New Ulm review., 1922-09-13
FARM BUREAU IN
REVERSE ENGLISH
PROGRESSIVE STAND OF FARM
BUREAU CONVENTION is
LATEST SURPRISE.
MAY BE POLITICAL TRICK TO
GAIN VOTES FOR. GANG
IN NOVEMBER. r..


IN NOVEMBER.
The report sent out by the Minnesota
Fa11n Bureau federatio1.'s news service
on the state convention held during the
stcte fair reads like fa1mer-labor cam
paign literature and would be the cause
of great rejoicing among Minnesota pro-
gressives were it not for the we'll known
record of the farm bureaus past ard the
knowledge that this movement was
organized for the purpose CT preventing
the farmer from making too much pre-
gress.
The farm bureau is now puttirg the
reverse English on it's former stand of
keeping tie farmer out of politics. The
farm bureau always claimed that a
political movement of the farmers was
all wrong, that they should stay out Of
politics and work along ob-oper' tive
lines. Then too they have generally had
a bunch Of bankers and lawyers to tell
them just what kind of cooperation they
should go into. In this way, the fam
bureau was to keep the farmer safe and
sane and keep him from joining in the
political movements for the bettering OF
farm conditions. .
Political QUESTIONABLE
But at the annual meeting at the state
fair, the farm bureau folks decided to
send out questionnaire to every state
and legislative candidate in Minnesota
aud put the candidates On record on
matters pertaining to agriculture. This
is going directly into politics, thing
that the farm bure au has always done
on the sly but has claimed not to DO.
There is absolutely nothing wrong about
the farmer going into politics. In fact,
it is his only salvation. Ard the farm
bureau folks realizing that the farmer is
awake to Il sat fact have decided to put
out this questionable. 1t will no doubt
be worded in such manner that like the
funny strip in the paper "It doesn' t mean
anything" and Kellogg and Preus will
he enabled to answer the same as Ship
stead and Magnus Johnson and candi-
datf.s for the legislature put up by the
bankers and lawyers will be declared tc
be "just as good as those who really
stand for the welfare Of the farmers
Anyone who knows the farm bureaus
record is excused for looking with sus
picion on the new move by this organiza
tion which was originally brought ints
being by those opposed to tie growth o.
the fa1mer-labor movement.
Ways in which the county farm
bureaus can be made productive c1
greater dollars-and-cents results were
discuss ed at length. Several delegates
explained how their farmers had been
helped by supplying them with posts
and Paris Green at considerable savings,
but of course this is just drop in the
bucket. If the farm bureau is to be ct
any service to the farmers, the county
agents will have to begin in earnest on
marketing problems, not SO much on
what farmer has to buy as on the
produce he has to sell. This is some
thing that the farm bureau has neglect
ed at all times, not even making a pre-
tense of bettering the marketing OF
grains, unless the Grain Growers fascc
can be called such. Production has
been boosted for the benefit Of those
interests who brought about the organi.
cation of the farm bureau. It certainly
has not helped the farmer, but it has
helped the speculator.
Making Ready To Flop?
| A special committee was authorized tt
make thorough investigation of ths
ship subsidy and to report to the annua
meeting in January. The farm bureau
has been quoted as in favor Of the shil
subsidy graft. This has met such in
tense opposition by intelligent farmer
i that now, just before an election, tn
! farm bureau has decided to appoint ;
committee to Investigate tie shi]
subsidy. That is trying to pull out :
the hole and yet dodge the issue Of post
poning action on it till next January
when the election is over. Another ccm
mittee was authorized to draft the feder
! Iation's agricultural pFog1m for 1923
Eit5