Clinch Valley news. [volume] (Jeffersonville, Va.) 18??-2019, 1921-04-01
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES FOR
FARMERS TROUBLE.

What is the reason that the farm
er is not making profit on his pro-
ducts in proportion to the labor and
capital he has expended?
Since this time last year the prices
paid for the crops of the farmers If
the United States have shrunk about
seven billion dollars, an amount far
in excess of the decrease in dividends
received by any other business. The
farmer asks only n reasonable share
of profits on his own products. Fig
ures released by the Bureau of La
bor Statistics on March II show the
following facts for February Above
the price level of 1914.
Farm products rs per cent-Metal
and metal products 68 per cent.
Chemicals and drugs 76 per cent.
Clothes and clothing 1O2 per cent.
Fuel and lighting 127 per cent
Building materials 127 per cent.
House and house furnishing goods
180 per cent.
But even with this astonishing
difference, it is fact that the great
er part Of his small increase does
not go to the farmer. The editor of
the Southern Planter has estimated
that four and half bushels of
wheat sold by the farmer for 1857
is retailed by hotel for $5.87. Cab
-bage, which the farmer sold last
summer at one-fourth cent pound
was sold by the retail grocer at from
four to eight cents n pound.
Eggs just at present are retailed
IN the groceries at many cities at a
price more than double that which
the farmer receives. The same thing
is true of live stock, and of almost
every commodity produced by the
farmer.
Is there n remedy for this condi-
tion? The Farm Bureau is an organ
ization which is putting into the
hands of the farmer marketing
system worked out by expert and
practical farmers. The Bureau has
saved its members during the one
year of its existence hundreds of mil
lions of dollars.
More than 10000 farmers from
practically every state in the union
have joined it. Virginia has strong
State Federation already in active
oueration with Henry Stuart as
President. d. H. Barger, Vice Presi-
dent, e. K. Coyner, Secretary, and
II. Il. Wilson, Treasurer New coun-
ties are joining every day. Back of
each individual farmer who poins
the Federation is the force of the
entire organization. Every dollar of
the membership fee of ten dollars
goes back in service to the farmer.
The fee, while u large. one to many
of the smaller farmers of Virginia,
is being cheerfully paid by them be-
cause they realize that it is the most
profitaDie investment of ten dollars
they can possibly make.
Labor and capital which have long
been organized pay higher fees for
less service:
Brick layers, Initial payment, $50;
Yearly dues, $43.2O.
Printers, Initial payment, $22;
Yearly dues, $50.
Sheet and metal workers, initial
payment, $3.50; Yearly dues, $50.
| Virginia Farm Bureau Federation,
Initial payment, nothing; Yearly dues
$40.
Hitherto, a member of the only
unorganized industry, the farmer is
at last realizinz the truth of our
national motto, Omitted we stand, di-
vided we fall" Will you join the 9th.
er 100000 farmers in America
who have found one hope for the
solution of the problems which you
cannot hope to settle alone? You
are cooperating in order that your
children may be taught in common
school; you are cooperating in or.
der that the Gospel may be preach
ed to yourself and others. Why con.
tinue to try to work out alone ant
in useless competition the problem.
OF the greatest business in the worlc
1.-THE business of farming.
Il, COYNEP Soo,,
Virginia Farm Bureau Federation.