Webster City freeman. [volume] (Webster City, Hamilton County, Iowa) 1884-1946, 1919-10-27
FARMERS need
ORGANIZATION
j. w. COverdale Tells why
Federation of Farm Bu-
reaus is Badly
Needed.
WANT FARM RIGHTS
Have Same Need for Or
ganizati0n as Labor and
Industries.
WANT FARM RIGHTS

County Agent Chris Christensen rec
Ommends the following explanation OF
the purpose of the state and national
Federation Of Farm Bureau organiza
tons as the cleareSt yet offered. The
statement is made by j. W. Coverdale
secretary of the Iowa Farm Bureau
Federation, former head OF the farm
bureau work Of the eXtcntiOn dcparr
ment Of the Iowa State college at Ames
Mr.. COverdalc is very well known
over Hamilton county. as the result
of numerous visits here in the inter
est OF the local farm bureau. His
statement follows:
For Organization.
The purpose OF the state and ma
tional federation of farm bureau or
CARNATIONS is based on the idea of
giving to agriculture the same voice.
i'll state and national affairs, now en-
joycd by other industries. such as
labor, which are now organized. 1t is
not a political movement. but rather
Il means of expression for the scnti-
mcnt Of people living on the land. In
all of the discussion which has touch
ed upon this movement, we have yet
to hear anything that does not reflect
the highest type of Americanism.
Certain it is. the common Judgment OF
American farmers can always be de-
pended upon to ring true and express
the best thought for the good Of the
nation. -
The national Organization Of farm
, ers has always been deemed highly
necessary if agriculture is to be placed
in its proper relation to the other in
dustries. Such national organization
has been repeatedly attempted. but
never fully completed. Failures OF
such organization have been usually
due to the effort to make them DOliti-
cal organizations. Lack of adequate.
leadership has been another stumbling
block. The county farm bureau is Il
n0n-political organization and has
only one purpose to Scrvc--the good
Of the community and the good Of agri-
culture. If this same purpose is OK
tended TO the state and national or
ganiZation. we can expect much good
10 result from this movement.
Rights Of Farmer.
During the war. and since its con-
clusiOn. the glaring need of a national
organization of labor has pointed the
way. The unfairnesS of the agitation
regarding the high cost of living has
illustrated the need Of II national or
ganiZation that will correctly express
the. rights of the agricultural .cl;,ss.
Recaisse OF me ulorgaIlized state OF
agriculture, American farmers have
always worked ut Il serious disadvan-
tagc as compared with other classes;
of people. Agriculture. the greatest
single industry of the country, has
always had the least consideration of
all the industries. 1t is time for
change of public sentiment. \ national
federation of farm bureau members may
bring this about.
At the Iowa Federation meeting ut
tire state fair it was Il noticeable fact
that state and national organization
was desired. not for the purpose Of us
ing the power OF united farmers to
Cypress other organized classes of
Americans. If actually used. this
power would he almost irresistible. If
organized farmers took the present at
titude OF other organized classes, the
American people would automatically
he compelled TO move TO the land in
order to live. On the contrary, the
organized farmers of Iowa merely
contemplate the live and let live
principle of Americanism. AS one
speaker voiced the sentiment OF the
meeting. the common sense and in
tellisence and fairness OF the farmers
of this country furnish the balance
wheel for the preservation of the
ideals of Americanism. The salvation
of the country depends on our right
thinking farmers who place the well
fare Of the country above all indiv
idual rights.