Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1922-11-23
THE FARM BUREAU IN WEST VA.

n'outnpiece OF agriculture. compar-
aeIe 70 the United States Chamber of
commerce for business and the Fed.
Grafton OF Labor for union labor. The
trade Journals Of business, the great
oaiiy newspapers of the cities. the
congress of the United States, and
the agricultural organizations of for
eien countries all recognize in the
Farm Bureau the nationwide orpan-
Nation of farmers with prestige and
influence in national and international
afairs that American farm bureaus
now hold. With a truly representative
or 7ization built from the bottom NJ
ht1-f able but conservative lclilis
40 proved their qualifications in
ca"Cu ara STATE organizations befor,
'e'7s elected 10 national leadership,
win sufficient money in the treasury
to employ the best professional talent
capable of meeting the lawyers and
leaders employed by business and pv
labor, working hand in hand with the
colleges and the government in get
ting at correct solutions Of our pro-
auction, marketing, and economic
questions, the farm bureau movement
is essentially different from any farm
ers' movement ever before seen in
this country. In the minds of some
very keen students it has in il the
possibility of becoming the greatest
constructive force in modern civiIi
cation.
Through their farm paper and MANY
other sources the farmers Of West
Virginia have learned to understand
the wonderful significance OF the
farm bureau movement. Many of
them, however, do not realize the i'm
portant part that West Virginia has
played in planning, promoting and d.
recting this great movement One of
the first, if not the very first, sugges-
tons for bringing the county bureaus
into State declarations and the States
into a national federation went out
to the other States from West Virginia.
Delegates from our State sat in at the
preliminary meeting at Ithaca, New
York, when plans were laid for the
first national farm bureau convention
at Chicago. 1t SO happensd that when
the convention opened, the West Viz
ginia delegation was in strategic posi-
ton as the most northerly Of the south
ern group of States our representa-
tives we're in close touch with the men
from the South. Having been at one
time grouped in the extension service
as the most southerly Of the northern
States, West Virginia delegates were
acquainted with most northen States
AS the most easterly State in the Ohio
River Valley our delegation knew per-
sonally many men from Ohio, Ken
tuoky and the other central States.
Ably guided by leaders of long ex-
perience like Howard M. Gore; A. L.
Carter, Robert B. Hudson; ]. B. Nc
Laughlin and Mrs. L. E. McClung, the
West Virginia group took most active
part in the convention, helping to tide
over several crisis when the whole con-
vention seemed about to split on the
rocks. They were big factor in bring
ing about the conservative and con-
structive problem and representative
type Of organization for which the ma
tional farm bureau movement is now
so favorbaly known.
Every since the first meeting the
West Virginia viewpoint, the opin-
ions and the judgement Of the farm
bureau leaders in West Virginia, has
been a most potent factor in the de-
velopment of the farm bureau move
ment. 1t is not too much TO say
that at the present time the activities
of the West Virginia farm bureaus in
the next few months will have great
influence on the whole future of the
national farm bureau movement.
Through the national position that Mr.
Silver holds on the executive commit
tee and as the Washington represent
tative of the American Farm Bureau
Federation, through the great inhu-
ence that Mr. Gore will exert as a
member of the national Committee of
Fifteen that will dig to the bottom OF
our livestock marketing problems and
probably do more than ever has been
done in the past to straighten out
and stabilize the live stock situation