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It was sometime in 1931 or 1932 that Dad joined the Farmers Union. I am under the impression that he joined the Farmers Holiday Association at about the same time. We quickly became regular attendees at the local meetings in our township. The whole family attended the meetings along with other whole families in the neighborhood. Dad also was a member of the Farmers Holiday Association which was a more a direct action protest organization. Our extended family had some association with the Farmers Union at the time it was reorganized in North Dakota about 1928. Charley Talbott began the work of reorganization. He was a farmer in Dickey County. I do not know if he was a close neighbor of Sherman Cofell our Dad's uncle. They were both supporters of the Non-Partisan League. Sherman Cofell was one of the incorporators and was a member of the first board of directors of the North Dakota Farmers Union in 1928. Sherman Cofell of Dickey County was on the Resolutions Committee at the North Dakota Farmers Union Convention in November of 1930. (SCR., Vol.27, No. 14, Nov. 20, 1930.) Sherman Cofell was our father's uncle.
With the exception of Uncle Sherman, no other member of our extended family joined the Farmers Union until Dad joined in 1932. Dad had a discussion with some neighbors and was invited to attend a meeting and returned home as a member of the organization. I was twelve or thirteen and can remember feeling relieved because now it meant to me an expansion of the circle of acceptance. I do not know that acceptance should be dependent upon membership in a particular organization. However, it was important during those years and now it was possible to say to some schoolmates, "Now we belong too."
There were a number of reasons that impelled Dad to join the Farmers Union at this time. Certainly one factor was the great depression in farm prices. We had a very good harvest in the fall of 1932. A second factor was that we were in the midst of changing farms that fall. Dad must have felt very vulnerable to forces beyond his control. He somehow got over some of the feeling that the farmer being individual and independent ought to be able to make it on his own. It was a beginning of formation of an attitude that help might be found in cooperation and organizing with others in a similar situation. It was a growing realization that farmers of that period could only help themselves by helping others.
Not only did farmers and their family believe they might be able to influence legislation and the market in a very practical way it brought farmers together. The organization involved the whole family in meetings and action. This social factor of meeting regularly alone improved the morale and self acceptance of farm families who belonged. The complete name of the organization was The Farmers Educational and Cooperative Union of America. It was to have a powerful influence on my life and was very much part of central educational experience for six or seven years. I have not lost my belief in the aims and objectives of the Farmers Union of that period. Their efforts to educate and unite farmers in understanding political policy, economics, and social life are much appreciated today. I still believe there is merit in striving for economic democracy through cooperatives and credit unions. I especially learned something of community and of people interacting and working together for common objectives. The organization had a great deal to do with my belief in the fundamental equality of people.
During the 1930's, the Farmers Union placed great stress on the educational aspect for both youth and adults. The Farmers Union junior activity introduced us to broad economic, social and political issues. The experiences were those that projected youth toward thinking in terms of the common good. We were introduced into activities that required thought and interest in service. The experiences in speech activity and in writing essays helped develop skill and social poise, skills necessary for effective public participation. In addition, we dealt with issues critical at the time. I wrote essays on "Money and Banking,” “The Machine Age," "War and Peace," and "The Cooperative Movement."
All of us older children, Lois, Eugene and Gordon and myself all participated in some way in Farmers Union Activity. Dad and Gordon remained members as long as they continued to farm.
The following items give some idea of the range of activities and experiences for Farmers Union youth:
"Presentation of winners of the four minutes speech, essay and poster contests of the Farmers Union Juniors and talks by C.C. Talbott and H.R. Solberg featured the county Farmers Union convention which was held at the city hall Saturday, with over two hundred registered at the morning session and more present in the afternoon. Majorie Wright of Homer local placed first in the four minute speech contest, Guy Knobel of Buchanan local second and Leona Thoms, Rose local, third. Walter (William) Cofell of Montpelier local won the essay contest on the subject of the Machine Age, which will be used again next year. Poster contest winners were Lloyd Hauge, Manns, first; Leona Thoms, second; Harry Wilson, Jr., Homer, third.
At the afternoon session State President Talbott gave an "organization" talk stressing how the farmers did not have the influence in the livestock market which they would have if they joined in an economic organization and stuck by it. He urged them to stick by their turkey marketing program and build up a market where they could command their own prices for North Dakota's premium turkeys. He also spoke of the necessity of the union to keep out of politics as an organization although, he said, the individual members should take part in it.
Solberg spoke in detail on the methods of handling turkeys, from the time they were fattened until they were dressed and shipped.
Merritt Clancy, county junior leader presided at the morning session and H.G. Knobel at the afternoon meeting. The Junior's program included reciting the Farmers Union creed by Emily Knobel, welcome by Mr. Knobel, dialogue by Homer local, talk by Beth Greene, reading by Alice Willows, Edmunds; musical numbers by Montpelier members including a solo by Mamie Heer, duet by Gladys and Ethlyn Konoske and quartette by lone Clancy, Minnie Vanderpol, Mildred and Agnes Holand; playlet by Homer juniors; reading by Kathryn Knobel of Buchanan; and a song by Edmund's local juniors and a reading by Marcella Ginsbach of the same local.
Miss Mary Jo Weiler, assistant state junior leader, gave a pep talk and Mr. Clancy made the contest awards.
Flowers were ordered for Marian Wright, who is ill in Trinity hospital, in a resolution commending her for her work as a junior.
Judges for the contest were R.C. Zimmerman of Edmunds, Mrs. O.K. Butts and Miss Weiler. In addition to the winners, Walter (William) Cofell, Phyllis Iverson, Irving Derby, Ruth Derby, Avis Iverson and Harold Boughton read essays." (SCR., Vol. 31, No.9, October 11, 1934.)
The Montpelier Farmers Union local participated in a program at the Stutsman County Farmers Union convention. A member of the Montpelier Farmers Union Juniors presented the Farmers Union Creeds. A reading on junior work by Ethelyn Konoske of Montpelier local, a four minute speech on "War" by William Coffel (sic) from Montpelier local. (SCR" Vol. 31, No. 34, Thurs. April 4, 1935.)
At the Stutsman Farmers Union picnic at Spiritwood Lake, G.H. Knobel, county president, chaired the meeting. William Cofell, juvenile of Montpelier local spoke on "Growth of Cooperatives," tracing their history in Denmark, Sweden and America: (SCR., Vol. 31,No. 45., Thurs. June 20, 1935.) This speech was presented shortly before I came down with measles and appendicitis.
"Montpelier local 213 F.E.C.U. met at School No.2, Oct. 1. The junior 4 minute speech contest was held, with four contestants, Louise Ratts, Wm. Cofell, Ethelyn Ronoske (sic) and Lois Cofell. Wm. Cofell won first place and Louise Ratts second. The judges were Mrs. Tom Derby, Geo. McNally and A.C. Gehlhar. Delegates were elected for the state convention to be held in Dickinson, Oct. 24, 25, and 26. They are Mrs. F.F. Ratts and Ethelyn Konoske: alternates, G.J. Beckerleg and Iona Clancy." (SCR., Vol. 32, No.8, Thurs., Oct. 3, 1935.)
"H.R. Konoske and daughter Ethelyn, Tom Derby, Wm. Cofell and Mrs. F.F. Ratts attended the F.E.C.U. state convention at Dickinsons. They also attended a meeting of the county board of the F.E.C.U. while in Jamestown." (SCR., Vol. 32, No. 13, Thurs., Nov. 7, 1935. P.5.)
After being given a farewell by the Presbyterian church and the Homemakers club, the Casey Vanderpool family who were leaving North Dakota for Oregon "were also honored at School No.2 by the Farmers Union Saturday evening. A bounteous lunch was served and gift of silver was presented." (SCR., Vol. 32, No.34, Thurs. April 2, 1936.)
The obituary of Mrs. C.C. Talbott published. (SCR., Vol.33, No. 11, October 22, 1936..1 Mrs. Talbott was the wife of C.C. Talbott, President of the North Dakota Farmers Union. She was to be followed rather quickly by her husband.
The following April the headlines on the front page of the Stutsman County Record read:
"Came to State in 1909: Head of Farmers Union for about 10 years."
"C.C. Talbott, Jamestown, state president of the North Dakota Farmers Union, died this morning about 10:30 at a Bismarck Hospital, where he has been a patient for two weeks, following an automobile accident near Steele. His condition became critical yesterday and he lapsed into a coma as his temperature rose to 105 degrees. Congestion of both lungs developed.
"The remains will be brought to Jamestown to the Eddy Funeral home tonight. No funeral arrangements have been made.”
"Mr. Talbott had been president of the Farmers Union for about ten years during which time he had lived in Jamestown. Mrs. Talbott died on October 15, 1.936. Survivors are his daughter and son, Mrs. Gladys Edwards and Glen Talbott, both of Jamestown. A daughter, Mrs. Stanley Moore died in 1921 and is buried at Ellendale. Mr.Talbott and Miss Mary Emaline were married in 1896 at Schuyler, Nebr. They lived in Hopkins, Mo., for a number of years, coming to Forbes, N.D., in 1909, engaging in farming until Mr. Talbott became head of the Farmers Union." (SCR., Vol. 33, No. 35, April 8, 1937, p.1.)
Charley Talbott knew us because of the association with Sherman Cofell. We had great admiration for his devotion to and defense of farmers. He had a great booming voice in the manner of the old orators. He had to do most of his speaking without microphones and amplified sound systems. He spoke to many large audiences especially at convention time when as many as two thousand persons were attending and all could hear. As I think back there is no memory of exact words but his thought was very much toward improvement of farmers economic and social lives. I would describe him as a man thoroughly immersed in the quest for justice. He was asked to speak at county conventions, local meetings and elsewhere. He was not likely to turn down a chance to talk to farmers and about the farmers cause. I think of him as a big and robust person but that he exhausted himself in his efforts to educate and work for farmers. He was a great man. We were all shocked at his accident and his death in 1937. I have often thought of Charley Talbott as a person totally dedicated to the cause of the oppressed and the poor.
It was shortly after Dad joined the Farmers Union that I also had a chance to hear John A. Simpson, the National president of the Farmers Union who spoke at a gathering of farmers at Grand Rapids, North Dakota in LaMoure county. I did not know enough of the issues to remember much about that meeting. I am glad that Dad took me along. John A. Simpson gave a good speech as I recall he did not have the power, the force nor the appeal that Charley Talbott possessed.
There was another member of the family that I knew more personally, it was Charles Talbott's daughter, Gladys Talbott Edwards. She was the Farmer's Union Junior leader for North Dakota in the early 1930's. I have great respect for her as one of my teachers. She was one of the most humane persons I knew in my adolescent years. She was one of those persons who suffered when others suffered. She had a heart that went out to the poor and those suffering racial or other kinds of discrimination. I did not know it in 1934 or 1935 that she had or was suffering a great deal herself. As a Farmers Union Junior almost any time I went to Jamestown with a letter, a book review, I was received with kindness and consideration. She always had a gentle and warm welcome to her home. We would discuss what I had written or read. In that period of my life she always encouraged me to think in social terms and helped me more adequately express myself in writing. She was a good and generous leader and a great person. I am glad that I knew her.
Gladys Talbott Edwards was involved with a Conference I attended in Winona sponsored by the Carnegie Foundation for Internation peace.
She was appointed to several commissions and committees state and National one such follows:
"Mrs.. Gladys Talbott Edwards, Jamestown, national Farmers Union educational director recently appointed to the planning committee for the White House Conference on Children in Democracy, was the speaker at the meeting of the Genmeral Arts and Science club, held yesterday afternoon in the library club rooms.
Members of the Jay Jollities, Jamestown high school group, under the direction of John Hove, gave bits from the program they will present at the school tomorrow night. This was the last meeting of the year for the club." (SCR. Thursday April 9, 1942.)
I became involved in Farmers Union Junior activity for the first time in 1933. The summer of 1933, Merritt Clancy, another person who powerfully influenced me during adolescence, walked to our house and gave me a couple of pamphlets and urged me to write an essay on Money and Banking. It was he who showed me the way, gave me encouragement and apparently believed I could do the writing. The pamphlets became my first reading in economics. I did not understand very well but I did learn some vocabulary. I no longer have a copy of that essay but I suspect it was done about as well as an eighth grade student could do on a topic he did not understand very well. However, it was one of three submitted for the county essay contest and the result was an automatic prize. This greatly encouraged me as I found there was money in writing. It also moved me toward some very serious subjects and issues as a teen-ager. It certainly contributed to developing my interest in the social, political and economic issues of the time. Little is remembered of that first essay but much was learned about the complexities of the topic. In 1934, the essay was on the topic of The Machine Age. There was a good deal of discussion about technocracy and the effect of machines on lives of people. My essay was good enough to win first place in the county contest. The topic for 1935 was again on The Machine Age. This essay, much improved over the 1934 version, also was a winner in the county contest. In 1935, I also won something in the four-minute speech contest.
In 1936, I submitted an essay on War and Peace that won the county but didn't do well at the state level. However, I also participated in the four minute speech contest and won in the county and earned third place in the state speech contest held at Wahpeton, North Dakota.
"Those from here attending the Farmers Union convention in Wahpeton were Merrit Clancy and lone Clancy, (for)(Farmers) Union (local) No. 213 and William Coffell as contestant in the 4-minute speech contest. He won third place receiving a $5 prize. His subject was "War and the People," and was broadcast Saturday morning." (SCR., Vol. 33., No. 10, October 15, 1936.) I was told after the contest that I might have done better but that I had mispronounced "inevitable" by saying ineevitable. It might have escaped once but I used that word several times in the speech. I learned that when you read material and learn the meaning of words from context that if you wish to use them in speech it is a good idea to look up not only the definition but to check pronunciation.
So far, so good. All these activities were good experiences and each one served to motivate and encourage me to persevere. During the summer of 1937, I really worked on the essay; "The Cooperative Movement." I remember putting to use all that I learned about grammar, punctuation, syntax in my high school classes. It was a real application of learning. I did what all good writers do, I wrote and rewrote. I did that essay over several times, correcting errors and meaning until I was satisfied with the finished product. I also made very frequent references to the dictionary. The essay was submitted to the county contest and then to the state. I received a first place at the convention in Devils Lake. The monetary reward was I think $15.00 and a trip to the Farmers Union National Convention which that year was held in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.
Mary Jo Weiler asked me to come to a room in the convention center. She informed me that I had won the essay contest for that year. It was a very good feeling. I was also the entrant from Stutsman County in the four-minute speech contest. It was a very well prepared speech and I had also worked very hard on it. I had won the essay contest. I really did not feel that I even wanted to take a chance on winning the four-minute speech contest so I talked overtime. I think Mary Jo suspected what I had done and she was right.
I still have a copy of the essay that was published in the North Dakota Union Farmer. Reading it from a perspective of over 60 years and judging from the experience of teaching, it is a very acceptable piece of thinking and writing for a seventeen year old farm boy of that time or any time. I realize now there must have been a talent buried somewhere and needed development. This Farmers Union experience plus many others were very important in my development as a student and one write up said as a "Scholar."
I have saved a couple of news items from the Devils Lake convention and include them at this point: I think these clippings are from the North Dakota Union Farmer or the Farmers Union Herald:
"William Cofell, Montpelier Local, Stutsman County, North Dakota, won the state essay contest this year.
William has entered essay and Four-Minute speech contests since he was a Junior Reserve of 14. Success has given him a longed for opportunity to attend a National Convention.
But far beyond the reward of the National Convention is the education which William has gained in his consistent study of Farmers Union topics. There is a wide difference in the paper written by the fourteen year old in 1933 and the scholarly treatise which won first place in the Essay Contest this year.
An orchid to this Junior---not just for his fine essay, and for the excellent Four-Minute speech he gave in the speech contest, but for his steady effort to educate himself in the problems of his time." (This item I am quite certain is from the North Dakota Union Farmer.)
"William Cofell, North Dakota, Essayist, quiet, studious, and persevering. Howard Marquardt, North Dakota Four- Minute Speech Winner, tall dark, and fluent on the topic of war prevention... .Anna Mae Stevens, slight, blond essayist from Montana, thrilled to tears over the trip. LeRoy Peterson, Montana, tall and blonde and earnest on the subject of subject of peace... .From South Dakota, Dolores Lind, small and brunette, and Homer Osvog, soft-voiced, blonde, All- State Camper, who isn't so soft voice on the platform. .We go to press before the Wisconsin Juniors have held their elimination events.
These people will meet in Oklahoma City, not to compete with each other, but to present their speeches and essays to the crowds there as an example of what Junior work can do and to receive their National Awards for work well done.
All the speeches will be given at the convention and all essays will be put into printed form for use of those persons who wish to read them. II (I believe this item is from the Farmers Union Herald.)
As a result of winning the essay contest, I was also honored by the Montpelier Community.
"Montpelier community showed its appreciation for the success which crowned the efforts of a senior in its High School, William Cofell, state winner of the 1937 essay contest, by holding a big blow-out in his honor October 20th.
Mr. E.E. Athey, principal of the Montpelier school was master of ceremonies at the community gathering in the city hall. He spoke of the pride the community took in William's achievement and presented William with a purse of money as a gift from well-wishers.
Francis Butts, state recreational director of the Farmers Union, told of the four-minute speech and essay contests, and their value in the education of Farmers Union youth. She told of hearing the first speeches and essays that William entered in those contests and the unswerving perseverance he had shown year after year until this year he will represent the North Dakota Farmers Union youth at the National Convention by reading his essay there.
There was a short program and then Mrs. Butts assisted by Dorothy Pulley, Betty Weiler and Frances Link, led the group in games and folk dances for the rest of the evening." "---Contributed. "
(I do not know where the above was published.)
There is something about the experience of writing well in early life that seems to payoff. This is not to say that I am a great writer but I have found it possible to express myself adequately in that medium. The experience has been valuable to me all my life. I note that after graduating from high school and during the interval that I was in Military service .there was a distinct decline in the quality of my writing. I did not write as well in 1946 as I did in 1938 when I graduated from high school.
My first papers in College came back with C’s and D's and it made me realize very quickly that I had lost some skill and forgotten a lot of things about grammar, punctuation and organization while in the service. Writing letters while in the service, often done in haste and more in concern of simply letting correspondents know that I was still alive did not improve my writing. Those letters were not written with the attention and care given those essays. Under the tutelage of Father Alfred Deutsch, OSB, who in 1946 would not tolerate poor writing when he believed the ability was present to do better, I did make rapid improvement. I have just re-read a paper written in my second year of college and it is a pretty good piece of work.
There was another critical experience that occurred just before the Devils Lake convention. I rode in a car driven by Mr. William Froehlich who was delegate from the Manns local. With him were his wife, and daughter and myself. On the way to the convention on the Fort Totten Indian Reservation we came upon a car that had overturned into the ditch. We found one man conscious and the other unconscious. Both men had overconsumed alcoholic beverages. Mr. Froehlich put the unconscious man in the back seat and directed me how to give him support. The other man got in front. Mrs. Froehlich and their daughter stayed at the car. We took the men to an infirmary or hospital on the Fort Totten Reservation. We placed the unconscious man on a hospital gurney cart and wheeled him into the hospital. The nurse on duty told us to wait for she wanted some information. She then turned to conscious man and severely scolded him for being drunk. She did nothing to check the man on the gurney cart. I do not know where the thought came from but I said to myself, "Thank God, I am not an Indian."
The activity in the Farmers Union Junior movement was to enlarge my interest and provided a framework of ethical concern in our society. I was again and again encouraged to read books and make use of the Farmers Union library and the State library in Bismarck.
The trip to the National Convention also exposed me to other experiences that live in my memory. It was the first time I had taken a trip outside of the State of North Dakota. There are memories of the fun in meeting young people from over the United States, from Louisiana, Missouri, Nebraska, Montana, South Dakota, Washington, Wisconsin and Oklahoma. We had many chances to exchange experiences, ideas and opinions. In some cases there was a sense of unity from our experiences in farm community. There were discussions of the Civil War and the merits and demerits of Generals Lee and Grant which were still a topic of discussion.
It was also my first exposure to slum conditions in large cities. In the Oklahoma City black community the housing was not much different from that on some of the farms in our farming community. One morning Howard Marquardt and I got up early, I suspect it must have been Saturday. We walked into a run-down section of Oklahoma City. The houses in the area were unpainted, rather small, and crowded very close together. As we walked in the area we discovered that the area was largely inhabited by Black people. We were in the segregated part of the city. We were two young white men and someone stopped us and asked what we were doing and suggested politely for our own safety that we leave that area. We turned and walked back to our hotel.
Another experience occurred in the lobby of the Hutchens Hotel where we were staying. There was a group of four, five or six of us juniors standing and talking in the lobby. A middle-aged woman walked up to us and asked what we were doing there. We told her we were attending the Farmers Union convention. We also mentioned that we were winners in four minute speech and essay contests. We named the topics of speeches and essays. She then started giving us instruction as to what was wrong with the country, that it was the Jews and Jewish bankers who were at fault. If we wanted to make things better we should fight the Jews. Apparently all of the young people in our group were pretty well of one mind and attempted to dispute her claims and assertions. Our problem was we had no experience with her kind of argument. She then became more spiteful and vitriolic and she poured out venom about the Jews and told us to read the "Protocols of the Elders of Zion." It is now over sixty years later and I still have not read the Protocols, although I did find out they were forgeries of some kind. What I remember most of that incident though was the intense hatred and venom that poured out of that poor woman. After I wrote the preceding I discovered that I had written something about that conversation in 1937. It reads as follows: "We had an argument with a Jew-baiting Nazi. Frances Link, Dick Allard of Wisconsin and myself were at the literature table selling material for the Education Service. Frances was busy so Dick and I carried on the argument by ourselves. The woman came to the table and asked why we weren't selling 'Educational Material.' What kind of material do you think we are selling? I asked. She replied: 'Perhaps it is all right, but it doesn't give you young people an idea of what is the matter with the world.' Then before I could answer, she continued: 'What is the matter with it?'
"I replied, since she wanted to know, 'Why that is simple after one has studied. The only trouble with the world is that we have allowed others to operate the businesses which we ourselves should be operating.'
She stated: 'The trouble with the world is that we have too many Jews.'
"She made the last statement forcibly. I answered that I didn't believe the Jews are any more responsible for economic conditions than myself. Dick put in a few words and told her that she was bringing race prejudice into it. She tried to tell us that even J. P. Morgan was a Jew. In fact, she contended that all the large industrialist and international bankers were Jews. She left us with some good Nazi advices---to be a little more liberal minded." (This is excerpted from our report of the National Convention published in the North Dakota Union Farmer.)
It was an incident that taught me that hatred is a pretty useless characteristic. It must eat at a person and eventually destroy them. I have noted much the same about others who express intense hatred. Anyway I decided, I would not allow myself nor did I want anyone I cared for behaving as she did. I must admit being frightened by her manner and expression. I had this feeling recur again while in service in Orlando, Florida in an encounter with a white bus driver.
Whatever else may be said, I do not think I have ever broken very far from the prairie philosophy that was first articulated for me through the Farmers Union Junior activity. It has had a great deal to do with the formation of my life and my thinking about people, ethics, community and society. The influence on me is about the same as the influence of the 4-H club work on my sister Lois.