The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1920-10-06

soon attracted the attention of the
United States Department of Agricul-
ture. Now there are more than $500
of these county agents in the United
States. Some are supported by the
states, as in Wisconsin, Pennsylvania,
and various states in the South. I'm
der the provisions of the Smith-Lever
bill, federal aid can be extended to
any county association which secures
the Endorsement of the state agricul-
tural college.
Naturally, these county associations
got together in state organizations.
Minnesota Organizing Rapidly.
In Minnesota SO counties have es-
tabhshed Farm Bureaus now affiliated
with the state organization, and a
campaign is planned to secure men,
bership of 100000 in the state within
the next few weeks.
Last March the National Federation
was formed. The Federation has in
mind the advancement of agriculture,
economically, exceptionally and social
ly on a constructive basis.
What we need" said Mr.. Howard
recently, land what the country needs,
is a more thorough realization of the
principle that the square deal must be
universal and that no one class can
succeed in the long run by gouging
any other class. This is not Utopian.
1t is not politics. 1t is not religion.
It is simple, ordinary horse sense
based on sound business considera-
tons" ..- ...
Opposed to Farmer organizations in
Politics.
The idea of farmers party in poll
tics is to Mr.. Howard a thing that
would mean calamity for the country.
Then you are not in favor of such
movement as the NOnpartisan Lea
gue?" he was asked.
THE farmer" he replied, has no
business in politics as such. What |
mean is there should be no farmers
party any more than there should a
grocer's party, blacksmiths' party,
Catholic party or a Methodist party.
Politics and religion are things for
the individual to decide for himself.
They have to do with emotions in hu
mainly that are entirely apart from
business. Found great business en-
terprise such as this on political, ra-
cial or religious lines and you may as
well conclude in advance that 1t will
be failure.
This organization of ours is abso-
lutely not a political proposition. 1t
is business undertaking originated
and differed by business men. Farm
ers are business men even though they
are not always regarded as such.
Without naming any specific ex-
amples of political ventures having in
mind the uplift and advancement Of
the farmer, let me say that they are
founded on the altogether false prem
ises of class appeal. Wherein our
movement differs from all others-and
the thing that is going to make it win
is that we are going to keep away
from class appeal. We are going to
try to approach our work in sensible
sane way and in the realization that
all elements in the country have rights
that not only must be recognized by
us but must be promoted and guarded
by us. 1t is impossible to carry out
that sort of deal with a political or
ganization and through political meth
DDS. lsi
eve lay emphasis upon the fact
that membership in the federation Is
non political and non-sectarian. Fur
thermore, in order that none of our
officers or directors may use the fed
GRAFTON to advance himself in a politi-
cal way, we have a provision in our
constitution that any officer or direc-
tor who shall become candidate for
an elective or appointive state or ma
tional office shall at once be automa-
tically dropped from his official posi-
ton in the Federation. This is as
plain as | know how to make it. We
are not in politics and we will not be.
We are working for our business and
not for any political party or Socialis-
tic scheme"
Just to gain an idea as to the
strength of the federation and it's abil-
ity to put over big thing, it should
be remembered that the members now
number j ESQ., goo, being made up of
members Of State and County Farm
Bureau Federations. There are in
round numbers seven million farmers
in the United States. Through a COM
prehensive membership campaign
about to be launched the federation
sees no reason why on a most con-
sentative estimate it cannot increase
its membership to at least three mil
lions.
But our biggest element of
strength" said Mr. Howard, ''is our
determination to work for the benefit
of the whole country while working
for ourselves. For example, a part of
our legislative program is to try to
bring about some arrangement be-
tween capital and labor which will in
sure freedom from disrupting and