The Canon City record with which is consolidated the Canon City cannon., 1920-06-24
THE AMERICAN FARM
BUREAU FEDERATION
MARKS A NEW ERA

The agricultural dream Is coming
true. The principles we have long
advocated are now being put into ef.
feet. Agriculture is now a business
the same as any other business. The
affairs of the farm bureaus are to be
handled on an economic basis, the
same as any other grand trade di-
vision.
When this organization gets fairly
down to work. there is no reason why
not and every reason why 1t should
become affiliated with the Chamber of
Commerce of the United States.
From the beginning of time, agri-
culture has been treated as a thing
apart. Certain interests have tried to
own agriculture and keep 1t through
hate and prejudice from taking its
place in the front rank of the business
world.
The organization OF the American
Federation of Farm Bureaus which
was completed last month in Chicago
places the farming Industry where 1t
has always belonged, at the head of
the procession.
The membership of this Federation.
probably 100000 to 1000 900, cannot
be stated definitely because there are
SO many different kinds OF members
of the county farm bureaus. many of
whom are not really members at all.
We have always taken tts nrm
stand that a county organisation. to
become efficient, must have a member
ship which pays dues OF a substantial
nature. Nominal dues will not suf-
fee. A farm bureau Is a business or
ganization and bears the same rela-
tion to agricultural affairs that the
club of the city does to
affairs.
Perhaps the greatest benefit which
tn farm bureaus will create will be to
clear the atmosphere of the old time
that farmers are the only
unos ganized persons In the world:
hat they have never been able TO make
their own prices. and that they have
had to be content with whatever the
rest of the world was willing 10 pay:
all of which, however, is a faliacy-
BY this organization farmers will
lose their imaginary shrinking timid-
ity which so many farmers have as
sumed and II will give them conf.
dence in the handling of their own af.
fairs.
They will start with about 5000, 900
in dues; the first year the president
will be paid salary of $4,000. which,
while not commensurate with his i'm
portance, will seem large to a great
many farmers.
Every state where there Is q farm
bureau federation is represented In
the membership. The south is work
ing hard to get into the game.
Like the American Legion. the
Federation of Farm Bureaus is domi-
mated with the one patriotic thought
that nothing dishonest or underhand-
ed shall be put over on the farmers.
and they will stand as bulwark
against foul play in politics and bus
mess. Their motives are pure, al
though selfish.
The executive committee was in
structed to hire the very best expert
brains possible to conduct each de-
Some OF the bureaus will
be Transportation; Trade Relations.
domestic and foreign. covering the
tariff; Distribution; Statistics; Legis-
lation: Cooperation. etc.
Mr.. James X. Howard OF Clemens,
Iowa. was elected president and ]. w.
who has long been state
leader in Iowa, permanent secretary.
II is with great deal OF enthusiasm
that we congratulate the new organi-
zation upon Its businesslIke program.
We believe that there viii be good
many OF the old prejudlces which will
be presented to this organization for
action. but we have every confidence
that the new regime will forget the
old petulance which marked the pro-
cedure OF 80 many former agricultural
and that the new ship
will sail grandly out upon the un-
chartcd waters with every assurance
OF a successful voyage.-The County
Agent and Farm Bureau