New-York tribune., 1918-02-21
Federation, Based ON Labor
Union Plan, Formed
in Syracuse
Criticise Whitman;
Denounce Hoover
Will Demand Actual Soil
Tillers Take Places in
Assembly and Senate
[Staf Corrcspond1ncel

SYRACUSE. Feb. 20~The New
York Federation of Agriculture. framed
on the lines Of the Federation Of
Labor. was organized at a largely
attended mass meeting OF delegates
representing farm organizations in
practically every county of the state,
in the auditorium of the First Bap-
list Church in Syracuse this afternoon.
While not openly hostile to Governor
Whitman. the new federation went on
record in favor Of abolishing the Gov
ernor's Farms and Market Council. and
various delegates openly attacked
Charles II. Belts. secretary OF the
council. The new organization started
a movement to compel the Governor
TO retire Mr. Belts, from his posi-
ton as secretary of the Council of
Farms and Markets, as we'll as from
the State Food Comm ssion. of which
he is also secretary.
Resolutions strongly opposing price
fixing of farm products, either by Mr..
Hoover or by the state, were unani-
mously adopted.
Want Farmer Legislators
The federation repeatedly applauded
declarations by II. W. Collingwood. of
New York. editor of "The Rural New
Yorker" in favor OF replacing the
lawyers in the State Lcgislature with
actual farmers. There is every ;ndi-
cation that the federation will make
q drive in all the agricultural coun-
ties to compel the old parties to NOM
mate farmers rs their candidates for
the Senate ana Assembly OH a plat
form declaring for doing away with
SO many state commissions.
The friends of DR.. Liberty Hyde Bailey.
of Ithaca. former dean of the College of
Agriculture of Cornell University, ex.
pected that his speech at the afternoon
session would act as sort of starter
of Dr.. Bailey's boom for Governor on
the Democratic ticket. DR.. Bailey was
most cordially received, but his address
was wholly along economic lines and as
q boom speech was net at all clectrify-
irg.
The tentative constitution. which was
unanimously approved and ordered
submitted to the various farmer or
CARNATIONS throughout the state for
organization of federation with four
primary purposes, as follows:
To increase the efficiency of farm
ers' organizations by bringing to
their aid the support Of every other
organization organized for the bene-
fit of farmers.
To Speak as Unit
To enable the farmers of the state
to speak in united way upon ques
tons of public concern.
To protect the interests of pro-
ducers and consumers against unfair
influences. political, commercial or
educational.
To encourage and develop all the
interests of rural life. such as cdu-
cation, production, transportation.
distribution. sale of products, pur-
chase of supplies and the develop
ment Of every rural agency which
tends to increase the usefulness, ele-
vate the character and increase the
efficiency of the farmers of the state.
The basis of representation under the
constitution. which is framed much on
the lines Of the Federation of Labor, is
one delegate for less than 900 mem
bers, six delegates for 5000 members
and eight delegates for $4,000 mem
bcrs. and in the same ratio for any
larger numbers.