Oxford eagle. (Oxford, Lafayette Co., Miss.) 1876-current, 1921-09-22
PEOPLES FORUM

THAT you censure the Board of Super
lyisors for their recent action in maxi
ling provision for a Public Marketing
Agent. For the past year, the general
public and taxpayers have been forced
Ito do their marketing through the
medium OF the Farm Bureau-a joint
stock company--and therefore forced
to pay a premium or commission to
a few directors and stockholders of
1.-The concern. This action has not met
with genera lapproval hence the re-
cent order of the Board to provide
public marketing facilities uncontroll-
ed by any other agency than the Sup
lervis0fs.
The Controversy is of long stand
ling. A large number of taxpayers
Having objected to the formation of
stock company against the legitimate
Interests of the County and one that
has completely destroyed the func-
tions of the County Demonstration.
The Board of Supervisors has for the
past wear, contributed funds out Of
the general Treasury of the County
to pay the salary of general mana
ger for the joint stock company. The
County Demonstration has given MS
entire time and energy to the manage
ment of this stock company. And the
Supervisors could have paid for the
management of the Porter Hardyare
Co., or the Davis. Mize Co., with as
| little authority of law.
| The Supervisors having. now nret
the wishes of the general public and.
provided public, uncontrolled and non
profitable marketing facilities for the
entire public, we find the Farm Bu
reau stock holders and directors agi-
tating the resembling the order in
order that all marketing may be for
ced through the channels of the Farm
Bureau organization thereby swelling
the profits and commission to the Di-
rectors.
If the Directors, promoters and
engineers of the Bureau organization
are sincere in. their statements, they
marketing facilities for every body. If
the concern is a cooperative non
profit taking concern, then why should
they seek to control all of the legiti-
mate business of the County. If the
directors and promoters are, simply
engaged in labor of love, then why
should they be so active in having the
Board destroy and prevent all possible
competition in the form of public
marketing.
The Farm Bureau has demonstrated
thoroughly, that it is a joint Stock
Company out for profit as much so,
as any other business organization in
the County and it should be brought
|unrer the sanfe restrictions with 9TH
Ter business enterprises and be forced
to meet its part of the Taxes of the
County and State.
Contrary to the statement of the
president of the concern and its active
promoters, the merchants and bankers
have no war to make on the Bureau
organization if it is managed and con-
trolled and directed along the lines
originally intended. The Bureau di-
rectors have had the entire time of
the County Demonstration for which
the people of the County have paid
the sum of $2,400. 1t now has the
same Bureau and the same Demon
strator all to itself, but it is not salts
fled, and won't be, until all cows,
hogs, corn and other products are
forced through their organization to
market. The affair is out in the open
without the support of the County,
and it is afraid of competition. 1t
has been thrown upon its own initia-
tive and resources and it can't stand
alone. If the concern has the me it
claimed for it and the directors sim
cere in their efforts, then it need not
fear for q public marketing agent, for
the public will now choose between
the Bureau and the Marketing Agent
and the sincere, competent organi2a-
tion will win out in the end.
And there is a large intelligent citi-
zenship who want competent Farm
Demonstration What other counties
and sections of the State have accom-
plished under sincere competent dem
onstrators can be duplicated in La
fayette County, but the next Demon
strator must be employed by the Sup
ervisors only after careful investiga-
ton and he must be subject to no 9TH
er authority, than the Supervisors,
and under contract, that can be ter
minated by the Board, without re-
course to District, State and Federal
Departments.
Our people are still in the ruts of
our forefathers in matters pertaining
to Agriculture. We continue to fat.
ten the boil weevil, milk f;.i ge co VS.
that have to be staked down at both
ends while other counties and sections
OF the State are paying out over $780,
OO0 In cream checks and are receiv-
ing double this sum for products of the
SOIL. And yet. for six years, we have
kept up show of paying for expert
advice from the Federal Government
through the medium of demonstrators.
Close observers of the situation are
now confident that the success of the
demonstration work does not depend
upon the Federal or State departments
but upon the man employed.
In conclusion, Mr.. Editor, we have
no fight to make on the Bureau if it
remains in the bounds of Legitimate
business. But if the Directors of the
concern attempt to force all the farm
ers Of the County to take their busi-
ness through the channels of the Blu
reau, then we shall do our utmost to
preserve the public marketing facili-
ties provided by the Supervisors. The
farmers of the county do not want to
be forced by the Supervisors to do
their busines through any defined
channel or concern to the profit Of
that concern or the individuals inter-
ested, but we insist upon public com
petition and the persons who have no
cards up their sleeves or special in
terests to be benefited, won't object