Great Falls tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1921-current, 1922-10-31
10000 FOLKS KNOW
FARM BUREAU MAN
Of TREASURE STATE
Record Acquaintance List in
Montana Claimed by "Uncle
Sam" Hampton.
Special to The Tribune,

- " AZ lI4DuhV.
Bozeman, Oct. 3O.-Somr 20.0Go
people are included in the ~acquaint-
ance list of Uncle Sam" Hampton Of
Jordan, Garfield county, who claims
he knows more folks in Montana than
anyone else in the state: more even
than Governor Dixon vino can greet
by name not an inconsiderable num-
Der Of Treasure state citizens. I'm
cle Sans" list has grown more rapid
ly perhaps than hat of any one else
in the state because during the last
five years, he has helped establish
$50 community centers in Montana.
These farm bureau organizations have
10000 men, women and children, a
considerable proportion of the states
population OF $4,000 as he figures it.
When he is not travelling around the
state working as the farm bureau or
ganizer with the extension service Of
the state agricultural college, which
keeps him Considerably busy Uncle
Sam admits. he is a genuine dirt
farmer with a ranch in Garfield
county.
Have Meeting Houses
One hundred and fifty farm bureau
neighborhoods in Montana have al
ready built their own community
houses. The others generally hold
their meetings. in school houses, but
are %expending just as rapidly as they
are able. Little democracies. the
finest kind of training schools for cit
izenship," Uncle Sam terms the COM
munity c~enters. (which are the focus
ing point of hundreds Of rural neigh
borhoods activities. They are the
| meeting places for the women's egg
clubs, where farmers wives can deter
mine the best markets for their pro-
ducts; for the farmers extension lee
lures and many other groups, includ-
ing the boys pig clubs, the girls can
ming clubs, but best of all the social
gatherings where country folks have
learned to know and appreciate the
meaning of the word ~''neighbor' bet
ter than people in the crowded cities
can ever hope to, he explained.
Work Restricted
At present the work of the farm
community centers is much restricted
because of bad seasons for several
years and the lack of money to pro-
vide adequate meeting places, central
~ located, and always available TO
the people Of neighborhoods they serve
according to Mr.. Hampton.
But ample funds for the erection
of community center buildings and
money for the extension of their acti-
yities would be available without in
creased taxation if every county in
the state would catch up its loose ends
and save the sums it now wastes with
out any return to the taxpayers, I'm
Gle Sam contends.
One hope for the expansion of rural
community life. Mr.. Hampton believes,
lies in the constitutional amendment
permitting Montana counties to make
changes needed for economy in opera
ton. which will be submitted at the
November election. The great savings
so effected. he declares, would go far
toward releasing money needed for
making the country a better place to
live in and in helping to keep farm
boys and girls in the wholesome en-
vironment of rural life. I'VE are
cheating ourselves and our children if
we don't remove these constitutional
obstacles which are keeping us from
getting many benefits that our hard
earned taxes don't bring Us now" he
says.
Can Save Money
Down in Texas, where I used TO
live, the darkies had a saying that if
YOU is gwine somewheres the best
place to start out from is where you
is att The best place to start out IN
getting better government, more for
our tax dollar, is here at home in our
own counties. Years ago the state
constitution was framed after a pat
tern that didn't take into considera-
ton the present high cost of living or
modern business methods. The farm
ers made plenty Of offices for the
politicians to fill"