The diamond drill., 1920-02-21

Large Number Of Michigan Farmers
Met st College.

.. was held az the Michigan Agricultural
College the first week in February A
splendid program was arranged for the
whole week and the speakers of nat
ional reputation which gathered there
gave some very valuable thoughts 10
the farmers IL would not be possible
in small space 10 give the substance
OF all these thoughts. but special men
tion must be made OF some OF the out
standing things. Dean Alfred Vivian
OF Ohio State University. gave four
evenings entertainments on his trip
around the world and the many inter-
esting things which he found. Special
attention was paid 10 the agricultural
interests and other lands in the whole
series and was very interesting thru
out Dean Vivian proved 10 be very
popular speaker because OF both his
good thoughts and valuable advice
and the pleasant, lively way in which
he presented these thoughts.
On Tuesday evening of the week DR..
Kenyon L. Butterfeld, President of the
Massachusetts Agricultural College
gave very fine address on some OF
the problems OF country life DR.. But
terfield is a graduate of the Michigan
Agricultural College and was welcom-
ed back 10 the campus by his old
friends and those who have known
him through his later achievements.
He was a member OF the Theodore
Roosevelt Country Life Commission
and has been in Europe on a commits
sion from Woodrow Wilson, studying
conditions there. He is a keen think
er and a man who can present his
thoughts in a pleasant manner In
one Of his talks before the Country
Life Conference he brought out what
the rural community OF the future will
be, showing some of the things we
must have such as the consolidated
school with its better course OF study
and better trained teachers, the com
munity social organizations, commun-
ity recreation, an active community
church, etc.
On Thursday came the annual meet
ing OF the Michigan State Farm Bur
eau, Delegations from S5 counties
were present and took official part in
the meeting. A large number OF farm
ers were present besides these. One OF
the most important things was the a
doption OF the new constitution. This
Instrument was necessary TO provide
for the growth which this young or
ganization has made in the short per-
iod OF its existence. The organization
also ratified the constitution and by
laws OF the American Federation OF
farm bureaus. Michigan was the 14th
state to ratify. Reports from the var
ious officers and committees were
read. The report Iof the secretary
was especially interesting. II showed
that the membership drive has been
completed in fifteen counties of the
state with twenty-three thousand
members secured. Twenty counties
have applied for membership drives
and all these will be taken care OF as
soon as possible. The size OF the
membership is certainly very encour-
aging and without doubt there Is going
to be a fine strong organization for
the best development of the country's
agriculture. II was recommended that
purchasing and selling department
be inaugurated and the executive COM
mittee has just put this into effect.
! The State Farm Bureau has taken ov-
er the Michigan crop improvement as
sociation and will use II as an nucleus
OF seed and grain selling and pur-
chasing department.
Mr.. J. w Nicholson OF the Michigan |
Agriculture College. Secretary of the |
Crop improvement Association. has
been employed as manager His very |
efficient work in the past in building |
up pure bred seed trade for Michi-
gan Il worthy OF great commendation.
Thursday evening Governor Lowden
OF Illinois. one OF the candidates for
the presidential nomination, gave !
talk 70 the farmers which showed his
insight not only into sheir problems |
but also the problems OF the rest of
the nation. Governor Lowden prais-
ed the Farm Bureau very highly and
asked the farmers 20 get behind this
movement with all their strength and
get into the game themselves instead
Of expecting others 10 do their work
for them. He showed how farming is
business and urged business meth
ods. Above all he urged cooperation