Imperial Valley press., 1920-01-26
MIKE L|EBERT
TELLS OF FARM
BUREAU BENEFITS

The farm bureau campaign for mem
bership is progressing nicely and large
ly increased memberships are reported
In this connection Mike Liebert has
written the farm bureau as follows re-
garding the benefits to be derived from
joining:
There are two distinct benefits to be
obtained by being a member of a farm
center There is the local benefit look
ing toward the social question, making
farm life more pleasant, by neighbors
coming together at the cente-, to dis
cuss their needs and enjoy each other
company. The farm home department
especially, is great agent in bringing
thlS about. Then there is the benefit
from the new ideas on questions per-
tanning to agriculture, livestock, etc.
Also farmers have an agency through
winch to act collectively on public oues-
tons effecting their welfare.
The second benefit is of a general and
indirect nature, coming through the
agency OF the state and national organ
lZatlon. These other large and cooper
ative organiZa tons have their root in
the farm center and the state and ma
tlonal leaders are but the medium thru
which the members of the farm centers
speak and make their wants known.
This was forcibly demonstrated last
summer when congress passed the day.
light saving repeal bill over the pres.
ident's veto. 1t was because one man
speaking for four others with him said
1t had to be done. Two weeks later
President Wilson denied the railway
men an increase in wages on account of
information given him by these four
men as to how to reduce the high cost
of living.
The Associated Press sent out a re-
port that they had formally delivered
an ultimatum to congress- These four
men We're J. +. Howard of Iowa; in this
state every county has a farm bureau
with a total membership of O,O0O. C. e. |
Bradford, president of the Ohio farm
bureau, j. G.. Brown, president of the
Indiana farm bureau federation and F.
c. Baker, president of the Nebraska
state farm bureau federation. These
men went to Washington, presented
their case to the secretary of agrcul-
ture, who was so impressed that he
made and arranged an appointment
with the president for them.
Space forbids me to set down all or
even part of what they accomplish
ed, but the point is this: what could
those men have done as individuals?
Nothing. They could not even have re-
ceived hearing. but the 10000 farm
ers who were behind them Are the
ones who turned the trick.
Since then the state farm bureau fed
erations have associated themselves ir-
to national federation and much is to
be expected through this organiza ton
for the farmer. But it is only and can
only work and accomplish it's aims thru
the support we as individuals give them
in our farm centers.
1 heard one farmer say that he did
not think the farm bureau would
amount to much. 1t did, evidently,
soak into his brain what the farm bur-
eau amounts to just what he and others
make it and nothing more. Supposing
the laborers had said this same thing,
could labor organizations and labor
leaders accomplish what they are and
make the demands they are making?
The people who are not organized at
this day and age, no matter who they
may be Or what they are engaged in,
are sure to pay the penalty. There are
those of us who say "Well, I can't at.
tend the center meeting as l have no
time or I would join some center"
These are the very persons who should
join the farm bureau.
Every farmer and his wife should be.
come member of a farm center. If
ne Or. she can't always spend the time
to attend the meetings they ought to
join so the other fellow can do some.
thing from the support you give him.
The member~who can and does attend
the center meetings gets a double ben.
eft, local and general one. AS to nv
benefits here on the ranch, I can truly
say my silo is the result of the farm
bureau. Selling of my scrub cows, bas.
ed on information obtained through
the cow-testing association, also came
from the farm bureau. Disposing of
my grade bulls and male hogs. replac
ing them with registered stock came
from information obtained in the edu.
cation way from the lectures and talks
at the farm center meetinsg and no
doubt many other benefits that come in
a general way.
Join the farm center and be a
practical farmer. No farmer who is in.
tellectually honest can afford to talk
against or fail to support the principal
OF cooperation among his own class
MIKE LIEBERT,
Member of Seeley Farm Center