The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1921-03-31
Object and Aims of Farm
Bureau Are Fully Explained

examples of what is meant. An i'm
portant question before our next
Congress now is whether it should
give precedence to tariff legislation
or to revision of the tax laws. We
read in the Minneapolis Tribune a
short time ago that this is a very
perplexing program for the Presi-
dent and on the editorial page of that
paper we read that the general tar
if legislation could we'll wait on tax
revision as the business interests of
the country are anxious to know, in
the light of tax revision laws, just
how to plan their business affairs in
the next year or two. What the COM
mercial interests want is revision
of the taxes first so that they can ad
just their plans for the future i'm
mediately and take advantage of
everything possible. Now = it also
happens that the farmers are, or
should be, concerned most with a
tariff revision. One that shall pro-
tect them against competitive i'm
ports, and will tend to bring the far
mers at least the cost of production
with a small profit, on his production.
This is something which the farmer
is not now largely enjoying. 1t is of
great Importance to him which one of
these questions will be taken up and
adjusted first. The thoughtful far
mer wants the tariff question adjust
ed first, but we read from the editor
ial pages of recent issues of the Min
neapolis papers that takes should
come first, than the tariff" and other
statements to that effect. ..s
Does it seem that this is a perplex-
ing problem which is left to the adj
ministration solely without advice
and influence from somewhere? 1t
would appear that great influence is
brought to bear by certain agents in
terested in tax revision, which agen-
cies are doubtlessly very well organ
lied and managed, and have their
wires. laid at the capital. If the far
mers of the county were well organ
lied through their Farm Bureaus and
were federated and work co-operativ.
ely to foster and support not only E
local and state program of work, but
also national program and took the
opportunity to link itself with the
Federal Department of Agriculture
the Secretary of Agriculture woult
be their champion and their spokes
man and he would be the mos
powerful man ia Washington, be
cause he would have the right arm
and shoulder of more man-power be
hind him than any other trade sor in
dustry could hope to have. In al
organized way, the needs and plead
ings of the farmers would be givel
more hearing than they are at pre-
sent. AS a matter of fact the &C
complishment of this very thing
underway. Their is !, an America
Federation of Farm Bureaus with T
|. Howard of Iowa as its president
and it has a board of directors and
organized for business. 1t is al
tempting to do as many Of the thing
as possible that have been here out
lined. What is necessary now
more support back home. The il
dividual units of this organizatio
which are our county farm bureau
must be supported in more effet
tive way, both by increased member
ship and more funds to carry out tn
program of their work than has bee
done in the past. Every farmer al
the county should affiliate himse
with the Farm Bureau, and do every
thing possible to advance the interes
of the Rarm Bureau and help tn
!, work of not only his county ager
but also his state and national agent
n Then only he may attempt an
!, realize the things he would like t
J see done in the way of agriculture
, development and the furthering 9
the interests of the farmer.
1t is reasonable to believe that tn
plan suggested will work out as e.
planned and have consequence even
national affairs. The Federal d.
: partment of Agriculture is the on
81 that pioneered and developed the bi
Farm Bureau and County Agent plal
I The Secretary of Agriculture want
to be more than a fgure-head, an
: give advice out of his own judgmen
: He wants advice and more power b.
hind him and that is one of the hi
reasons why his department was $
. interested in promoting the Far
Bureau and County Agent plan. s
we see, that it will take well, and wi
be met with a welcome in offici;
lquarters. We know this is also tru
of our state government. One of til
i principal planks in the platform {
Governor Preus campaign, was ths
pertaining to agricultural develop
ment and state prosperity throug
! ico-operative farm organizations, as