Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1921-08-17
Farmers Organization Necessary to
Put New England Agriculture
on Business Basis, Declares
Industrial Organization.

That the manufacturers of New
England are keenly aware of the i'm
portance of healthy and prosperous
agricultural condition in the East, is
evidenced by the fact that the Asso-
ciated Industries of Massachusetts,,
one of the most powerful and infiuen-
tial organizations in the eastern
states, has issued a pamphlet calling
the attention of it's members to the
alarming agricultural decline in the
eastern states and urging them to
take necessary remedial action.
The publication of this pamphlet is
of especial significance when it is con-
sidered that the policy Of the Asso-'
ciated Industries is one which does
not permit it to endorse either a
which it does not itself control. AS
the foreword to the pamphlet ex-
plains, however, the executive COM
mittee feels that as the agricultural
decline in the eastern states has as
sumed such proportions as to be al
most menace, the organization as
a whole is justified in calling the
attention of their members to the ser
iousness of the situation.
The foreword says: "The members
of the executive committee of the As
sociated Industries look upon the de-
cline of agriculture in New England
as little less than menace to it's
industrial prosperity. 1t costs so
much money to bring our food from
a distance, and the process removes
so much capital from New England
that every one in the community suf-
fers because we are not more nearly
feeding ourselves.
Accordingly, we issue this PAM
phlet to our. members to call their at
tention to what we believe to be the
facts. This pamphlet mentions the
work which has been done by the
Eastern States League and the plan
which the league has for an increase
in its operations.
''The Associated Industries never
endorses any financial plan which it
does not itself control, in whole or in
part. But we think, however, that
the subject to which the Eastern
States League is devoting it's attention
is of such Importance to every man.
ufacturer in Massachusetts that he,
as an individual, ought to give SER
ious attention to the facts, and ought
upon his own responsibility to de-
termine whether and how much he
can contribute to this well-organized
and ably-conducted institution which
is attempting to revive agriculture in
New England"
The pamphlet briefly reviews sta
tistics from 188O-1920 pertaining to
the improved farm land under Gull
tivation in New England as compared
with the population. 1t illustrates
that the improved farm land under
cultivation has suffered a decrease
of $3.50 and shows an increase in
population of $3.50 during the same
period.
In proposing remedial action
to check this decline and increase ag-
ricultural production in the eastern
states, the pamphlet makes a strong
plea for concerted backing on the
part of the manufacturers Of the var
ious cooperative efforts in New Eng
land. AThere is abundant evidence
that in all communities where cooper
alive effort has been intelligently
practiced, improvement in quality,
elimination of waste, reduction in
costs. and increase in quantity have
invariably resulted, with greater
prosperity for the farmer and the
customer alike" says the pamphlet.
The work of the Eastern States
League toward the promotion of a
more prosperous agricultural condi-
ton in the eastern states is briefly
reviewed in the pages of the pamphlet
and the members of the Associated
Industries are urged to give this
movement their moral and financial
SUPPORT. 1t saws. Give years ago,
under the leadership of such indus
trial executives as Theodore N. Vail.
Horace A. Moses. and Richard H.
Rice. the Eastern States Agricultural
and Industrial League was organized
to improve or cure the serious situa-
ton outlined in the foregoing para