Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1918-09-25
OBSERVATIONS
10y 4 Cornfleld Phllosopher.)
". THE FARMERS CLUBS IN
MINNESOTA.

pealed to and there was scarcely a |
paper in the state that neglected to
boom the club movement. The agri- !
cultural papers were especially active |
in the matter, and so we'll was this
propaganda carried on in 1894 that
by January LIST, 1915 there were some
1900 clubs organized, covering every
county in the State and embracing a
membership, including the women and
young people, of more than 100000.
Carefully prepared programs were
made out and furnished each club and
monthly bulletin issued that was
sent to all clubs free that would re-
port to headquarters. This bulletin
was the only means of communica-
ton between the different clubs. The
writer was at that time member of
both the Riverside and the ~ and l"
clubs Of Cass county. Up to this time
all local clubs were absolutely indie
pendent of each other, and about all
of the knowledge the members OF one
club had of the activities of another
club was cleaned from the fore-men-
toned Bulletin and from the agricul-
tural press.
A State Organization.
In January, 1915, there was intro
duced into both of the Cass county
clubs named above, a resolution de-
claping in favor of a county Organlza-
ton and also a state federation OF all
the farmers clubs. This resolution
was unanimously adopted and steps
Immediately taken to form county
federation which was perfected in
April, being l believe the first one
in the State. The doings of this club
was duly reported to the Bulletin and
to the four alleged agricultural papers
published in the State. Some very
mild resolutions were adopted at this
meeting. However, at the next regu-
lar meeting held at Backus In June,
at which about dozen clubs were re-
presented and addresses delivered by
A. D. Wilson and Hon. c. A. Lndbergh,
the resolutions drafted by the writer
of these lines were OF much more
positive character They declared that
agriculture was the basis of the Ma
tons wealth, and that farmers were
Justly entitled to the profits on what
they produced; strongly favored a
State Federation and declared In favor
of the Government ownership and
operation of the means of transporta-
| ton, that is, the railroads. Up to this
time the so-called Farmers Dispatch
| of St. Paul had been almost frantic In
| its efforts to help the farmers organ
| ize, and had given whole pages OF
! space to the movement. The editor
wrote me for a while almost daily,
telling me how glad he was that the
farmers were organizing to better their
conditions, but when these resolutions
were sent in, he suddenly changed his
mind, no doubt from pressure from
those higher up" He said he would
| thereafter not only curtail the space
| given to the clubs but thought he
would oppose a State Federation.
State Federation Discussed.
This County Federation named the
writer as a Fraternal delegate to all
| the clubs in the State and the two To-
cal clubs already mentioned sent him
to the conference held during the
State Fair, and on the Fair Grounds
extending over the entire week, that
was called by the Extension Division
to consider the ACCESSIBILITY of forming
a State Federation. The question
fought the local clubs get together
in a state organization to promote the
interests of farmers" was long and
earnestly debated. Acting under in
structions from his home clubs, the
writer presented the Cass county plan
and set of resolutions for Endorsement
These were violently assailed by some
county agents, agricultural promoters
financed by railroads and Boards OF
Trade, a few sidewalk farmers, and
one or two genuine tillers of the soil
who didn't want to antagonize the bust
ness interests of the towns and cities
but the plan carried by bare MAORI
ty. The idea Of having State FEEDER
alton prevailed and a meeting for that
purpose was called to meet at the Uni
versity Farm the first week in Janu
ary, 1915, which was accordingly held
and State Federation was organized
During the months of October, Novem
Der and December, on the invitation
of their members, l visited clubs in
Jackson, Mobiles, Beltrami, Hubbard
and Clearwater counties and address
ed them, the clubs generously paying
any expenses.
Meeting Largely Attended.
The meeting to form a State FEEDER
alton was very largely attended by
delegates from nearly every county
in the state. Those who were opposed
to the organization becoming an active
and potent force in securing to farm
ers the profits on what they produce
and to provide means for the exchange
of their products direct without the
Intervention of middlemen, were there
Of course, and while beaten at other
points, were successful in securing
constitution that was innocuous tc
the so-called business interests and
which failed to provide means fol
raising funds for aggressive work An
excellent man, Hon. L. H. Bugbee OF
Carlton, was chosen president and die
what he could under the impotent rules
to build up the movement The writer
continued his visits to local clubs
strongly advising them to join the
State Federation which they could dc
by sending in a fee of only $500, and
during the following six months ad
dressed meetings in nearly fifty coun
ties.
| 6rinos People Together.
The great benefit derived from these
club meetings, and this benefit is rich
ly worth a hundred times Its cost
consists largely in bringing the PEG
pie together and giving them a chance
to become acquainted with each other
These clubs have done and are doine
the kindergarten work in the great
Farmers movement now in its incep
ton that is intended and designed tc
secure to those who till the soil for q
living, that position In the economy
and In the structure of this govern
ment that their numbers, their voca
ton and their importance justly en-
title them.