Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1921-12-08
The HERALD MAIL BAG
CHARMING THE FARMERS
To the Editor,
The Grand Forks Herald,
Grand Forks, N. D..

tAISVlxNU lI1yAH CA f6Nx fLkG0sE
TO the Editor,
The Grand Forks Herald, 4
Grand Forks, N. D.
Dear Sir
May I ask your kind Indulgence in
the form of part OF your valuable
space, for presenting to your readers
a matter that directly concerns them,
and which, l feel, should be publicly
aired and discussed, before serious
and irreparable damage is done?
Because II it were not for the
tragedy involved, and the humilia-
ton and loss which are bound to fol-
low, adding another page to the
shameful and unfair advertising that
North Dakota has already received
nationally, ] would" want to dismiss
from n further consideration the
news item from Fargo, under date
cember 9Th issue of the Grand Forks
Herald, stating that "a new farmers
association has been organized" for
the purpose of CD Marketing all
crops through a Farmers Federation
of America, composed of township
bands through a loan fund created
from dues, a. fixing prices on farm
products, s'(3) eliminating Unfair
combinations against the farmers,
(4) enlightening members on mar
keting conditions, and (5) collecting
a fee Of $500 from each member.
All in one breath! Another PAN
aces for the ills in farming! Another
organization added to the multiplicity
of farm organizations already in ex-
istence, half of which are not func-
tioning! More Dues! And to make
it worse. the news item reports that
the movement Is to be national in
character. that national offices are to
be opened up after three or four
states nave beef organized" (:organ-
lied in this nj simply means
honeycombed for dues, to put it po-
litely), and that the movement
started in North Dakota.
Believes in Cooperation.
In" order that those who read this
discussion may clearly understand my
position in matters Of agricultural or
.ganfzation and cooperative, agricul-
tural marketing, let me state first OF
all, that ! firmly believe in real. bust
ness-like, modern, up-to-date farmers
cooperative marketing organizations,
secondly, that l know. beyond any
question or argument that when
properly organized and properly led,
such cooperative organizations can
liz wv Ao1IIkAOA pTOpCllJ dIu pIOlll~
ably, third, that l have been connect
ed with farmers organizations and
with agricultural development work
for twelve years, as organ zation
specialist for the Texas Agricultural
Experiment Station and Extension
Service, as Consulting Specialist for
the Texas Farm Bureau Federation
and as lecturer on Agricultural Or
g~anization at various Agricultural Col
leges and Universities.
therefore, 1t stands to reason that
/ believe in organization for farmers
and that l am for organization along
lines from which real benefits can be
derived. But what / would like to
ask now in c~ornec:1on with the news
Item, to which / make reference, is
this: 0 many wildcat, blue
sky, unintelligent, and impossible
farmers organizations will the intel
ligent citizenship of North Dakota
stand for and allow? How many more
times will wild. unschooled carpet.
baggers bleed North Dakota's rural
citizenship and offer North Dakota's
In return. a junk-pile OF
crude phrases and meaningless words
n an atmosphere of hate? Because
as sure as we are alive. the momen,
o. mar is stuck he begins to hate
Combinations.
Here is ar. organ 'zation, as the re.
port from Fargo states, which in one
breath Wits TO fix prices on farm
commodities and at the same time
wants to wage war against unfai,
combinations against the + armers
! And not only does this contempl.- e
organization want to carry out such
an unheard of program in one state
but 1t wants to accomplish it's plan.
In a nationwide effort. Some scheme,
require egotism: but the plan Il
which l refer. as reported from Fargo
In the issue Of December 9Th of til,
Grand Forks Herald, requires coloesa
Ignorance, to say the least, as tn,
basis of its conception.
How many times, may I ask. doe,
the North Dakota farmer want to ma,
dues for the purposes of orgapiza
ton? Does he want a perpetuity O
dues. as long as he lives. How man,
different organizations does he want
It Is true that we are living in {
: democracy, In which every mar is, en-
titled to an honest opinion, but it will
soon come to pass where we viii
nave enough organizations, starting
started and stuck. to correspond will
the number of farmers.
How many different kinds of or
CARNATIONS can the North Dakot,
farmer support? The trouble will
farmers organizations, In North Ia
kota and everywhere, is not witHrsth,
real dirt farmer, who has real griev
ances with which to contend. but Will
farm leadership, so-called. VIII,
dent those leaders get together
How can they expect the body politi,
to stay cemented. when they them
selves (the Hleaders) fight and quarre
and pick the plums while the pickin,
is ripe?
All in a Row.
This is plan English, but I mea,
1t for such. Look up the recent ad
vcrtisements in the Fargo Forum AM
Fargo Courier News and consult tn,
kilograms and correspondence tina
have passed to and fro, and you viii
see that the o. g.. Grain Growers, ar.
fighting the Equity. and the Equity i
aghting the U. s. Grain Growers. an,
both are fighting the National sWhea,
Growers, and the National Whea
Growers will have nothing to do witt
either, and some are for the Farm
Bureau and some are against, ant
some the Farm Bureau backs. an,
some it doesn't. and almost every on,
Of them IN fighting. the rest Of them
II such a situation possjblef And q,