South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1919-09-03
FARMERS FORM
ORGANIZATION
ST. joseph County AgriCuItu-
raj Association to Affiliate
With the State Body.

Organization OF a farmers assoc
citation was perfected at a meeting
held at the Chamber OF Commerce
Tuesday evening by 200 farmers of
the county. when Asa Mathews was
elected president end Charles Zeig-
Ter. vice president for the ensuing
year
The purpose OF the organization.
which viii be known as the Indiana
Farmers association Of ST Joseph
county Is 20 acquire more coopera-
ton among the farmers. 1t is
branch OF the state organization
which was perfected a few months
ago.
a number Of speakers from other
counties Of the state were present
and expressed their views on such
an organization ard its aid TO the
community as "a whole. =. J. Pat
tersOn. Of Upton a well known
farmer Of that vicinity spoke Of the
organization In his county and the
many things IL has accomplished
during the past few weeks.
Need $4,000 20 Operate
According to the bylaws Of the
state association each county joining
the association must set 50 600 for
the operations Of the state associa-
tion besides its own funds. which
are needed for delegates who visit
indianapolis and Washington with
the view OF aiding i'm passing or de-
feating some bill pending which
concerns the farmer.
J. A Warren. a farmer from
Kouts. Ind, chairman OF the first
district OF the state. delivered an
address in which he endeavored 10
enthuse the farmer TO a high pitch
and 10 aid In forming an organiza-
tion that would have power 20 die
tate as the Federation Of Labor
unions does today
Farming must be taken on a diff
ferent plane today than il was 90
years ago. The farmer has always
paid what was asked for his tools
and other farming necessities. while
ne has been forced TO sell his prod
ucts At whatever the stock and grain
exchanges told him he must sell at
We are now getting to the time
when we must do the debating on
what we will get for our products
Organization Necessary.
The union man today. who is
thoroughly organized, is able 10 tell
his employer what ne wants and he
gets IT, He asks for an eight or
even six hour day and he gets il.
He asks for higher wages and gets
T. only because he is organized and
the employer cannot afford 70 re-
fuse him
The farmers Of the country will
he organized in time and will be
able to tell the purchaser what he
wants for his goods. and he will get
that price. He has never before fig
ured his time in when setting a
price on his goods. He works II
hours a day and Is entitled TO pay
for his time as the city man is. The
man seeking higher wages bases his
argument on the fact that he must
support a family Of children. The
farmer never says ne must support
his family when setting his price.
They aid him in his chores and pay
for their support in this way. there
fore not being a burden on him.
Power in Organization.
Farmers unorganized have moth
ing TO say on the price of grain or
stock. but after being organized ne
viii be able To come into his own.
He Is TO be congratulated on organ
izing himself into a union. although
he is the last class of people TO or>
ganize. Even the bOottlacks are or
gained. and why shouldn't the
farmer
The high prices Of today are not
the cause Of the farmer but Of the
government. Men have been doing
destructive work for four years in
stead OF constructive work Every
man has been destroying more ma
chinery. food and material than five
other men could produce in a year 20