The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1920-11-25
THE FARM BUREAU.

THE FARM BUREAU.
Today 38 states are enrolled in the
National Farm Bureau federation.
Within four months practically every
county in Minnesota will have farm
bureau association. The state fedora
ton seems to have the proper back
ing-tkc college of agriculture and the
state department of agriculture. The
farm bureau in Minnesota now has a
membership of about 100000 and proba-
bly, at least 80 per cent of this num-
Der are farmers. The organization is
differed and managed by the farmers.
About 600 delegates met in ST. Paul
last week and adopted an agricultural
program which will be presented to
the legislature converting the first of
the year. Much credit is due the far
mers for drafting so broad and con-
structivc program. This program
deals principally with the marketing
conditions, and that is the one subject
in which the federation should be most
vitality interested.
The present market conditions indi-
cate that the farmers may this year
be obliged to sell some of their crops
for less than it cost to produce them.
Prices have been abnormally high and,
of course, they must drop sometime,
but no one class of people should be
compelled to bear the brunt of the
slump in prices. The American work.
ingman, irrespective of the nature of
ceive fair remuneration for the SER
vice rendered. There is not class
of workingmen in this country that
would not protest against working IL
or Is hours a day for six months and
receive for their labor during that
period only enough to pay for the
bare necessities of life.
This present condition acccntuates
the need of cooperative enterprises.
Time and again these enterprises have
been attempted and have failed, but
the very fact that the producers con-
tinue to demand such enterprises is
evidence that they really are needed.
Wise men will say these cooperative
schemes have been tried before and
have failcd-lock at the grange and
the equity. The fact that these enter
prises have failed in the past does not
prove they cannot be successfully
handled in the future. The first fly
ing machine did not rise from the
ground but look at our aeroplanes to-
day. Man learns by trying and profits
by the mistakes of the past.
1t is said that all farmers organiza-
tons in the past have gone to pieces
'on the rocks of politics. Realizing
this the leaders of the farm bureau
are keeping politics out of that asso-
ication. They should adhere strictly
to this practice. If the farm bureau
continues at its present rate of de-
velopment and becomes permanent
institution, it's fortunes will in no way
depend upon the success of any politi-
cal party. The Minnesota Farm Blu
reau federation should be regarded as
a state institution even more indepen-
dent of the political party in power
than is the state university.
The farm bureau is confronted with
two big problems. 1t must keep free
of all political affiliations and it must
have competent men in it's employ.
The commission men who are to handle
the marketing business Of the associa-
ton must have the ability and expert
ence to cope with the representatives
of the private business organizations.
Such men demand large salaries. If
the farmers are going into this mar
keting business they should be able
to pay as large salaries to their men
as do the private enterprises because
1.-The two organizations are dealing in
the same commodities and have the
same public as purchasers of their
wares. It is all important that the
right men be selected as the business
representatives Of the; farmers.
We hope that the farm bureau will
be revived in Mile Laos county It
must be admitted that the farmers in
this county have had rather an un-
fortunate experience with this bureau,
but there is no reason why the assoc
citation, if properly managed, cannot
be of as much benefit to them as to
the residents Of other counties.
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The. farmers are being told their