The Devils Lake world., 1922-11-08

problems covered up by expansion. To-
day our problems are real There is no
cheap unclaimed land to be had. Land
values have approached stability. Our
soils have rapidly depleted. Other inter-
ests have speculatively developed our
markets. The farmer has been too inde-
pendent. All has been like q dream. The
awakening is too great shock to bear
alone. he grasps at cooperation.
Not the First.
There have been many types of farm
organizations started at various times in
this country: These organizations have
had various ideas in view; some ofsthem
have been too narrow in their conception
Of solutions for the farm problems and
have been built up largely for selfish pur-
poses; some of them have had the idea in
view of building up cooperative buying
organizations and have given but little
attention to the matter of marketing:
others have been built up for the develop
ment of the social and educational side Of
the farmers problems; still others have
had the idea that the only way to relieve
the situation is by securing legislation
favorable to the farmer
Theresis no doubt but that these or
carnations have done some good, but
they have not grasped the situation as
thoroughly as our newest Of farm organ
Bureau Federation.
The Farm Bureau idea was developed
and brought about through the need for
q more widespread knowledge concerning
the work of our agricultural colleges and
experiment stations. 1t has been devel-
oped by federal and state support It was
not long, however, after this work started,
until the more progressive farmers saw
IN the Farm Bureau movement working
foundation for better type of farm organ
lEation than we have had heretofore.
There is no doubt but that the Farm Bu-
1eau as an extension medium for the pur-
pose of bringing the knowledge as devel-
oped by our experiment stations into
actual practice by the American farmer,
has been of inestimable value. The more
progressive farmers have appreciated this.
Needs to Study.
Although this is service that is worth
while, the farmer needs to study more
about his marketing problems, and the
Farm Bureau has been built along these
two lines-frstly, to work for more eco
nomical production, or, in other words,
to try to stop some Of the leaks in agricul.
ture; and secondly, to develop that other
side of the problem, that of better mar
kets, which involves good many differ
;ent lines of work. No other farm organ
Iization has had these two functions, and
for this reason see better future and
better working organization in the Farm
. Bureau than in any other that we have
had.
''As farmers we must not lose sight Of
the fact that the biggest job the farmer
has is the one back home on the farm. It
il very easy to forget that the matter of
production is the first absolute essential
and that the farmers big job is to produce
has to compete with all the world and un-
less he produces as cheaply as possible,
he cannot compete and still maintain his
standard of living as he has in the past.
It isimpossible to build wall of protection
around American agriculture, and the
sooner the farmer realizes this the better
we are going to be. The consumer IL not
going to pay for ineficiency in production.
In handling this phase Of the problem,
no better organization has ever been de-
veloped than the Farm Bureau, with men
employed by the Farm Bureau, working
In the counties to spread broadcast those
ideas which will lead toward more eco
nomical production. For this reason We
must continue to develop the work Of the
County Farm Bureau. We must not
always look towards our state organiza.
tions and the national organization to
solve all Of our difficulties. It is true they
have service to give which goes hand-in-
hand with the other, but what want to
emphasize is the fact that we, as farmers,
are too prone to forget that we also have
Il job at home.
'And it is just as important also that
i've keep the cooperative organization
truly representative. In this matter
many cooperative associations have failed
to do their best work because clique
gained control Of the organization.
"Co-operation is here to stay. The man
,on the farm is looking forward to it helping
solve his problems. If he will but learn
that to cooperate he must learn to work
with his neighbors. it will do all that he
expects Of it."