Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1921-02-08
FARM BUREAU
IS DEFENDED BY
THE "RURALIST"

A statement issued three days ago
by L. B. Jackson, director Of the
state bureau of markets, attacking
the American Farm Bureau Fedora
ton, has been replied to by the
Southern Ruralist, which defends the
| bureau and upholds it as a strong
and helpful force for the benefit of
the farming interests of the south.
The editorial in the Ruralist is as
follows:
1--WE are further championing the
Farm Bureau Federation because we
realize with pain and regret that the
| farmers of the south will not have
an organization sharing in national
affairs and truly representative or the
| farmers of the south as whole until
they organize it. We, therefore, re-
greet to see the fight that is being
made on the farm bureau.
$50 far as we know, the Farm Bu-
reau Federation has gone about it's
work in a business-like way, attend
ing to it's own business and strictly
letting the business of other farm
organizations alone. In its sane and
determined effort to serve the farm
that it has made enemies. That was
to be expected. We hope, however,
that it will go right on with it's
work, leaving the attack to it's own
devices and to spend its energy as
it will.
tons in the south is pathetic. 1t is
filled with page after page of TRACE
dy, scandal and disappointment. We
are speaking with an intimate knowl-
edge of them all and simply stating
what most people already know to
prone to forgive than criticize, yet
the time has come when we must face
the facts as they are with a knoWl-
edge at the same time that we are
not telling anything new or disclosing
anything that the outside world does
not already know.
Reviewing these organizations
there comes before us their plat
forms Some of these could hardly
be improved on. But these plat
forms as full of promise as they
were. have usually been worked
into personal foot planks to political
positions, or turned into sources OF
revenue for few ott1ceholders
with the forlorn hope that some day
living in any other way. We have
many good friends that are now and
have been members of these organ1-
cations. Some of them still hold on
with the forlorn hope that some day
there may be a comeback. They
have held on more for the reason
that there was nothing at the time
that seemed to promise more than
for any other. In this spirit there
is burning desire for real farm
ers' organization. We are aware,
too that there are few community
organizations that are still doing
some good These we commend
heartily. They have had an up
hill job and have shown rare pluck.
Those other elements or our
body polite not actuaully engaged
with power such as that demon
strated by the farm bureau. They
are afraid of it for the very simple
reason that farming is the biggest
single business in this country, and
because it is a SOURCE of rich III, in
either moral or economic, to such
income. They fear that this source
of revenue, with the farmers seated
at the council tables, may. in some
cases. be entirely cut off. In this
fear we believe they are justified.
reaus are buying and selling in
large quantities and have incurred
the diSpleaSure of certain people and
concerns. These people and these
concerns naturally enough would
like to see the Farm Bureau de-
little playhouses.
With these facts in mind. with
out seeking the motives prompting
the present attack, it is easy to
understand why there will be op-
position to the Farm Bureau and
why we may expect it in every
conceivable form. At the same
time, with these facts still in mind.
it is easy enough to understand
why the farmers need the Ameri-
can Farm Bureau federation and
why the Southern Ruralist has sup
ported it so freely"