The Mena weekly star., 1920-06-10
farm BUREAU
|. FOR POLK COUNTY
Splendid Meeting Held Tuesday Af-
ternoon at Courthouse-Addrest
by w. S. Lasseter and H. F.
kapp.

That the progressive farmers of
Polk county are going to attempt to
organize a county farm bureau; that
The start will be made with an annual
membership fee of $5, with pledge
to keep it up for three years. at least;
and that systematic drive for men,
bership covering the entire county
will be made soon after August "a,
these were the definite propositions
that were settled at the meeting of
farmers held at the courthouse Tues
day afternoon. The meeting was held
pursuant to an adjournment taken on
April % at which time DR.. Bradford
Knapp, dean OF the college of agricul-
ture at Fayetteville, was here with
the district extension forces in the
interest of this movement.
On Tuesday the state extension
forces were represented by w. G.. Las
setter, state director; Harry f. Kapp.
district demonstration agent, and Miss
Carrie Plunkett, district home demon
stration agent.
Director Lasseseter outlined the
purpose of the organization. stating
briefly that the object was to keep up
aud increase the productivity of the
soil, increase the returns for the pro-
ducts from the arms, and to adjust
the relaloAsAip between neighbors
so that the social conditions on the
farm will be more attractive to young
and old. The first type of an organiza-
tion of this kind was started years
ago. he said, by group of progressive
farmers in New York; farmers who
began by seeking help from all the
public agencies whose activities were
directed along lines of agricultural
Improvement, securing first the aid
of the extension forces OF the state
and then the help Of the u. S. Depart
ment of Agriculture. This local or
ganization grew, and the men in the
extension forces and the u. S. Depart
mear of Agriculture began telling
other folks about it until at the pres
ent time hundreds of counties are or
ganized. counties are federated, and
states have been formed into a nation
! al organization, reaching the point
where Congress at the present session
has taken notice of the movement in
the introduction Of resolution to the
effect that collecting, buying and sell
/ ing as proposed by the Farm Bureaus
Its not in violation of the federal anti
trust law. Speaking specifically about
what the local organization should be,
Director Lasseter said it should con-
sist first of group of public spirited
! farmers who think in terms of the
best interests of their families, their
homes and their schools and churches.
Under these will be board of direc-
tors with whom Will rest the legisla-
tive authority of the organization.
then an executive committee to carry
out the plans of the board of directors,
and under the executive committee
the officers such as president. vice.
president, secretry treasurer and such
other as may be deemed necessary.
Farming Partnership Business.
Referring to the fact that farming
is a partnership business and that in
most cases the mother of the home is
the most vitally interested and often
times the most aggressive member of
the partnership, Mr.. Lasseter urged
that in. making up the directorate the
wives and daughters of the farm be
/ -;;;sott overlooked but that they be given
place both in the legislative and exc
cutive branches Of the organization.
fieiping TO improve Farm Life.
In pointing out some of the things
that may be undertaken Mr.. Lasseter
mentioned the Improvement of eondi-
tions surrounding rural life. the col
lective buying of seeds, fertilizers and
machinery and other things needed on
the farm. and in turn the collective
selling of the products of the farm,
the utilization of the public agencies
such as the home and farm demonstra-
tion forces the rural Y M. G. A. and
rural health forces. In brief Cor the
farmers to do for themselves the
things that need to be done to make
rural life more profitable and more
pleasant rather than to wait for some
one else to do it for them. He made
1t clear. too, that the organization was
not intended to look for something to
fight but instead was to do work along
constructive lines, and above all. he
impressed upon his hearers that the
organization must steer clear of poll
tics. The same thought was forcibly
brought out by District Agent KaDp
when he took up the work of start
ing the preliminary organization. Miss
Plunkett the district home demonstra-
tion agent. spoke briefly In behalf of
the wives and daughters, assuring the
sons and fathers that they would be
found willing to do their share in car
rying out the ideals of the organiza-
ton.
The move for the permannt organi-
zation thru the drive for membership,
tn adoption Of constitution and by
laws and the election of officers Is to
be made at such time after August "a
as may be selected by County Agent
Henderson, when force from the ex-
| tension division will come to Polk
county TO help complete the work.
JUDGES ESCAPE" INCOME TAX.
Supreme Court Rules They as Well as