The nonpartisan leader. [volume], April 12, 1920, Image 7

About The nonpartisan leader. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1915-1921

Image provided by: State Historical Society of North Dakota

                
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"If I Were My Wife"
What the Farm Woman Should Do, From
One Man's Viewpoint
BY F. G. B.
I were my wife I would begin right
now to fight the pests, germs and the
hard, disagreeable part of housekeep
ing for this summer. To fight a bat
tle before war is actually declared is
a good way to keep the enemy from
the home and so prevent disaster.
First, I would give special attention to my win
dows and doors. If there are no screens for them
I would buy wire, employ someone to make them
and thus have them ready, for what is the use to
have such things if we are late in getting them in,
and let the flies get ahead of us. I would learn
all I could about the best methods of trapping and
poisoning these insects, and be fully prepared with
my deadly weapons, for in the country especially
the flies will swarm on the back doors and it is
almost impossible to keep them out of the house.
A few traps and some poison about the porch will
help considerably.
If I were my wife I would look for conveniences
for my own kitchen and home, such as labor-saving
devices. We men have them on the farm, so why
not have them in the house Too often this is neg
lected by thoughtless men and borne patiently by
the housewife. I would, if possible, have running
water in my kitchen, with spigots for both hot and
cold water. Lights I would have installed even if
money was scarce and my husband objected. Think
of the work saved by abolishing lamps! I would
never stop fuming until I got mops, carpet sweep
ers, oil stove and all necessary cooking utensils.
All these things our city sisters possess, and how
they are envied by the country woman.
These things are necessary because servants are
scarce, and the housewife and mother owes it to
herself as well as to her family to save her strength
and live in peace. If I were my wife I would not
spend this summer in fighting flies and doing hard
work that modern conveniences could do for me.
No, I would not—not if I could possibly help it—not
even if I had to get a divorce from myself..
How Co-Operation Works
Editor Nonpartisan Leader: I am so glad the
"Farm Woman's Page" is not filled up with recipes
and how to feed two children on the food that one
should have. It is about time the women should
find out why we are forced to eternally economize
to keep our families just merely existing.
The little letter of Sister N.
As a result the farm
ers and their wives got
together and started a
warehouse company.
For a small beginning
A-
Stongaard on
co-operation was especially interesting to me, for
we have a co-operative society known as the
Grangers' Warehouse company of Methow valley.
This co-operative society is the outgrowth of po
litical persecution of the farmers during the war by
local merchants, bank
ers and politicians.
They mobbed our Po
mona master because
he was a member of the
N onpartisan league
they refused to allow
us to hold meetings and
picnics in the town we
had built and were sup
porting. Acting as the
council of defense they
prevented our speakers
from keeping their ap
pointments with us.
They called us Social
ists, Bolshevists, an
archists, I. W. W.s and
pro-Germans. They did
many other disloyal
things which the farm
ers endured to prevent
revolution and blood
shed.
THE FARM WOMAN'S PAGE OF NEWS AND OPINION
we capitalized for $2,500 and divided it up into 100
shares at $25, rented a building, which we now own,
and set up in business.
ISS LILY ANDERSON of Franklin,
Minn., has been selected by the farm
er-labor forces of Minnesota as their
candidate' for state
treasurer. Miss An
derson was born in
Minnesota 28 years ago, daughter
of a pioneer family. Her grandfath
er, Max Haach, was victim of an
Indian uprising in southern Minne
sota while protecting other settlers
from the natives.
Miss Anderson and her brother,
Irving Anderson, who returned re
cently from army service in France,
manage together a 287-acre farm
at Franklin. When help is short she
puts on overalls, helps in the milk
ing of 15 head of cows, in caring for
feeder cattle and other farm work.
Miss Anderson received her edu
cation in California, where the
family lived for a few years on ac
count of her mother's ill health,
and at the Franklin high school.
We buy at wholesale and distribute to our mem
bers at cost, plus a per cent for running expense.
The warehouse is kept open one day each week and
that is a busy day.
The women were right in the front-line trench
in this move, taking shares and making sacrifices
to pay for them, attending all meetings and boost
ing. We have been doing business about nine
months and many of us have saved several times
the price of our share.
There are 46 such warehouses in our state and
many more planning organization. We have our
wholesale society and are planning to go into the
manufacturing business.
If any sister is interested in starting a co-oper
ative business similar to ours I think it would be
possible to get a copy of the constitution and by
laws of our state Grange warehouses.
Don't be afraid, sisters. Have confidence in your
selves and you will succeed in North Dakota, where
the people rule.
Winthrop, Wash. MRS. ALFA S. VENTZKE.
Mothers Need Better Care
A vast area in the Northwest, larger than the
state of Connecticut, was served by only three
registered doctors, the children's bureau of the
United States department of labor reports. In one
northwestern county two-thirds of the women were
unable to have a physician's attendance at child
birth. That better care of expectant mothers is
needed is indicated by the fact that the percentages
of infant mortality due to premature birth have
increased from 17% per x:ent in 1910 to 21 per cent
in 1917.
WANT WOMAN'S BUREAU
Women are making a determined drive at Wash
ington to have congress establish a woman's bu
reau as a permanent branch of the United States
department of labor. The bureau was established
temporarily during the war, with an annual appro
priation of $40,000. The women ask that this be
increased to $150,000, pointing out that congress
is appropriating $300,000 to improve the breed of
domestic animals and over $5,000,000 for all ani
mal industries.
CHANGE OF ADDRESS
The national office of the Women's Nonpartisan
clubs, along with the National Nonpartisan league
and the League publications, has been moved to
Minneapolis and is located in the Minnesota Daily
Star building. Address Flora Thomason, National
Secretary, Women's Nonpartisan clubs, P. O. Box
2072, Minneapolis, for membership or other in
formation.
League Candidate for Treasurer of Minnesota
MISS LILY ANDERSON
PAGE SEVEN
She has been active in the women's auxiliary of the
American Society of Equity, Minnesota union, for
the last five years, serving successively as secretary
of a local, as organizer and as state
secretary. She has been active in
Bees Cut Living Cost
Minnesota Woman Gives Her Experience
for Benefit of Others
DITOR Nonpartisan Leader: The ar
ticle on bees by Charles Olive pleased
me very much. If every farm family
had three or four colonies of bees,
intelligently managed, they would not
need to buy much sugar at the present
price, since honey is well adapted for sweetening
and makes fine cakes when proper recipes are fol
lowed. It is one of the most healthful sweets and
very well liked by most people.
I will add a few suggestions for beginners which
I learned through experience. Ten years ago I
bought the first colony of bees, but did not know
anything about their habits or management. I
could not tell the queen from the others. I have
averaged five gallons of extracted honey per colony
every year and have always had plenty of winter
feed for them. Get one colony of bees, a smoker,
an extra super filled with frames, with full sheets
of foundation for surplus honey. Ten frame hives
are best.
I use a large, brim straw hat, over which I slip
a veil made from black cloth screen, sewed, bound
and shirred on top then a raincoat which closes
well around the neck, so the end of the veil is in
side the coat, and a pair of gloves. Protected thus
I use the smoker gently and then I can work with
them all day without any trouble.
Do not work with bees when you are nervous
or very sweaty or when the weather is very sultry
and a storm threatening, as they are liable to be
very cross.
Work gently and slowly. Do not jerk the frames
out, as that makes them cross, and avoid crushing
bees when changing frames.
I hope this will encourage other farm women
to start with a few colonies. They will enjoy keep
ing bees and will have all the honey they want to
eat. MRS. GUST C. ALBRECHT.
Fairfax, Minn.
Work for Women to Do
Editor Nonpartisan Leader: I read in our last
Leader a piece headed, "Women Must Wake Up,"
that appealed-to me very much. The thought came
to me, "Why?"
Here we have been lying dormant too long, po
litically. Now comes the call, "Wake up." What
does it mean?
It means there is oppression, some awful oppres
sion, that is causing such unrest. Such calls for
help ought to be heeded by every woman who can
possibly get out on election day.
I am very glad for the Women's Nonpartisan
clubs. They will be a means of great education
for the women. We need a club in this locality very
much. I am doing all I can to advance the cause.
Methodist Sunday school work, at
tending state conventions as well as
working locally, and has been one
of the most active workers in the
state for the Women's Nonpartisan
clubs. During the war she was dis
trict chairman of the food conser
vation board and member of the
executive committee of the county
health board.
Miss Anderson is just as much
of a farm woman as Governor
Lynn J. Frazier of North Dakota
is. a farm man. She is full of
spirit, and Minnesota women are
sure she will be the next state
treasurer—if the 36th state ratifies
the woman suffrage amendment
early enough for Miss Anderson to
file in the primaries.
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TO
It seems very neces
sary that every woman
should wake up to the
great responsibility
that is now upon us.
The organized power
of those against us is
now keeping the work
ers in slavery, but by
the power of our ballots
we may set them free.
I love the slogan,
"Freedom for all for
ever."
MRS. C. S. PERRINE.
Sherburn, Minn.
A NEW HOLIDAY
The celebration of
June 14 as "Neighbor's
Day," with nation-wide
community meetings, is
proposed by the nation
al conference on com
munity organization,
which is trying to pro
mote a more friendly
spirit in communities
throughout the country.