The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1922-02-02

REPORT OF COUNTY DELEGATE.
Charles Freer, Mile Laos County Del
egate, Makes Report on State
4. Convention.
AS county delegate to the State
Farm Bureau federation, I have been
asked to give report Of the third an
nual convention of the state federation
held in st. Paul, January 3-5. 81
This convention was held in the
house chamber at the new capitol, ex-
cept the first day, when the sessions
were held at the University Farm
school. At these sessions the dele
gates had the pleasure Of listening to
several good addresses, two of which
were delivered by James R. Howard,
president of the federal farm bureau
and Congressman Sidney Anderson Of
this state. -.s:"r
Mr.. Howard took up most of his time
explaining and defending the agricul-
tural bloc in congress, showing that
the much talked of agricultural bloc
is not the first combine of its kind
formed in congress for the purpose
of passing certain legislation but it is
the first attempt of congress to pass
any real beneficial legislation for the
farmer regardless of party lines, as
each party represented in the agricul-
tural bloc.
This bloc had it's origin in the feder-
al farm bureau office at Washington,
D. c., and has always worked in har-
mony with that organization.
Mr.. Howard showed that the COM
plants that the measures being advo-
Gated by this group Of national law
makers is class legislation has no foun-
dalton. If the man who tills the
soil and tends the herds, doing the only
real producing for the maintenance Of
the people of the whole nation, does
not prosper the people of the nation
following other occupations cannot
prosper because that which benefits
the farmers is passed on to other &C.
equations in many ways.
The federal farm bureau is the only
organization that maintains an office
at Washington, for the purpose of
presenting to congress the needs of
the agriculturist. Much good has been
accomplished along this line. There
never has been time in the nations
history when the needs of the farmer
have been so forcibly and persistently
presented to congress as at present
The president Of the federal farm bu.
reau working with various members
of the state organizations has been the
means of causing reductions in rail.
road freight rates that means a say.
ing of many thousands of dollars tt
shippers.
Congressman Anderson, who ha:
made careful study of the condition Of
agriculture in the county, gave figure!
to prove that the purchasing power o.
the farmers dollar is only 60 per cen
of what it was before the war and tina
so long as this condition persists tn
|people of the nation cannot prosper.
The convention was we'll attended
there being 78 counties represented
out of total of Sc. The organization
is having a good healthy growth. II
1918 there was membership of 26,
1876 which had grown to $4,000 in 1921
Throughout the entire country their
are 100000 members.
The platform adopted by the con
vention for the coming year is a yer!
progressive one and if all parts 0:
this platform could be carried out by
the state and nation during the year
we are sure the financial condition O.
the people would be much improved
but this will not be accomplished with
out desperate struggle, as there
are certain interests that will oppose
each and every plank. Every individ
ual and every organization that has
the interest Of the farmer at hear
should back up this platform.
One of the planks demands that rail
road freight rates be reduced to pre-
war rates. This we believe would have
direct influence on the financial stu.
alton at present. To show that the
big interests realize the influence ant
power of the bureau, I wish to state
the railroad companies employ very
able attorney to attend every state
federation convention who by his
smooth and deceptive methods at.
tempts to persuade the organization tt
modify it's demands for the rights Of
the public. And it is surprising what
influence this professional misrepre
sentative of facts has with many PEG.
pie. The people must be awake tx
the aims of such fellows.