The Glasgow courier. [volume] (Glasgow, Mont.) 1913-current, 1921-01-28

81 want to ask you as farmers. in
the next year and all succeeding years,
that you help US as Farm Bureau off
GERS to pillow straight burrows. We
want to pillow straight burrows not only
as an organization but as farmers and
citizens-and remember that if we
and cover, we are not doing good plow-
ing"
The speaker was a tall Iowa farmer,
Jim Howard, beloved by his own men
and now a national figure because of
his ability and the confidence he in
spires. He was opening the annual
meeting of the American Farm Bureau
Federation. He told simply of the
situation in which agriculture finds
itself. He outlined some of the things
to be done by farmers as they are or
ganizing nationally. No bitterness was
in his spirit. He knows good founda-
lions have been put down and he has
faith in his men-and in u people
as a whole. His prophecy was of hope
with the substance of work already
done to give it reality. His words
were exalted common sense.
Afterward, a farmer intimate in the
councils of the Federation remarked
to me, "We a trust Jim. He is
working for the farmers of his
try and is being fair to everybody
else"
A National Policy.
There had been considerable talk
that an agricultural policy would be
formulated at this convention. On this
point, President Howard said,
"The idea has been developed that
we were to discuss IN agricultural pol
icy at this time. We didn't intend that
idea to get out in just that way. We
r considering whether or not we
need an agricultural policy and what
that policy should be, but it is too big
a problem to be solved at one meeting
or in one evening and we hope to make
some contributions later on along that
line.
"We have a national policy. 1t has
ers in the Department of Agriculture
Our national policy has been to pro-
tect industry and educate the farmer.
Let US have a policy that we are going
to protect the farmer and educate in
dustry.
don't believe we want an exclusive
agricultural policy. What we want is
a definite national policy in which ag-
riculture properly a%rticulates with all
of our national interests"
The convention formulated nothing
startling. 1t did not even block out
any definite plan or scheme. That
was not the purpose of the men who
called the meeting. Their only object
was to get together some clear think
ing farmers representing all of the
best elements in American agriculture,
and to have them focus constructive
ideas sharply on a few important
things marketing, transportation,
credit. 1t was recognized by these
men that they could not come to ar
bitrary conclusions overnight, but
must work carefully through expert
ence to proved ends.
1t would not be possible to say that
the American Farm Bureau Federation
is going to do thus and so as a result
of the convention. But the cotton
grower and the wool man, the wheat
producer and the fruit farmer, the
cattle feeder, the dairyman, the hog
raiser-all had their interests consid-
cred, and added strength to the com
mon counsel. They agreed on men tc
whom they entrusted their collective
and national businessmen who are
already handling these matters wisely
Going SlOw-But Sure.
1t is not the habit of Farm Bureau
officials to announce policies anC
promise quick relief. They are study
ing patiently to learn the facts of the
situation, and they are working &c
apply good business methods and col
lective strength to it. Only a few
days before the Indianapolis meeting
a few men were gathered in the Fed
eration's national office at Chicago
Little has been heard of this confer
ence. But these men represented most