The labor journal. [volume] (Everett, Wash.) 1909-1976, 1921-10-14
AMERICAN FARM BUREAU
FEDERATION A SWINDLE

Grafton wants every American farm
err as a member, they want dues of
$1,000 a piece or a total of at least
S65 100000 a year. If, with an in
come less than 100000 a year
the American Farm Bureau Fedora
ton has brought disaster upon
American agriculture, what calam-
ity could it not bring to the Amer
lean farmer if it got in more
money? The "Non-Partisan Lead
err in it's issue of September 5,
1921, criticising the effort to tie up
the National Non-Partisan League
with the U. S. Grain Growers, Inc,
says:
at tends to divert attention from
the fact that the Farm Bureau
movement, which is responsible for
the u. S. Grain Growers, Inc, ma
tionally and in many states is con-
trolled or influenced by sinister nom
farming interests, and that many of
the Farm Bureau leaders, as in
Minnesota, are cheap politicians who
will have to be kicked out if the
bureaus are to really serve agricul-
ture. The League would rather not
have it's name used by grain gam
blers to boost ventures with which
the League is not connected"
THE REMEDY
1t is clear that the American
Farm Bureau Federation has been
an unspeakable disaster to Ameri-
can agriculture. 1t is equally clear
that many county agents and some
doing thoroughly good work for
some farmers, but there has been
a deal by which the county agents
have given their services largely to
members of the American Farm Bu-
reau Federation. They have partici-
pated in drives for the American
Farm Bureau Federation and have
actually canvassed for membership
in the Federation. They have also
played politics.
The Federal State and the Nation
al Governments should do for the
farmers of America all the legiti-
mate work in helping production,
securing better marketing and dis
tribution methods and ameliorating
rural conditions. Most of this should
be done by the Federal government
since the food supply of the country
is pre-eminently national program,
No farmer should be asked to pay
$1,000 of dues for the legitimate
services which the State and County
Bureaus have rendered to American
farmers. The funds for this should
come from the taxation Of the war
profiteers and the concentrated
wealth of this country, as the SER
vice is as much one to the con-
sumers of farm products as to the
farm producers themselves.
1t is the imperative duty of the
Federal Government to make this
provision Immediately in order that
the food supply of the country may
be assured also that the country
may have an adequate supply of
clothing. The Farmers National
Council will make drive to secure
adequate appropriations from the
Federal, State and Local govern
ments for the purpose, and invites
the cooperation of every real friend
of agriculture in this effort. There
is no valid objection to the plan of
the Farmers National Council. Only
those who are drawing salaries far
in excess of the value of their SER
vices from the American Farm Blu
reau Federation, or who wish to use
their position in the American Farm
Bureau Federation to serve the big
financial and other privileged inter
ests, would oppose the support (and
encouragement, help and relief to
American agriculture provided in the
plan of the Farmers National Coun-
ell for the farmers of America.