The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1909-11-20
concentration Of
FARMING METHODS
Commissioner Wilkinson De-
livers An Address At Jackson
ONE HEAD FOR BUREAUS
Mr.. Wilkinson Advocates centraiza-
ton of the Work of Agricultural
Departments in All the
States of the South.

Jackson, Miss, November 19.-(Special)
In an address here yesterday before the
commissioners of agriculture of the south,
j. A. Wilkinson of the Alabama depart
ment argued that all those activities re-
lated to the farmers and their businesses
should be under one head in every state.
He cited the department at Washington
as a good example. taking It that each
state would do well to take this view
of the work thus to be done. He said:
Mr.. President and Gentemen
1t affords me great pleasure to pre-
sent to you in a short paper my views
on the question of what should be the
main office of the work of the depart
ment of agriculture.
I construe this to mean the scope of
the work of the departments of the south
ern states, what particular interests they
should cover and how far the work of
each branch Of the departments should
extend. OF course my remarks will re-
fer more specially to my own observa-
lions and the needs of our several de-
partments based on our work in Ala
bama.
eNNAANO
work, the greatness of agriculture, the
many phases Of the kindred subjects that
bear on the departmental organization
and extension, all appeal to US to not
only extend the scope of the depart
ments of the several states but to bet
ter systematic and classify and to es-
tablish for each industrial branch and
bureau. with head capable of regulat-
ing and directing any given or particular
work. Each bureau or departmental
head should be under the entire control
of the commissioner of agriculture or
the board of agriculture, as the case may
be. Should 1t be necessary to argue
the case in order to establish the truth
OF these assertions. then we would re-
fer you to the states where concentra-
ton of all the agricultural work is most
complete and you will observe that the
most progressive conditions pertain. On
the other hand you will note those in
terests in the states that are severed
from the influence and control OF the
agricultural departments are the least
perfected and the best results are not
obtained.
Centralized Work.
1t strikes me the work at Washington
under the secretary, Mr. Wilson, and
his assistant, MI Hays, justifes US in
concluding that each industrial branch
should be confined to one and not to
several heads of different departments.
The scope of the department Of agri-
culture should be co-extensive with the
demands growing out of the necessities
that arise from time to time. Ten years
ago the scope was different from what
II Is today Ten years from now new
necessities and conditions will arise that
will require an extension of the work
In some directions. and in the incorpor-
ating of new departments: also there may
be a time when retrenoslment and lop-
ping off may become necessary.
The departments of agriculture of
the states at present. so far as my OBJ
serva ton extends. are too much divided
up and the great interests of agricul-
ture proper. OF stock raising, OF dairy
ing, of horticulture and plant breeding.
of immigration and farmers institutes, Of
forestry. of cooperation in soil survey
and crop demonstration work, of Stats
teal and fertilizer work. of pure food,
both for man and beast, are all too much
distributed and with too many heads
wo king at these many questions and
hence there is much lost motion to the
working machinery of the departments.
This work should be concentrated in the
hands of one commissioner OF agricul-
ture. OF of a board of three or more MEM
bers; vet I confess I am partial to the
agricultural commissioner having control,
and l prefer this commissioner should
be elected b. the people. However, this
may be, my contention is that one de-
partmental head should control and man
age the entire work
Political Drawbacks.
I am we'll aware that in each state
there are POLITICAL troubles in the way of
these engagements and concentrations of
efforts, and In each state many may
fear losing their jobs. This trouble may
or may not pertain, but comforting sug-
gestion to such is that a truly great de-
partment of agriculture will constantly
be adding bureaus and extension interests
that will call for skilled men to head
these different bureaus and these men
should be subjected by the law Of the
state or states to some civil service ex-