The Nonpartisan Leader Newspaper, March 7, 1921, Page 11

"; "i - to starve. part of an immense estate which was worked by laborers. In the winter of 1900-1901 the male laborers were paid from 1.10 to 1.30 lire per day (21 to 27 cents) and.the women laborers .60 to .80 lira (12 to 15 cents). ers demanded more money. In answer to their-demand ther owners of the es- tate declared a “lockout,” ordering them off the land and letting the land _ lie fallow when they could not get laborers to work it. So unjust and unpatriotic was this action, when Italy was bitterly in need of food, that the laborers found strong supporters in some influential and public-spirited citizens, including the mayor of Malalbergo, a good-sized - town on the estate. After some years of struggle agreement finally was reached that the laborers should take over the farm as a co-operative enter- prise. Eight hundred ' and -seventy-eight laborers joined the co-operative enter- prise. The American commission which visited the Altedo farm in 1913 found that the co-operators had estab- lished a co-operative purchasing so- ciety, with a big warehouse and a flourishing hotel and restaurant. The commission questioned some of the " farmers as follows: “What have you gained by member- ship ?” “Almost everything. Work nearly every day in the year and higher wages than ever before.” “What have been the results of this gam"” “] have a better house and some new furniture. My wife and children and myself all have some new -clothes every .year.” “Have you saved money?” “Yes, I have saved over 100 lire 3 year.” / Another co-operator said: BOTH SIDES LIKE THE CO-OPERATIVE PLAN “We are much more fairly treated under the co-operative plan. The so- ciety pays the landowner for the fields, so he is satisfied because he is certain of his reints. And the society pays the laborer for his work, so that he is sure of getting his wage, and then we are more free because we are sure of getting more work.” Let us jump from the co-operative farm of Altedo to events that happen- ed in Italy in 1920. When Italy was facing bitter economic conditions and thousands were starving, owners of factories throughout Italy declared a “lockout,” closing their doors and turning the workmen out in the street The objects of the “lock- out” were to create #n artificial short- age of manufactured goods, and thus raise prices, and also to compel work- ers to accept reduced wage scales. It was almost exactly the situation that led to the starting of the co-operative farm of Altedo. The Italian workmen were in no mood to starve without a struggle. By agreement they marched back into the factories, entered the doors and started the machinery going on their own hook. The government refused to intervene and drive the workers "into the streets to starve. Finally the owners of the factories agreed to operate them again. “But not on the old terms,” said the workers. “We can operate the fac- tories without you, but you can not operate them without us.” Agreement was finally reached be- tween the owners, the workers and the government, by which the fac- tories of Italy are now operated under the joinj control of the workers and the owners. Overnight there had been a peaceful industrial revolution and Italy had launched the world’s most important experiment in the field of industrial democracy. The work-- ful farmers. ALFALFA MIDDLEMEN Editor Nonpartisan Leader: Your articles about the wheat gamblers are fine. ~ Information of that kind ought to open the eyes of some of the doubt- In a report recently made to our alfalfa growers the fol- lowing statements were made: That the hay on its way from pro- ducer to consumer passed through the hands of from one to seven middlemen. That these middlemen charged from $1 to $5 per ton for their services. That hay they sold for alfalfa con- tained from 5 to 70 per cent of other hay. ADOLF SKOUBO. Boardman, Ore. WANTS LEAGUE IN OHIO Editor Nonpartisan Leader: I hope the day is not far distant when you will invade the not only waterbound but hidebound state of Ohio with your great practical program. I await with anxious expectancy my paper, the Leader. W. S. ROSS, M. D. Marietta, Chio. ADVERTISEMENTS FOR AN ORGANIZATION EQUIPPED with everything to market grain promptly and profitably— ABLE to furnish terminal elevator service for your own benefit— COMPETENT to handle every phase of grain and livestock _ marketing— WILLING to share profits on an equitable basis with its patrons— DETERMINED to make the producers’ interests foremost at the markets— CONSIGN TO THE Equity Co-Operative Exchange . GRAIN St. Paul Superior, Wis. N FARMERS’ OWN SELLING AGENCY LIVESTOCK Chicago So. 8t. Paul The Leader does not knowingly accept advertising from dishonest people. Our advertisers are worthy of support. zlfl‘fll.l"."l."l.IH.IN.lll‘l'l.“l.”i.“l.lll.IIIOINOINOIII.III‘l".oll. 1101110110111 011011101118 11181118101 Titan 10-20— for /Eco'nomy'Fdrming DURING THE YEAR 1921 AND THE YEARS TO COME RACTORS come and tractors go but Titan 10-20 continues its steady traveling along the roads of popularity, and in the fields of labor, con- quering the most difficult of practical farm tasks. Theories and experiments in design and construction run their course among manufacturers and among farmers— and leave behind a varied history. But the service record of Titan has beeri a revelation in the agri- cultural world. Its record as an efficient farm power unit has been, to state a plain truth, convincing. During its history, Titan sales have swept ahead; thls tractor has carried its success into every county and country. Yet, except for minor improve- ments and betterments, Titan design has remained unchanged. It has stood the test of time, the test of hardest, roughest usage, the test of strenuous Sm- petition, so that to date the farming world has invested over seventy million dollars in Titans. Can there be better proof of thorough practicability? Titan 10-20 is now more than ever standard because it is fundamentally simple,enduring, reliable, right. Do not be deluded by initial false economy. Increase the efficiency of your work for 1921 by an investment in this power. The International gealer is the man to see. INTERNATIONAL HARVESTER COMPANY CHICAGO 92 Branch Houses and 15,000 Dealers in the United States OF AMERICA (INCORPORATED) USA MISlie®ilieieeinleileiiteltionienisine 110G NIISINS NI IISISINS OIS IIISNISNIOLISHISI PAGE ELEVEN Mention the Leader When Writing Advertisers i