Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1920-10-28
American Farm Bureau
Shows Progress in Work
fOrganizingN New Units

OtOrganlzlng New Units
Decision to employ additional as
distance to push organization and
financial matters, authorize ton Of a
conference to be called to consider
dairy marketing problems, the adop-
ton Of a program of work for the
bureau Of economics and research,
the appointment Of a committee to
work out further details of proposed
packer legislation, appointments of
committee to, work with the ex-
tension service of the United States
department of agriculture in the
shaping of policies, discussion of ru-
raj credits measures, consideration
cotton and grain market situation
and a definition of the federation S
attitude toward commercial activi-
Ties were the outstanding features
of the meeting of the executive COM
mittee of the American Farm Blu
reau Federation, held at Chicago
October 13 and IA.
The resolution passed at the re-
cent meeting of the midwest states
requesting the enlargement of the
wool committee was approved and
the president authorized to appoint
man . 1loLA eaCH "ooA W
Those appointed on the committee
to confer with the extension service
in the shaping of policies are H. E.
Taylor. Freehold, N. j.; James W.
Morton, Athens, Ga, and c. E. Gun
nels, Chicago.
The committee to consider packer
legislation includes J. r. Howard
Gray Silver and Howard Leonard.
A matter of much Importance was
the adoption Of a motion defining the
attitude of the American Farm Blu
reau Federation toward the CONNER
cial activities of , the county and
state organizations as follows: "The
farm bureau, as an organ1zatlon'
shall not engage in commercial &C
tivities, nor shall it hold stocks or
bonds in organizations undertaking
such activities. It may encourage,
however, the organization of such
activities or industries as may seem
necessary and advisable to the board
of directors"
Brief addresses were given beIore
the committee by Nh. c. A. Burton,
chairman of the American Comm!s-
sion for Austrian Relief, by Mr., Milo
D. Campbell, of Michigan, by Aaron
Sapiro, and by Mr.. Uber, of New
York City. Mr.. Burton proposed a
plan for the transfer of American
wool and cotton to Austria and Ger,
many to be made up into cloth and
enough cloth returned to this coun-
try to pay for the wool supplied.
This would be equivalent to the re-
turn of about 20 per C., cent OF the the
ferred to the wool committee:
Mr.. Campbell asked for the CO.
operation of the American Farm Blu
reau Federation in organizing milk
producers associations in morgan
lied territory. The committee ex-
to- nf
idea and offered to extend its serv-
ices where needed for this purpose;
The president was authorized to call
a conference to consider the market
ing of dairy products as soon as con-
venient.
length the existing situation with
reference to the proposed campaign
for a protective tariff on variety OF
farm products. Mr.. Sapiro pointed
out the dangers of treating TINS
problem as a sectional matter ana
emphasized the necessity for a unit
ed effort and well-planned cam
paign of any really effective tariff
Hesitation is to be written. on the
statute books. Mr.. Sapiro''s ideas on
this subject are in entire accord
with those outlined by the leglsla177
be put into effect as full vas present
equipment and circumstances will
allow.
Gray Silver presented a paper dis
GUESSING the banking and credit Situa-
ton as affecting the farmer and set
forth the details 'of proposed RENE
dies, including a rural credits bill
now pending. This rural credit plan
utilities the present federal farm loan
machinery and is apparently sim
pie, inexpensive and efficient solution
Of the rural credits problem.
One of the most interesting fea-
lures of the meeting was the sum-
mary of organization and member
ship activities reported by Secretary
j. w. Coverdale, and supplemented
by members from several states. MI
Coverdale showed that since the lat
ter part of July state organizations
have been formed in Rhode Island
Virginia, Texas and Florida and that
in North Carolina Arkansas and
North Dakota matters have pro
crossed to the point that state organl-
cations will be formed very soon.
Owing to local conditions. Oklahoma
has definitely decided not to put on
a membership drive at present. In
Wisconsin the Equity Union has
practically completed arrangements
to affiliate with the farm bureau.
Membership campaigns are on in a
large number of states and are in
CISdSlHS DOIlI rt1lu 1hI0uS1-
ty as the winter approaches. There
has been a very noticeable trend in
recent months to make the member
ship fee not less than SIS, and $40
is the popular figure.
The New England states are put
ting on drive at the $40 rate and
Mr.. cornwall, of Vermont, reports
that in his state Addison county is
showing an IS per cent membership:
of all the farmers of the county.
waco county, Texas, expects 1000
members on a $40 basis. Four Texas
counties already have a total mem
bership of over 5000 and campaigns
are starting in seven more counties
soon. They expect a total member
ship of 10000 by November 1.
DIR. Bradford Knapp is assisting in
the organization of farm bureaus in
Arkansas. Five counties are already
organized and a state organization
will soon be effected.
Nebraska opens a state member
ship campaign on October IS.
Active membership drives are on
in Minnesota and South Dakota, as
we'll as in all the older federated
states. Illinois now reports a mem
bership of 100,870. Michigan reports
$4,000, Iowa is out after an additional
10000, which would bring their total
up to 5000.
President Howard announced. that
on the nomination of the federation.
Mr.. Harvey J. Sconce, of Sidell, Ill.
and w. S. Hill, of Mitchell, S. D., had
been appointed delegates of the
United States government to the BIZ
ennial assembly of the international