Webster City freeman. [volume] (Webster City, Hamilton County, Iowa) 1884-1946, 1919-02-03
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Defends farm
BUREAU MEET
Formation of State Fedora
ton of Farm Bureaus is
Solely for Better
Work.
LETTER ON BUREAUS
Homestead and Greater
Iowa Association Clash
on Organization.

In order that the purpose of the
Farm Bureau Federation may be
more clearly understood, the follow
ing article by J. K. Howard. president
OF the Iowa Farm Bureau Federation
is being sent out to all those interest
ed in the Farm Bureau and the Farm
Bureau Federation:
Because of the misleading impress
sions conveyed to the public through
press articles released by the Greater
Iowa Association, December %, fol
lowing the organization meeting of
the Iowa Farm Bureau Federation at
Marshalltown, and the resultant edi-
torial of the Iowa Homestead in the
issue Of January %, 1919, entitled A
Time for Plain Speaking and Watch
ful Waiting, plain statement of the
organization and policies of the Iowa
( Farm Bureau Federation seems neces-
sary, and in fairness to all concerned
is made, alike to both organizations
and the county farm bureaus Of
Iowa
How 1t Was Organized.
'The idea of a state organization of
farm bureaus has been in the minds
of many leaders of farm bureau work
ever since the inception Of the county
agent work movement. The feeling
has been that the work of the farm
bureau in individual counties may be
correlated, strengthened and inprov-
ed by such an association, and that
certain economic lines of work could
not be protitably conducted BY any one
individual county bureau. This, idea
has grown simultaneously M the
minds of number of men inlthe vari-
Gus parts of the state, with no inter-
acquaintance or commyAication. thus
indicating that the conception was of
broad origin. The actual movement
11nEH through til Issuing of letter
10 the Farm Bdisad presidents of the
state by Mr.. Frank Justice of the
Polk county bureau. This was follow
ed by resolutions in some of the coull-
ties favOring such movement. A
preliminary committee met at Des
Ioines consisting of Mr.. Justice and
Adam Middleton, president of the
Wright County Farm Bureau and the
j writer. who is president of the Mar
shall County Farm Bureau at which IA
49,: IL, 10, fn
the presidents of all the county farm
bureaus in Iowa for a meeting for
the purpose of effecting this organiza-
ton.
No notice was given to the press
of the state preceding this meeting
hot that we were unwilling that the
press should have the information but
because, as farmers, we overlooked
the conrtesies to the press. Invita-
lions however. were extended just
prior to the meeting, to the agricut-
hral press of the state. including the
Iowa Homestead. These agricultural
papers were generally represented nj
the meeting. No invitations were is
sued to the Greater Iowa Association
or to any other similar organization.
G. i. A. Man Turned Down.
st was the privilege of the writer
to be honored with the Craftsmanship
of the organization meeting. which
was attended by accredited repre-
sent;itives of the farm bureaus of
seventy-two counties of Iowa. The
regular course of organization was
pursued, consisting of the discussions. |
appointment of committees. adoption
Of constitution. etc. During the meet !
ing the secretary informed the chair
man that representative of the
Create Iowa Association was present
and desired to address the meeting.
Likewise, representatives of two OF
three organizations other than farm
bureaus, requested the privilege to
speak. The chairman declined to
recognize any speaker other than
farm bureau men. or representatives
Df the agricultural press. This denial
WIS NOT DecaISe Ilc NOulu Hot nav |
been glad TO hear these gentlemen. but
because the work of the day was too
heavy to admit any outside issues TO
he PRESENTED.
False Report.
Before /; number of the men who
were representatives at this meeting
could reach their homes, press re-
ports had been received Mt the home
towns of these men from the Greater
Iowa Association. telling of the orga-
nizatio of this federation and claim /
ing credit for the same saying that 1T
had been fostered by the Greater
Iowa Association and took up lines
of work already pursued by the
Greater Iowa Association. and init
niating, ii not stating. future affi-
iliatio, Any statement however,
that the men who arranged the orga-