The Oakes times. [volume] (Oakes, N.D.) 1906-current, 1920-12-23
PRODUCERS MUST
BE PROSPEROUS.

Be PROSPEROUS.
Agricultural College Man Shows that
Progress of Country Depends
+, Upon the Farmer
BUREAU TO STABILIZE PRICES
Big Drive for Membership Will Begin
In Few Days
About seventy-five farmers gather.
ed at the C. M. C. hall Monday after
noon to learn more about the Amer
lean Farm Bureau federation, and
were entertained for some time by
D. E. Willard Of the Agricultural COL
lege, who spoke in part as follows:
"Prices of wheat and live stock at
the present time are such as to give
the American farmer cause to pause
and consider what is to become Of
agriculture in this country. When
wheat brings to the producer a price
that is less than it has cost to pro-
duce it condition are certainly in
need Of readjustment. Not that there
is any great calamity overhanging
the country, for times are bound to
'readjust themselves. But the condi-
tions at the present time bring home
to US that the country cannot be
prosperous unless the. producers Of
the country's food supply are reason
ably prosperous. y :.
"The American Farm Bureau fed
Grafton is an organization Of produc-
ers that has for its aim the stabilize
ton Of prices for farm produce and
the betterment Of agriculture gen
orally. The organization 10 young,
the national organization being not
yet one year old. Yet it has already
accomplished some very valuable re-
suits. There are now thirty-three
states in the national organization.
North Dakota 10 not one Of the states
that is in the national federation; but
the drive for memberships has b.
gun and members are now being sign
ed in several counties and it looks 40
though the state would soon take her
place in the organization.
"The American Farm Bureau fed
Grafton now has membership Of one
million, five hundred thousand. It 10
known from one end Of the country
to the other. II has taken its place
as great national farm voice. It 10
worth while that North Dakota be
part Of this aSrssaffktipn. As condi-
.;tion~ .a~e nov ne farmer has littl,
voice in saying what price he shall
receive for his products. The farm
er is primarily a producer and not
a trader. When he offers the wheat,
cattle and hogs that he has produced
for sale he is compelled to take what
price is offered by. somebody who 10
in the trading or merchandising bus
mess. He is not in a position to die
tate the price he will sell for. He IL
obliged to sell for what he can get.
"Now, the purpose Of the Ameri-
can Farm Bureau federation IL,
among other things, to organize the
producers so. that by acting collect
lively and building up system Of
marketing in which the farmers Them
selves have a direct voice, he may
have something to say about the price
he shall receive for his products.
"The committee of seventeen. which
was appointed by the president Of
the national federation, it is expected
will work out a plan by which much
Of the present waste due to specula-
tion and unnecessary middlemen's
profits can be eliminated, so that the
farmer may be insured a reasonable
price for what he sells and yet the
consumer pay no more for what he
buys.
"In order for anything Of import-
ance to be accomplished it is funda-
mentally necessary that there should
be an organization htat shall inclui ie
just as nearly as possible all tha
farmers. If enough producers are in
the organization so that they control
some part Of the wheat or other food
product which the world must have
for food, then they will be able to ex-
ert an influence in determining the
price Of these products.
LIE uIlSS 4OE IuSIlUSE6 Ill 4NVEtu
Dakota is now on. Ward county was
the first county to put on a SYSTEM
attic drive to organize. The farmers
there are suffering the effects Of poor
crops during the past three years and
they are less able financially to pay
the membership fee than are the peo-
pie Of many counties in the eastern
part Of the state. Nevertheless they
are Joining almost unanimously. They
say that it is necessary for them IA
do something for themselves or they
will be driyen into bankruptcy.
"Cass county has nearly completed
her membership drive, and at last
reports had enrolled between eleven
hundred and twelve hundred mem.
bers. Tenant farmers as well as farm
owners have Joined almost to q man
One solicitor with his team Of help.
ers, consisting Of two locally well