The Blackfoot optimist. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1907-1918, 1914-02-19
AID FOR FARMERS
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Washington - Senator Brady 81
Idaho is a firm believer in legitimate
government aid to the American
farmer and gave considerable time
both in the senate and in the com.
nittee on agriculture, to the agricul
tural extension bill, fathered by Sena
tor Hoke Smith Of Georgia. Senate,
Brady worked hard for an amend.
ment increasing the appropriation car
ried by the bill from $780, to $780,.
600 per annum for the next seven
years and also urged that the bill
should be amended to provide a more
equitable method of distributing funds
However, he finds that If tho bill be.
comes law in its present form it viii
permit the detail of one demonstrate,
to each county in Idaho.
Brady Gives Views
In q speech in the senate urging
the adoption Of this bill, Senator
Brady said:
Il fully realize that It is going t.
be hard matter indeed to have this
appropriation distributed entirely
equitably. At the same time l feel
that there is SO much merit in the
bill and there is such grave need OF
its passage at this time that l believe
it would be well for US to give care
full consideration to the division az
suggested by the bill as it stands.
Il happen to be q member of the
committee On agriculture and fores.
try, and know that the senator from
Georgia, Mr.. Smith, has worked earn
eetly and faithfully to have the bill
perfected in the most beneficial man.
ner. If we can get the bill enacted
into law at this time, later on We
csn mutually agree upon some plan
OF distribution Of the appropriation
If this distribution is found to be in.
equitable, that will be fair to each anl
every state.
II believe that the work we have
to do at this time is more in the ma
ture of getting a bill that will extend
the benefit of this appropriation tt
the farmers of the country than We
are in providing for an exact and
you might say, equitable distribution
of an appropriation of this kind, fol
am convinced that the department
Of agriculture will recommend and
that congress will pass any remedial
legislation that may be necessary ir
order that the rural and farming pop
rlation of every state shall receive its
just share Of the funds appropriated
in case it is found that the method
OF distribution provided in this bill
does not do justice to the agricul
tu1al state taking advantage of this
act
Farmers Should Be Considered
"The farming community is one
tlat we must give some attention t.,
1t is one that has been more OR less
neglected, and the manner of hand
i;rg this fund has been worked out
in my judgment, on the best plans
and lines that it is possible to do a
this time.
"On Saturday during the able adj
dress of the senator from Iowa, Mr.
Cummins, he made the statement tina
these meetings Of the farmers, wher'
they were to be instructed by thest
demonstrators, would be on the large
and better farms. We have been car
rying on this work in small wa!
in our state for some years, and W,
rave found that the best way to hav,
demonstration made is with tht
farmer whose farm is not in as goo(
condition as that OF his neighbor whit
Las been able to give his farm prope
attention. The best success We hav'
had in this work has been by takin!
farm that has been neglected ant
run down and have the demonstrate
go upon that particular farm an
demonstrate to that farmer and hi
neighbors what can be done by taking
a poor or a neglected farm and i'm
proving it and placing it in higl
state of cultivation. 1t has been dem
onstrated on many occasions that tn
output from a farm of this characte
can be doubled and sometimes quad
rupled by proper seeding, proper Gu
tivation, and a proper planting of tn
crops.
What 1t Means
This appropriation that we ar
making is comparatively small indee
when we consider the great advaI
tage it will be to the rural populs
ton and farmers of our country.
am advised that the Corn Exchang
Of Chicago gives to the farmers Of thi
country 100000 a year for thi
class of work. They do that as