The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1914-02-05
'ALL FORCES UNITE
| TO ABOLISH BOARD
Stuart Sanctions Movement After
Conference With State
Officials.
INTERESTS ARE HARMONiZED
Farm Demonstrates Work Will
Be Taken Over by Virginia
Polytechnic Institute.
INTERESTS ARE HARM0NIzED

Governor Stuart formally sanctioned
the movement for tho abolition of the
United Agricultural Board and the
placing of all farm demonstration work
under the charge OF the Virginia Poly
technic Institute, after conference
Yesterday afternoon with officials of
the various agricultural agencies ut
work in tho State. There is at pres
ent pending In the General Assembly
n bill to accomplish this result It was
offered in tho Senate by Senators Wat
kins and Mapp, and in the House by
Delegates Adams and Lewis.
The effort to consolidate all demon
stration agencies now has the cordial
support of all interested persons. The
pending bill has been Endorsed by the
United States Department OF Agricul-
ture, Governor Stuart, State Commits
ginia Polytechnic Institute, Farm
d Demonstration T. o. Sandy, and tho
State Board of Education. With such
united force. 1t IS believed that the
fato OF tho United Agricultural Board
is sealed.
Reviewed Situation.
Governor Stuart went into the sit
uation yesterday in conference with
President j. D. Eggieston, of the Vir-
ginia Polytechnic Institute: State Com
missioner of Agriculture c.. w. Koiner,
Farm Demonstration Sandy, and agents
or the Department of Public Instruc-
t,on The bill to dissolve the United
Agricultural Board was brought up
and explained in detail to the Gov
ernor. The object proposed received
Governor Stuarts cordial Endorsement.
although he offered suggestions in re-
gard to the wording of the bill
AS result of the conference all in
terests concerned have been harmon
lied. Whatever conflicting ideas there
may have been In the past on the
subject OF farm demonstration worI,
seem to have been unified and the way
cleared for concentrated action. The
board Itself has expressed a desire to
be dissolved. the Virginia Polytechnic
institute has repeatedly voiced the wish
to undertake complete control OF the
iarm demonstration work, and Com
missioner koner has reiterated his be-
lief In the value of demonstration and
the wisdom OF placing it under the di-
rection OF the agricultural college.
Objects of board.
The United Agricultural Board was
created by tho General Assembly TO
conduct tho farm demonstration work
Of the State and to coordinate with
tho demonstration work Of the United
states Department OF Agriculture and
the several counties of Virginia. 1t
supervised the boys corn clubs and
the girls garden clubs and absorbed
functions heretofore exercised by sew
cral different departments OF the State.
Friction within the board resulted In n
revision of its constituency by the Cen
eral Assembly of 1912 and the Com
missioner OF Agriculture, who had oc-
cupicd seat on the board, was
dropped. AS now constituted, the board
is composed Of the Governor, the State
superintendent of Public Instruction,
the general director of demonstration
work of the United States Department
of Agriculture; and the Virginia di-
rector OF the demonstration work or
the United States Department OF Agri-
culture.
The movement for placing the dem
onstration work under the agricultural
college was FASTENED by the Smith
Lever bill, which is expected to BIO
passed at the present session of Con-
grcss. This measure provides an ap-
preparation OF $4,000 from the Fed
eral treasury to be expended by the
agricultural colleges of each State in
farm demonstration work.