The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1922-01-21
FARM RL0C'S
CONTINUED from Page One.)

sidering the points of difference be-
tween this new farm movement and
those of the past, which seem to give
the present farm bloc a promise of
greater political longevity, the most
important is the difference in method
and mechanism of organization be-
tween this farm bureau movement and
the other movements of the past.
Farm Organization Stable
An examination of the American
farm bureau federation reveals a re-
markedly stable and enduring form of
organization. Its base rests in an al
most direct sense SO far as its origin
is concerned at least. on the United
States government itself. About ten
yers ago, the department of agricul-
ture, under Secretary Wilson, made
the beginnings of a system which
came to be known as county agents.
The government sent into various
counties in the southwest. where the
boil weevil was threatening, agents
whose business was TO take up their
residence, each in a single county, and
organize the farmers and instruct
them not only in how to fight the boil
weeVil, but in all the other arts OF
successful farming.
Later these local county units came
to be known as farm bureaus and
it is these farm bureaus, now organ
lied into state units and finally into
a national unit, that now form the
American farm bureau federation and
provide the organized backing of the
farm bloc in congress.
All this, of course, has been a mat
ter of some 10 years growth. In the
course of time, it became the practice
in many communities TO supplement
the federal governments part in the
county agent system with aid from the
state governments, from local cham
bers of commerce. and the like
Supported by Dues
| In its later stages of a national or
ganization, the local farm bureaus are
supported by voluntary dues paid by
the farmers. The functions of the
farm bureau came to include every
thing that could be regarded as help
| full to the farmer in an economic
sense In various parts of the coun-
! try the local farm bureaus manage
I grain elevators and direct cO-opera-
| ton in both the business of selling
their products and buying their fer
?
! It will be observed that this type
! of organization, with its roots rest
! ing ultimately on the federal govern
ments county agent system, and with
a continuing interest in the farmers
daily business, distinguishes the Amer
can farm bureau federation from the
political movements of the past, which
had their origin and reason for ex-
istense merely in hysterical political
discomfort with temporary conditions.
Good Leadership
Another feature that gives the Amer
lean Farm Bureau federation promise
of success and permanence is the
! quality of it's leadership. 1t looks
upon itself as primarily a business in
stitution, and it practices business
methods Some months ago it was
stated, more or less officially, that
the salaries paid to its two agents at
/ Washington were $4,000 and $4,000
respectively. | have since been told
that these amounts have been raised
/ These Washington leaders, as well
as the more prominent leaders else
| where in the country, are experienced
farmers of course. But they are also