The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1922-12-01
favorable to the farmer.

favorable to the farmer.
There is no doubt but that these Or
carnations have done some good, but
they have not grasped the situation as
thoroughly as our newest of farm organ
izations-the Farm Bureau and the Farm
Bureau Federation.
The Farm Bureau idea was developed
and brought about through the need for
a more widespread knowledge concerning
the work of our agricultural colleges and
experiment stations. 1t has been devel-
opcd by federal and state support. 1t was
not long, however, after this work started.
until the more progressive farmers saw
in the Farm Bureau movement a working
foundation for a better type of farm organ
ization than we have had heretofore
There is no doubt but that the Farm Bu-
reau as an extension medium for the pur-
pose Of bringing the knowledge as dcvel-
oped by our experiment stations into
actual practice by the American farmer,
has been of inestimable value. The more
progressive farmers have appreciated this.
Needs to Study.
Although this is a service that is worth
while, the farmer needs to study more
about his marketing problems, and the
Farm Bureau has been built along these
two lincs-hrstly, to work for moro eco
nomical production, or, in other words,
to try to stop some of the leaks in IgriCul-
ture; and secondly, to develop that other
side of the problem, that of better mar
kcts. which involves good many differ
ent lines of work No other farm organ
ization has had these two functions, and
for this reason | sec a better future and
better working organization in the Farm
Bureau than in any other that we have
had
As farmers we must not lose sight OF
the fact that the biggest job the farmer
has is the one back home on the farm. 1t
is very easy to forget that the matter OF
production is the first absolute essential
and that the farmers big Job is to produce
more economically. The American farmer
has to compete with all the world and I'm.
less he produces as cheaply as possible
/ he cannot compete and still maintain his
standard of living as he has in the past.
1t is impossible to build a wall of protection
around American agriculture, and the
! sooner the farmer realizes this the better
we are going to be. The consumer is not
! going to pay for inettlClency in production.
In handling this phase of the problem,
no better organization has ever been de
velopcd than the Farm Bureau. with men
employed by the Farm Bureau, working
in the counties to spread broadcast those
/ ideas which will lead toward more eco
nomcal production. For this reason we
must continue to develop the work OF the
County Farm Bureau. We must not
always look towards our state organlza-
tons and the national organization to
solve all of our difficulties. 1t is true they
have a service to give which goes hand-in-
, hand with the other, but what want to
emphasize is the fact that we, as farmers,
are too prone to forget that we also have
a Job at home.
And it is just as important also that
we keep the cooperative organization
truly representative. In this matter
many cooperative associations have failed
TO do their best work because a clique
gained control of the organization.
"Co-operation is here to stay. The man
on the farm is looking forward to it helping
solve his problems. If he will but learn
that to cooperate he must learn to work
with his neighbors, it will do all that h
expects of it.