The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1919-11-26
OBJECT OF IOWA FARM
BUREAU FEDERATION

1.-The object Of the farm bureau fed
Grafton is not to displace or run cOun
ter with any organization now existing
but rather to develop, strengthen anC
correlate the work Of the county farm
bureaus of the state; to encourage anC
promote cooperation Of all represent
alive, agricultural organizations in ev
cry effort to improve facilities and con
ditiOnS for the economic and efficient
production, conservation, marketing
transportation and distribution of farm
products; to further the study and en-
actment of constructive agricultural in.
situations, cooperating with farm bu-
reaus in the determination of statewide
politicies, and to inform. farm bureau
members regarding all movements that
affect their interests" ~ = -
The purpose of the state and nation
al federation OF farm bureau OrganiZa-
tons is based on the idea of giving to
agriculture the same voice, in state and
national affairs, now enjoyed by the in
dustries, such as labor, which are now
organized. 1t is not q political move
ment, but rather a means of expression
for the sentiment of people living on
the land. In all of the discussion which
has touched upon this movement we
have yet to hear anything that does
not reflect tbs. highest type of Ameri-
cansm. Certain It is, the common judg-
ment of American farmers can always
be depended upon to ring true and eX-
press the best thought for the good Of
the nation.
The national organization of farmers
has always been deemed highly neces.
sary if agriculture is to be placed in
its proper relation to the other indus.
tries. SUCH ationatp Organization has
been repeatedly attehpted, but never
fully completed. Failure of such or
CARNATIONS have been usually due to
the effort to make them political or
ganizations. Lack of adequate leader
ship has been another stumbling block.
The county farm bureau is non-po-
litical organization and has only one
purpose to serve-athe good of the COM
munity and the goM of: agriculture. If
this same purpose is. extended to the
state and national organization. we can
expect much good to result from this
movement.
During the war; and since its conclus-
ion the glazing need of a national Or
ganization of farmers has been very APP
parent. The result of national organi-
zation' of labor has pointed the way.
The unfairness of the agitation regard
ing the high cost of living has illustrat-
ed the need of a national organization
that will correctly express the rights of
the agricultural class. Because OF the
unOrSdnlZeQ state OF agriculture, AHleI-
lean farmers have always worked at a
serious disadvantage as compared with
other classes of people. Agriculture,
the greatest single industry of the coun-
tryS has always had the least consider
alton of all the industries. 1t is time
for O. change of public sentiment. A
national federation of farm bureau
members may bring this about.
At the Iowa federation meeting at
the Estate fair it was a noticeable fact
that state and national organization was
desired not for the purpose Of using the
power of united farmers to oppose 9th.
er organized classes of Americans. II
actually used, a this power would be ais
most Irresistible; If organized farm
ers took the present attitude Of other
organized classes. the American people
would ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS compelled to
move to the land in order to live. On
the contrary, the organized farmers of
Iowa merely contemplate the 'live and
let i've principle of Americanism. As
one speaker voiced the sentiment of the
THE common sense and intel. !
ligence and fairness Of the farmers of
this gcountry furnish the balance wheel
for the preservation of the ideals of |
The salvation of the
country depends on our right thinking |
farmers who place the welfare of the |
above all individual rights. -
From Farm Bureau Exchange.