The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1915-04-11
VIRGINIA FARMERS ARE
|. FRAMING BIG PROGRAM
Union Making Study of Constructive
Methods Looking to Retirement
of Conditions.
FOR STRINGENT PROHIBITION
Feed Your Family First In Made
Watchword of Union I'm Virginia
Want Torrens Law; Free School
Books and Compulsory Education.

Al our recent State Farmers Union
Convention in Roanoke. which was by
far the best we have ever held GER
tain things which We deemed nsces-
sary to successful farming were
stressed by reports OF committees and
in the discussion % the various sub
jects by the delegates writes State Sec
rotary y. NJ. Biankenship, from Naruna,
Va. He continues:
I think we may Justly say that the
keynote OF the convention and OF the
state at large was and is Feed Your
Families First"
Our people are coming more and
more 10 realize that the one -orop sys-
tenn tends to render US dependent
rather than independent.
The report OF the committee on
marketing tobacco at our last annual
, meeting consisted OF only four lines,
one of which reads, We also recon
mend the growing OF less tobacco and
more other crops" The state officials
of our union are doing all In their
section to live up 20 the report OF the
committee.
Declare For Torrens Law.
part of the report on Rural
Banking and Farm Credits reads as
ing the Regional Reserve Banks are
now fact and also that national
banks are permitted to lend money on
real estate. farmers find no relief =
- ard we firmly believe II will con-
tinue to be so until the Torrens land
registration bill becomes u law" AS
stated TN a former article. a bill pro-
viding for this system was introduced
at the regular session of the General
Assembly of 1914. II passed the House
OF Delegates By large majority, but
was killed IA the Senate by large
majority. composed chiefly of law
yers. At a recent special session OF
the General Assembly the bill was
again introduced only to meet the same
fate. This, IN face OF the fact OF an
overwhelming demand by the various
agricultural societies and many bust
ness men and organizations as well
for the enactment OF such law"
The convention went on record as
supervisors OF each county the right
20 regulate the tonnage on improved
roads.
Compulsory Education Law. 8.
The committee on education made
an especially good report. quote
from their report: 1T is our opinion
that the promotion OF education, both
technical and general, IL one Of the
great objects OF our organization. For
the furtherance OF this object, we be-
lfeve that Statewide compulsory
education law for all Children from
eight to fourteen years OF age 10 of
prime Importance: that we should have
n school term OF not less than eight
months for all schools, both large and
small: that agriculture, domestic
science and home economics be taught
In all public schools: that instruction
IN all branches be intensive rather
than extensive - We recon-
mend that all farmers read extensively
from farm papers for the purpose of
general improvement We
desire 10 endorse tho work Of the
Fam Demonstration Agents and the
Girls Canning Clubs. and that this
work be encouraged wherever pos
sible"
Our legislative program as EN- bodied
In the report OF the committee Is as
follows
i. The Torrens system q. land regis
fration.
.. Free school books to he published
by the State,
;. The initiative and referendum.
4. The election of ali officers by the
people.
s. Stringent prohibition laws.
g. The bonding OF commission mer-
chants.