The New York herald., 1921-09-08
Farmers, East and West.

rates nave eaSeu up competition Will,
them from the West, and so they did
not play a conspicuous part in TIE
agitation through which the Western
farmers recently brought about q
reduction of the rates on wheat aid
live stock. In the same way there
are varying degrees of enthusiasm
among farmers sectionally toward
the rest of the agricultural pro
gramme in Congress for land recla.
nation, road building. farm credits
and regulation of grain exchanges:
for it's huge possible expenditures
would be, like transportation charges
a burden or a benefit, depending o.,
where the farmer lives.
There is a cleavage marked by
climate and soil character in this biz
country. The Patrons of Husbandry
commonly called the Grange, is the
oldest and most widely exten led
| farmers order Of social nature
Formerly the Grange was political
with a bitter feeling against rail
roads; also 1t encouraged great CO.
operative enterprises, most of which
failed. Fifteen years after its forna.
tion at the close Of the civil war ii
became national in scope over all
| States then in the Union and was
connected with the farmers in their
affairs of every kind. To-day its
strength lies in the East.
The vacated place of the Grange
was filled in Michigan by the Ancient
Order Of Cleaners and in the South
and far West by the Farmers Educa-
tional and Cooperative Union, while
the American Society of Equity and
Non-Partisan League arose in the
Northwest. In brief, geographical
lines appeared In the split-up.
None of these organizations, how.
ever, has territory free Of intru-
sions by some of the others. More
over, in spite of their national promi-
nence they are all subordinate in
power, locally and specifically, to
such concerns as associations OF
growers of cotton, tobacco, fruit or
vegetables, or Of dairymen, live stock
men and the like. The numerous as
sociations thus formed have arrayed
the farmers in permanent county,
State and interstate groups with
special interests.
Nevertheless, a reattempt at the
solidarity of farmers is being made
through the farm bureaus that exist
in nearly all rural counties. The
first bureau was the one which the
Chamber Of Commerce of Bingham
ton. New York, opened in 1911 to
avail itself of the act obligating the
Federal Government to keep agri-
cultural or home demonstration
agents in counties paying part of
the expense. The Binghamton
Chamber OF Commerce and the Lack
awanna Railroad supplied the fund,
the master OF the local Grange took
The presidency, and town as well as
country people joined as members.
1t was in such a get together spirit
that many of the other bureaus were
formed. But they all soon became
dominated by the farmer members
and in 1920 militant group formed
the new American Farm Bureau
Federation.
The Federation now boasts 1t is
the largest farm organization ever
created. BY last June bureaus rep
resenting forty-three States and
1.052,114 members had joined, and 1t
gets SO cents annually from each
member in most Of the affiliated bu-
reaus. So it already counts num-
Der about equal to one-sixth OF all
farm operators and has a fat wad
to spend. In addition, il hopes are
realized, enormous funds will come
under its guiding hand through the
United States Grain Growers, Inc,
which is soliciting for more ten dol
lar dues and trying to pool the whole
wheat crop through the Farmers
Finance Corporation, which is to
have s100,000,000 of capital stock
and no end of agricultural business.
Although the Federation is very
confident Of itself, however, there
are signs that point to possible dis
ruption, especially unless 1t goes
more slowly in its efforts to enroll
all farmers under one banner and
embark their fortunes in centrally
controlled financial and business un-
dertakings. Complaints are made
that II used the bureaus Govern
ment connection in overriding older
organizations. that It is too busy in
politics and above all Is controlled
by the far West and South.
The Armageddon among rival ma
tionaI farm organizations has al
ways taken place in Ohio, Indiana
and Illinois, because supremacy goes
the way they swing. AT present these
three middle States are with the Fed
Grafton, despite the fact that on some
major questions like public finance,
transportation, tariff and taxation
they are more In harmony with an
othar section. This embraces New