The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1917-11-29
FARM BUREAU WORK
Work Commenced for Organization
of War Emergency farm Bureau
in Decatur County. .

A canvass of Decatur county is be-
ing made by Fred Wooley, assisted
! by a special agent from the extern
sion department of the State College
at Ames, for the purpose OF securing
the required 200 signers among the
farmers of Decatur county, in which
case the government will pay for the
800 a, year. The government is
very anxious to have a bureau estab-
lished in every county in the United
States as q war measure. Wayne
county has already been organized.
In making the canvass in Decatur
county Mr.. Wooley and others inter
ested find that the real purpose OF
many farmers, and farmers have ex-
pressed the sentiment that they did
not want young college graduate to
come here to tell them how to farm.
That is not the idea at all. The
county agent does not attempt to tell
you how to farm, but he acts as the
business agent of the, farmers, and
wherever the plan has been tried out
it has proven successful. In some OF
the townships it has been easy to Sc
sure members, while it is hard work
in others. But those at the head OF
the enterprise are not going to give
up until they have secured the re-
puired number and organized farm
bureau in Decatur county, The fol-
and source of the organization.
Read it carefully, and when you are
asked to become member do not
hesitate to sign your name:.
Iowa State College of Agriculture
and Mechanic Arts.
Agricultural Extension Dept.
Ames, Iowa, Nay; %, 1917;
To Members of the Extension De-
Partment:
there appears to be a question mark
in the minds of some Of the good peo-
pie of Iowa as to whether the Farm
Bureaus now being organized are a
part of the government war program
or whether the Agricultural Exten-
sion Department is just taking ad-
vantage of good opportunity to get
the work done.
In order that you may be in a po-
sition to dispel any doubts on this
point l desire to call your attention to
the fact that per cent of the money
spent for extension work in Iowa
(not counting money raised locally
is coming from the federal treasury
or in other words, seventy-five cents
out OF every dollar.
The National Government has des-
ignated the Agricultural Extension
Department as its official representa-
tive in the Food Production Cams
paign in this state.
The first two sentences Nof the law,
appropriating funds for Emergency
Extension work and which governs
the majority of our funds reads as
follows:
"An Act to provide further for the
national security and defense by
stimulating agriculture and facilitat-
ing the distribution of agricultural
products. :,
'Be it enacted by the Senate and
House of Representatives OF the
United States of America in Congress
assembled,
'sThat for the purpose of more eff
fectually providing for the national
security and defense and carrying on
the war with Germany by gathering
authoritative information concerning
the food supply, by increasing pro-
duction, by preventing waste OF the
food supply, by regulating the distri-
button thereof, and by such other
means and methods as are hereinaf-
ter provided. the powers auth1rltles,
herinafter set forth are conferred
% Our entire Extension Department
is now engaged, in carrying out the
government food production and
food conservation program which is
a national defense program and SO
considered by the National Govern
ment.
| believe the time has come when
we should place increasing emphasis
on the fact, that the work we are do
ing is being done in order to win
our war with Germany. The people
that we are, working with have a
right to know this and 1 believe IT
will further our work to let them
know it. 1t will also help to Offset
antagonism and prejudices to our
work prompted by disloyal people.
Yours very truly,
(Signed) R. K. BLISS,
Director.
A ,,f< rCuarpaI1 nvns. With NnnnD 0,H6y