Oxford eagle. (Oxford, Lafayette Co., Miss.) 1876-current, 1921-09-15
TURNER SAYS
GOODBYE
LAFAYETTE

/
Der will conclude my services as
County Agent for Lafayette County.
My stay here has been extremely
pleasant and my only regret is that
was not more efficient and able to
do more for the cause Of agriculture
and the good people Of this County.
In departing / ask consideration for
my errors and mistakes. My fare
you-well wish is good will ano pros
perity to all and will carry with me
memories as sweet as the perfumes OF
Arabia.
] Probably l am mistaken, but | am
of the opinion that some of my views
and efforts are misunderstood by a
part of the citizenship of the County
and l think that justice requires ME
to make some explanation. ! have
reference to my connection with the
Lafayette County Farm Bureau. AT
the outset will say that the first OF
last November the Board of Super
visors sent me into the State of Hi
nois to investigate. the farm bureaus
of that state. Upon my return ! i'm
mediately launched campaign and
pushed it night and day, into all parts
of the County. When / had fully dis
cussed the farm bureau idea in every
neighborhood | then set a convenient
hour at the Court House and wrote a
personal letter to every man over Fl
years of age in the City of Oxford
and urge them to meet me that we
might discuss this proposition. / ex-
planned the plan there exactly as
had in all parts Of the Copnty and
the Bureau has done nothing that was
not discussed and agreed upon at
these meetings and later provided for
in our charter. Therefore it seems that
all must agree that all of our efforts
have been fair and in the open.
In the beginning was Of the opin-
ion that a Farm Bureau such as we
have would be one of the greatest
benefits that the county could have
and after the institution has been in
operation for eight months | am con-
vinced that / was right. Lafayette
County is dependent absolutely upon
agriculture for her NEW MONEY.
She has no mineral wealth or manu-
featuring enterprises. The prosperity
of every business, calling and profess
sion in this County is determined by
the success of agriculture. You may
fill all the business houses with valu-
able merchandise and heap the banks
with money, then stop the sale of
poultry and eggs, cotton and cotton
seed, corn, hay, creama, cattle, hogs
and potatoes, and every business
house and bank would be busted and
grass would cover the streets. The
purpose of the Farm Bureau is to
make farming profitable business
and if it is so important why should
it not be profitable? The man who
says that farming in this country is a
profitable business is fooling nobody
but himself. Many of the business
men in Oxford left the farm because
it was not paying business and our
brightest young men and women are
leaving every year for the same rea-
son. / have seen people in splendid
circumstances contributing money that
silver tongued speakers might go out
among the people and urge them to
stay on the farm and go back to the
farm. etc. They tell them about the
beauty of the ripping brooks and sing
ing birds and explain how the grape
vine staggers from tree to tree as if
drunk with the wine of its own pur-
pie clusters. This sounds good but it is
soon forgotten and just as long as
country roads, school houses and
churches remain as they are, SO long
as the wardrobe of many of our coun-
/ try ladies is so scant that they feel
embarrassed to appear in public, as
+ long as scrubboards are used for
washing machines, yes just SO long as
condition sare such that after farmer
has put forth his best efforts for
twelve months, denying himself and
family Of many comforts and some
times necessities for the year he finds
that he is unable to meet his taxes;
then, just that long will people con-
ftinue to leave the country and move to
town.
The Lafayette County Farm Blu
reau is simply a group Of farmers or
ganized for the purpose of buying and
selling to the best advantage and who
will say that they have not this right !?
/ If it is right it certainly must be wise
for it has already saved them over
S24000.00 during the first eight
months of its. operation.
I II q am wrong in my position abcut
this business ! am deeply sorry. At
ter careful and prayerful meditation
and consideration / am convinced that
the Farm Bureau is not only right but
could be one Of the greatest benefac-
Il fore IF ts,o Cn,,nfv ond ~ ware q