Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1912-05-13

but that is no longer the attitude Of
the farmers. They have come to un
derstand thoroughly that these men
who study their conditions and advise
them, are actuated by no motive what
ever except to advance the interests
of those who will accept their services
and from a state Of cynical indiffer
ence or hostility there has developed
a degree of interest and appreciation
which is illustrated by the fact that
two young farmers on recent Sunday
drove 20 miles through a snowstorm to
meet the field man and get his advice
as to what to do with their land un-
der the conditions existing.
A Great Success.
Not only were the farmers them.
| selves little slow at first to recognize
the merits of this method; it took sew.
eral days to secure for it the indorse-
| ment of the department Of agricul-
| ture at Washington, but it Was finally
/ forthcoming. Mr.. Cooper has been en-
| abled to secure men we'll qualified for
| this work at salaries less in some
]
| ceiving elsewhere, but the success OF
the effort in North Dakota is almost
| certain to result in a demand for a
like organization in other states where
the men trained for this work in North
Dakota will have opportunities for
more profitable employment. Already
he has been solicited to take charge
Of a similar movement in Iowa and in
Illinois.
Minnesota lost Thomas Cooper to
North Dakota because nobody had the
foresight to employ him in this man.
Ter for the Minnesota farmers Illinois
LOST a $500 man to North Dakota be-
cause that man was able to see that
Ills North Dakota method was better
than any in operation in Illinois; that
it was practicable scheme. requiring
only demonstration to put it in de-
mand in every state in the Union: and
that the chances for his having oppor-
tunity to direct similar work else
where justified him in identifying
himself with it in the beginning at
less money than he was heretofore re-
ceiving.
How 1t Is Done
The work of the man in the field
is to go among the farmers in the dis
trict to which he is assigned, see what
they are doing, suggest to them bet
ter way if he can, interest them in
experiments, and using the farm as
his laboratory to work out in practical
farming the ideas of the theorists,
we'll enough in themselves, but devel-
oped under peculiar conditions, and
help the farmer and his son to employ
them profitably.
This association consists of 81 men,
Is of whom live in North Dakota. e.
j. Weisner, president of the First Ma
tional bank Of Fargo, is the president
of the association. P. l.. Howe, grain
man of Minneapolis, is the first vice
president; C. W. Kelly, trustee of the
agricultural college at Fargo, is the
second vice president; former Gov.
e Y Sarles of Hillsboro is treasurer.
The executive committee consists Of
"A r. Rogers, P. J.. Howe, Minneap-
oils; E. ]. Weisner, Thomas Cooper,
Fargo; C. B. Mcmillan, Hanna; and
r. C. Kettle, Casselton.
The success Of this undertaking, it
is not more than fair to say, is depend
ent upon the managing director Mr..
Cooper. He Is the live wire who has
this work. is giving it direc-
tion and supervision, and he is prepar-
ing to show to the farmers Of North
Dakota that success in their business
depends upon intelligent businesslike
methods.