Warren sheaf. [volume] (Warren, Marshall County, Minn.) 1880-current, 1922-02-08
OBSE]RV ATOMS
OpiuiOns Of Others ON Timely

3 y ! y
Opinions Of Others ON Timely 4
l Topics. Q
A REAL DIRT FARMER
ANSWERS MIR. BERVE
To the Editor Of Warren sheaf
l read an article in your paper
criticising the Farm Bureau. I I'M
derstand the policy Of the Farm Bu'
reau is not to enter into any contro-
versy with any person or interest that
is an enemy Of agricultural interests,
but / am going to overlook said policy
and answer the article. So far as !
know. Nj, Berye is man of average
Intelligence at least. I do not believe
he would maliciously make such I'M
truthful statements unless he has been
misinfQrmed Or has not acquainted
himself with the policies and activi-
ties of the farmers organization. The
amount that was appropriated to car
~ out the constructive agricultural
program in this county was 14-100 of
one mill Of the assessed valuation. At
ter careful consideration by the execu-
tive Farm Bureau board (Which is
composed Of actual bona fide farmers)
the amount they considered necessary
to assist the farmers in building a
foundation for a profitable and perm
anent agriculture (Which is the basic
industry of this county, state and ma
tom, it was deemed advisable to ask
for 351OO Of mill or an average of
60 cents on a quarter section of land.
The Farm Bureau is controlled alb
solutely by "big business" the farm
ing business, the biggest business iii
this county, state and nation, and no
other interests have any voice what
soever in conducting the affairs of
this farmers organization. The farmers
investment in the Farm Bureau has
benefited them more than fifty times
as much as they put into it. This is
fact that cannot be denied by any
body. The best evidence that the
Farm Bureau is carrying out the ex-
pressed wishes Of it's members, is the
manner the Wall street gang openly
condemns the Farm Bureau. The re-
marks of Industry, the mouthpiece
of Wall street interests, conforms very
agreeably with Mr.. Berve's remarks.
If nine hours is too long day for
railroad employees, then is hours is
surely too long for farmers. A nine
hour day would not work hardship
on the railroad employees, but would
reduce freight rates 10 per cent in ad-
dition to the material reduction the
Farm Bureau has already been instru-
mental in securing.
It is not statutory to ask the Coun-
ty Board for $4,000 to carry on county
agent work.
"Practice economy sure makes big
hit in these times, but are the farm
ers going to be so inconsistent as to
condemn their directors for asking for
so small an amount to properly sup
port their organization that is so es-
sential to the farmers business by
protecting it in every way? Our Or
ganization is paving the way, is open
ing the doors of opportunity whereby
we may operate more economically
and efficiently by cooperation, which
will lower the high cost of distribu-
ton. This must be done to make the
farmer more prosperous. 1t must be
done, as the farmer receives only "a
cents of the consumers dollar as COM
pared with 94c which the Denmark
farmer receives. We must do our
part, we must help ourselves.
Never in the history Of this nation
has the farmer had as good reason to
be hopeful as he has at the present
time. The farmer through his organ
ization is shaping the policies that
will determine the destinies of the
common people of this nation and
what, we do in an organized way the
next two Or three years will deter
mine whether we will be peasantry or
independent farmers of the future
Let's cheer up, take a new lease. on
life and do. the duty we owe to our
family and community and country
1t can be done only in an organized
way. 1t is up to us: we do not want
the other fellow to do it. We have
been saying "why don't they do some
thing Let's ask ourselves, ''why
don't we do something" It will be
our own fault if we don't secure a
square deal. ~
Yours for Cooperation,
V. M. Johnson, 81,
A Dirt Farmer.