The Idaho recorder. [volume] (Salmon City, Idaho) 1886-1927, 1921-02-18
PURPOSES OF FARM
BUREAUS "UNlON"
BY J. r. Howard. President.

An agricultural organization which
mas grown to number more than a
}mtllion paid up members In less than
IL year and in this short time has
fsPread out over some thirty-three
states must OF necessity have some
well defined aims and evidently seeks
to fill q long felt need
The various states have embraced
the basic ideas back OF the American
Farm Bureau Federation with sur
prising promptness and the rush TO
enroll as members has been greater
than our facilities could ancommo-
date. Everyone in any way con
nected with agriculture has been most
profuse In their praises of the plans
and policies OF the A. +. b. +. and
have hailed this organization as the
long sought instrument for the force
full expression OF the farmers desires
and for the solution of the farmers
IecoLomic problems
But, OF course. the growth OF the
A. r. b. +. lis not so mushroomlike as
might appear at first glance We
must remember that many OF the
state units which make up the pres.
ent national organization have been
in existence for several years and
that the county units which make up
The state organizations have in some
Instances been in active operation for
from five 10 eight years In fact. II
lis the method OF organization. grow
Ing from The county units 10 the state
units and from the state units TO the
national unit. rather than vice versa,
(which we count the greatest strength
of the organization. II is natural
movement from the ground up rather
than from the top down.
But what do the members who have
so readily put up their money and SO
Willingly given OF their time look to
the organization To do for them
What is II that they expect the Amer.
lean Farm Bureau Federation to ac-
lcomplish.
l. Undoubtedly they look to the A. +.
B. +. to lead the way In the curing
lof their economic. legislative and SO
lcial Ills. This was the idea firmly
imbedded In the minds OF that group
OF eathsst. forward looking farmers
who met In Chicago In November OF
last year and laid the foundation
lprtnciPies--a this Is. the idea no
less sividly in the mind OF the indi
Iydual farmer who signs up his three.
Iyear or life membership and pays at
lthest tste IN Is 10. Sl5 per ssaS. TIA
their minds the A. +. b. r. is not to
be mere debating society, but a
thing alive and vibrant with action
an instrument with which to reshape
and carve out the destinies OF Agri
culture on higher plane and scope
And this Is the central idea that
has dominated and influenced the
every act of the officers and execu
live committee of the American Farm
Bureau Federation. We have tried TO
keep In mind that We are building
Ipermanently-bu building for next year
and the year after and for all time.
Rather than make hasty decision or
take a hasty step which might reflect
discredit To the organization, we have
preferred TO proceed slowly, making
certain that each step is right. On
that foundation alone can we build
structure that will stand and endure
Taekiino the Marketing Problem.
But with all our caution we feel
that we have made real progress. We
have. first of all, endeavored to knit
our organization together into an har
monious. well ordered unit. We have
tackled the great problem of efficient
marketing of farm products and now
have a committee Of seventeen of the
best marketing men OF the United
States working out the principles and
details OF plan which when finally
completed and adopted should reyo
Ilutionize marketing methods and Sc
cure for the farmer greater portion
iof the consumers dollar 1t is too
early yet to announce just what plan
will be adopted. but the progress
made is encouraging.
One committee is working on the
marketing of grain, another on the
marketing OF livestock and the Fed
Grafton has called conferences which
will probably result in a committee
10 work on the marketing of dairy
products and another 10 cover the
truck and vegetable field.
Our presentation OF the farmer <
viewpoint on The railway rate increase
case before the Interstate Commerce
Commission was practically the only
argument made for the public. II Is
believed that the statistical data pre-
sented by our representative after
several months of investigation was
effective in bringing about the reduc-
ton of billion and half dollars in
railroad valuation on which the rates
were computed.
| We have attacked national legisla'
tive problems and already have had
considerable success in getting favor
able action before Congress and
through the various commissions and
bureaus at Washington. Our Wash
| lington office is constantly al work on
/ the farmers legislative and economic
problems and the review OF month =
activities at that office discioses an
amazing variety of interests all of
which intimately affect the farmer $
wsil-being.
The legislative program on which
we are working includes the follow
ing bills; The Capper Nolstead Bill
Kenyon Anderson BIN. French Truth
n.Fabric Bill. Standard Containers
/ (yestaD Bill. Kahn Wadsworih Bill
Nolan Bill German Credit Bill. Farm
Financing Measures, amendments "a
the Federal Reserve Act. \ Rural