Morris tribune., 1922-09-22
CREDITS AMENDMENT
CAMPAIGN ORGANIZED
Farmers Entitled to "Cost Plus" If
They Produce on a Business
Basis, Chester Gray Says.

All state and legislative candi-
dates in Minnesota will be asked to
define their positions on important
issues involving agriculture before
November elections are held. Al de-
c1sion to send out such a question
knaire was reached by county direc-
tors of the Minnesota Farm Bureau
Federation, who held their third an
nual business session at the Minneso-
J ia State Fair last week A commit
I tee, to be named by President ]. F.
Reed, will prepare the question
naire and send it out with as little
delay as possible. .as..t,
When the proposal was presented,
| 1t was suggested that such action
would throw the Federation into
politics. Proponents held that the
farmers have right to know how
any candidate, regardless of party af-
f1liation, stands on matters pertain,
ing to agriculture, and that it is a
duty of the Federation to give them
such facts. After debate the mo-
tion carried unanimously. >..4-,t.
Directors voted to lend the. in
fiuence of the whole Farm Bureau
movement to the campaign now being
waged to obtain favorable action on
Amendment No. /, which will per-
nit Minnesota to organize a rural
credits system. Every director is to
do his part in getting Farm Bureau
township units solidly behind the
amendment. i @Lu
Ways in which the county Farm
Bureaus can be made productive of
greater dollar-and-cents results were
discussed at length. Several dele
gates explained how their farmers
had been helped by supplying them
with posts and Paris Green at con-
siderable savings. e ~
A resolution endorsing area test
ing to eradicate bovine tuberculosis,
presented by w. A. Peck, livestock
commissioner at South st. Paul, was
discussed. Mr.. Peck suggested that
the project be started in two coun-
ties to demonstrate it's efficiency.
Opposition to action at this time was
expressed, because of the cost. The
resolution was referred to the legis-
fative committee without recon-
mendation.
| A special committee was author
lied to make thorough investiga-
, ton Of the ship subsidy and to re-
port to the annual meeting in jan
uary, so that the Federation would
be able to take an intelligent stand
on that issue. Another committee
was authorized to draft the Fedora
TONS Agricultural program for
1928. A third committee was en-
powered to consider a new County
Agent and County Farm Bureau leg
islation, and to report to the winter
meeting. Personnel of all commit
! tees will be announced by President
Reed shortly. ">t
A discussion of how the business
| of farming can be made more pro-
fitable by Chester H. Gray, former
president of the Missouri Farm Bur-
eau Federation and a pioneer in the
movement, was the feature of a gem
eral program in the Horse Show
building, which preceded the bust
ness session. ..-.s T..
Mr.. Gray discussed the Farm Bur-
eau movement in its national phase.
The Washington Office of the Ameri-
can Farm Bureau Federation, he said,
scored one of it's greatest victories
when it established the principle that
the national debt, now about $500
for each person in the country,
should be paid by income taxes.
This" he said, throws the burden
on the shoulders of those best able
to carry it. For the first time in all
history, the tax load has been shift
ed from those least able to pay"
Mr.. Gray said railroad rates are
too high, despite recent cuts. IF
the railroads say they can not stand
further reductions, we farmers reply
that they should reduce their over
] head and run the lines more efficient
ily." ~, *-~
Speaking on production, he said
farmers are entitled to "cost, plus a
/ reasonable profit" only when they
use good business practices in their
work. Farmers must produce eff
lficiently, produce what the world
wants and as much. as the world
wants." he said. He advocated the
commodity marketing program of the
national Farm Bureau organization.
and said the farmers problem will
never be solved as long as he is con-
tent to confine cooperative market
ing to local points. I'VE must be-
.