The Ward County independent. [volume] (Minot, Ward County, N.D.) 1902-1965, 1919-12-11
WHY FARMERS OUGHT TO
ORGANIZE 100 PER CENT

Milo D. Campbell, president Of the
National Milk Producers Association,
and progressive leader in the farm
organization movement, has the fol-
lowing to say about the farmers need
for organization:
There never has been an hour when
the farmers of this country were more
threatened, nor less prepared for de-
tense than at this moment.
Let US review briefly some of the
conditions that surround them:
l.. Labor is thoroughly organized
in the cities, and is demanding con-
tinuance of wartime wages with but
forty-four hours work each week.
This means q contagion of like condi-
tons on the farms, or q migration Of
farm labor to the cities.
2. The dense ignorance of the con-
Stunning public upon the actual cost
Of production Of farm crops, result
ing in the prevailing general senti-
ment that the farmer is greedy
profteer.
s 8. The great dissimilarity paid In
this and in other countries for farm
labor. The pay for farm help being
in this country from twice to four
times as much as in countries with
which our surplus must compete.
4. The lack Of organization among
farmers, apd the lack of federation
among the organizations that do exist
make them the easy prey of politi-
clans and Of the interests.
5. The increasing cheapness Of
money that has absorbed much Of
what has seemed an increase Of price
for farm products.
6. The labor Of wife and children,
and the over-hours of farmer and hir-
ed men, that have gone into farm pro-
duction and for which in pre-war
years no charge has been made. These
resulted in low prices for below actual
cost had any estimate been made Of
them.
z. The depleted fertility Of our soil,
owing to the extra cropping of fields
to supply food during the last three
years. Commercial fertilizers have
been out of consideration, and ordin-
ary rotation of crops quite forgotten.
8. The reluctance of returning SOL
diers to go back to the farms. The
rewards are not promising, and the
seclusion of farm life too great
change from the social and stirring
life Of camp and field.
9. The seemingly we'll saddled con-
troll over farm production by the
packers, wool combine, grain specu-
lators and great food interests of the
country.
If what Mr.. Campbell says is true,
and you must all confess that it is,
then there seems to be no limit to
the multiplying difficulties ahead of
the farmer. The great question be-
fore the American farmer is one of
survival. His worst enemies are not
bugs, blight and drouth, but they are
politics, selfishness of controlling in
terests, his complete sevility to those
who fix the price Of his products.
Having discovered who our enemies
are, what is the remedy? If we
farmers exchange the labor product
Of fourteen hour day for the labor
product of six hour day, then we
shall be ground between labor. There
is but one way out. To meet these
organized forces that threaten us
with organized force, we must unite
in big farm organization. What
organization? There are several
farm organizations. All are serving
in various ways. But there is one
larger than all; its membership ap-
proaches a million. There is one Old
er than all, that has weathered the
storms of fifty years. A new organ
ization takes years to build. Here is
one already built, on broad, compre-
hensive lines, with fifty years exper-
fence.
To join this organization requires
no change in religion or politics. When
your house is on fire you do not tele-
graph the factory to make up some
fire apparatus and send it to you, but
you grab the most convenient weapon
at hand that will subdue the flames.
The times call for united action. The
times demand big, thorough organ
ization. We offer you the best there
is, the Grange.
The Grange has accomplished more
for the farmers, than any other or
ganization in the world from farm
er's standpoint. The Grange brought
into reality the United States Depart
ment of Agriculture rural mail de-
livery, parcels post, rural credits, and
initiated the movement for remedial
legislation that is Transforming, the
railroad systems Of the country from
private monopolies to organizations
for service to the people.
Every farm home today within
raech Of the rural mail delivery and
parcel post IL . direct beneficiary of
the Grange. Every farmer who has
benefited by the advice Of the county
agent, the state college or the publ
cations 81 the United States Depart
ment 81 Agriculture, is 4 beneficiary
Of the Grunge. Every farmer who
has been enabled 70, through the fed
FL fs 9 e. Ssts dS 70 obtain money
Or improve what he already has, IL 4
beneficiary Of the Grange. Every
farm woman who has proftted thru
the activities Of the home demonstra-
ton agents, is = beneficiary Of the
s us1lHonke. IL ~. ~. Ff,,..,,.l