Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1914-11-20
George A. ToOIan Says Too Many Com
mercial Organizations COnhne Their e.
forts to the Area Situated Only Inside
Limits OF the Located Town.
FARMERS WILL REWARD TOWN
THAT MEETS THEM HALFWAY
Plan Adopted by San Benito Commercial
Club and Which is Being Spread Over
State, is Explained by Secretary OF the
0rganization-Experiment Works Well.

Lower Rio Grande Valley are carried on
in a different manner than prevails in prob
ably any other part of the country, due ~
its being an irrigated district; because the
trucking industry here means small farms.
which means a denser population in Il
given area; because this population con
sists of men of practically all professions
and callingS, and because three 10 four
crop rotations each year j. the rule rather
than the exception, there exists a more inn
p~erative need for cooperation between
town and country than will De- found in
sections where conditions differ from those
here.
While it may be true. the professional
man, in some Instances does not make a
pronounced success al first IN this irrigated
country. neither does the old line farmer
the man who ha~ been accustomed to dry
farming before coming here. both have 10
practically begin al the bottom and learn
all over, and II J. during this process when
their problems are many and varied that
they need assistance and support, en-
enlargement and cooperation.
On the San Benito tract, and the ~ome j.
probably true IN other parts of the Lower
Valley, will be- found men Of nearly every
profession. men who have had the advan-
tage of a business training before adopt
ing farming a. a pursuit, and who are
therefore able Ia appreciate the need of
cooperation between the farmer and mcr-
chant. and who j.. nine times ont Of ten,
more than willing t. do hi individual
share M the cooperating.
A a rule. farmer. generally are skcp-
teal and suspicious Of any proposition 4
town may make with a view of assisting
them. They have been exploited % much
that, IN a measure they can not BE- blamed,
therefore the first step necessary in u plan
Of cooperating with them must BE- that Of
securing their absolute confidence; they
must be- convinced of the towns sincerity
and shown conclu>ivcly the town u hon
c-tly Interested in their welfare.
That the future of any town located in
any agricultural community depend, upon
the progress and prosperity of it, farmers
goe~ without saving: the interest If one j..
Or should De-. the interest Of The other: III
the farmer pru~per~ hi town will naturally
share IN hi prosperity. therefore il i, in
cumhrnt upon the town To assist him in
every way po>~iblc->ocially. financially.
commercially or otherwise.
Fully recognizing this fact. the San Re
INTO Commercial club has. during the past
year directed IL efforts almost entirely
toward rural development and has reached
ont 10 assist the smallest farmer in any
way 4 could. regardless of the distance Inc
lives from the city.
Community organizations have been per
icctcd. these little neighborhoud a~~ocia-
tons meeting regularly twice Il month to
discuss their community problems and en-
Joy themselves with social recreation and
entertainment. During the winter season
weather service J. furnished these organ
~iEatinn~ a. = protective measure for their
crops. Until the Unit Marketing system
was organized this past tall. market were
found Tor local growers. claims have been
adjusted and settled. 4 blacklist ~ unre-
liable commission dealers secured and local
farmers made ne If II 10 avoid loss Of
their products through patronizing these
il~N-hN-m night iIrm> who have until thiS sea
son proved heavily on local cun~iener~. A.
an indication NJ the close working harmony
between the town and country. the Com
mcrcial club has eight farmers representing
me community associations. IN IT, dircc-
t"rate. This brings the two Interests di-
re"ilN ~ touch with each other and J. Il
much appreciated feature ~ both.
II 4 q notorious fact that too many
commercial organizations couine their rf-
i"ri~ 2" the AREA situated unly inside IT.
town lImlt~. Ignoring entirely the territory
outside. from which the town derive, it,
very existence: mi~guiding themselves IN
the theory that the tarm,ag population
WI gei along some way and are bound 10
support the town anyway. What a f~aIlacvl
Too easily proven by the immense business
done IN the mail order concerns. which
attract trade the town ought IL get. and
could get did It only 20 after it properly.
The town that gives it. farmers 4 .quarc
deal. takes an interest in hi behalf and
shows a disposition 10 meet him half way.
! certainly going e. be rewarded with the
farmers ~favor~. and their favorS are their
trade.
The San Benito plan Of cooperating with.
the farming population has made good. and
has been the recipient Of considerable pub
hcity ~ the state and outside. and IL Com
mercial club has been requested by similar