the situation with consummate skill, with subordinate societies for production of every nature; for the manufacture of rural products such as b.u.t.ter and cheese; for the protection of credit, insurance, health, savings, etc.; even for the protection of the poor farmer against the loss of his single cow! The movement has become closely identified with the religious and patriotic sentiments and in fact springs from both.

It is evident that with this strong movement for cooperation developing in America, two things must eventually follow. The unsocial, narrowly sectarian church must go; and our excessive Anglo-Saxon individualism is doomed,--that unsocial streak in rural life. There is surely a new spirit of cooperation in our country communities east and west which will ultimately overcome our country life deficiencies and make it the most satisfying life in all the world. Meanwhile the struggle is far from won and for men of vision, courage, social initiative and tact there is a great opportunity for leadership in social reconstruction which will challenge and reward the utmost consecration.

TEST QUESTIONS ON CHAPTER V

1.--How do you account for the extreme independence and individualism of the American farmer?

2.--In what unsocial ways does this rural individualism express itself?

3.--What common weakness do you notice in every sort of rural inst.i.tution?

4.--Why do city people as a rule cooperate more readily than most country people do?

5.--Why has it proven a rather difficult task to organize farmers?

6.--How do you account for the fact that farmers have less influence in politics than lawyers, though the farmers are seventy times as numerous?

7.--In what ways do farmers need to cooperate in their business relations?

Ill.u.s.trate.

8.--What shows the failure of country folks to cooperate in religious activities?

9.--What old-fashioned forms of recreation are now seldom seen in the country? What has taken their place?

10.--Why is a wholesome play spirit so essential to the morals of a community?

11.--Suggest different ways to "socialize" a country community.

12.--What plans for rural betterment would you include in your community program for the people to work out together?

13.--What specific plans would you suggest for organized play and community recreation?

14.--What should be done about Sunday baseball in country villages?

15.--What is the special usefulness of the Grange in a rural community?

16.--In what lines of business has cooperation proved successful in the country? Ill.u.s.trate from the fruit growing industry.

17.--Why has cooperation proved more successful in the newer sections of the country than in the East?

18.--What can you say about the success of cooperation in Denmark?

19.--What is the difference between a joint-stock creamery and a purely cooperative creamery?

20.--In what ways can Christian people ill.u.s.trate the principles of brotherhood and cooperation so as to overcome the social deficiencies of country life?

EDUCATION FOR COUNTRY LIFE

CHAPTER VI

EDUCATION FOR COUNTRY LIFE

_How Efficient Rural Citizenship Is Developed_

I. _Weaknesses in Rural Education_

The urbanized country school.

Inferior school equipment and meager support.

Weakness of the district system.