Catoctin clarion., 1923-03-08
DR. WOODS POINTS
WAY FOR FARMERS
Shows How To Organize For
Benefit OF Agricultural
Industries.
STATE UNIVERSITY TO HELP
BY DIR. A. F. WOODS,
President OF The University OF
Maryland.

When agriculture suffers other In
dustries suffer, because agriculture is
the worlds great basic industry. From
Il comes the food that sustains life,
the clothes that protect US. rope, wood,
alcohol, most of our medicines, and
countless other necessary direct and
by-products of the soil that we use In
some form every day.
When we consider the number of
industries which handle agricultural
products and manufacture from them
the necessities of life, such as clothes,
rope and medicines, 1t easily is seen
how the success of the sheep indus
try in Maryland affects the woolen
mills OF New England and further
affects all of us through the clothes
We are compelled to buy. Hence, what
has almost come to be stock phrase
when agriculture suffers all indus
tries suffer.
For several years the farmers of
Maryland; as we'll as Of the rest OF
the nation, have been in the valley OF
the shadow. Their troubles and, suf-
ferings have directly or indirectly af-
fected all the rest of the people, and
all the rest of the people are as de-
ternined as the farmers that agricul-
ture must be put on such firm foun-
dation that It shall not again be en-
dangered by even q severe def1ation
period such as followed the great war.
Now Is the time, while the needs are
% apparent, to have everybody CO.
operate in safeguarding the future.
Much already has been accom-
plished in favorable legislation. For
the first time we have q cooperative
law in Maryland that permits farmers
to organise their business effectively.
This Is backed by Federal laws Of the
Same nature. Federal legislation that
will meet the requirements OF agricul-
turs in matters of credit is certain to
be enacted. Other Federal measures
that have the united support OF our
great agricultural organizations are
certain to pass II we sta on the Job
and look after them.
The farmers of the nation are ask
inS, not for special privilege, but for
BQUAL OPPORTUNITY. That is all
that any of. the legislative measures
propose. But when the decks are
cleared for this equal opportunity, the
farmers will reap the benefits only as
they are effectively organized to do so.
And It 10 this proposition OF effective
organisation that we must build up.
The educational organizations, such
Is the University of Maryland through
its Extension Service and Experiment
Station, the Grange, and the various
associations and societies, have done
their work 30 we'll that the great ma
& 1ority Of the farmers, as well as their
friends In the towns and cities, see
that the educational organizations
must be supplemented with a separate
and distinct series of commodity or
ganizations, such as Dairymsn, Sheep
Growers, Poultrymen, Tobacco Grow
ers, Apple Growers, Strawberry Grow.
srs, Nut Growers, Melon and Cante-
loupe Growers, Grape Growers, Bee
Keepers, etc. Each of such commodi-
ty organisation must be formed on
sound business principles, a. the
business representative Of its men-
bsrs for receiving, grading and mar
ketinE its products.
II there 10 anyone In the Sheep
Growers, Tobacco Growers, Tomato
Growers. or any of the other associa-
tions who would rather raise Sheep
than Tobacco or Tomatoes, let him
sst out of these organizations at once
and Join the Sheep Growers. No or
ganization can succeed unless its
members are loyal and are willing and
anxious to cooperate In the true spirit
in producing and selling the commodf
ty they represent.
In addition to these commodity
groups there must also be fedora
tion Of them by commodity, and furth-
O. 90 Q whole. For instance Somerset,
Wicomico. and Worcester counties
may have q combined Potato Growers
Association, Garrett County purely
county organization. and several other
counties the same. And when these
counties are organized as county, bi-
county, or tri-county units, as the case
may be, all should be Joined together,
with a state president, a. the Mary
land Potato Growers Association.
And to 90 q step further, when the
Potato Growers, the Sheep Growers,
the Tobacco Growers, the Strawberry
Growers Associations, and other asso-
Citations, are thus organized. all should
fsdsrate into a great state wide or
SaniKation under the Maryland Agri-
cultural Society-The Maryland Farm
Bureau Federation, the constitution of
which was adopted at the Agricultural
Convention ct Frederick early in Jan
uary.
Another point to be remembered 10
that the state University of Maryland
at College Park is organized to aid the
farmers in every way possible. The
whole Of Its influence 10 back OF the
movement to better the farm situation
Its Engineering, Medical, Pharmacies
tisal, Dental, and other alumni groups,
as well 40 its agricultural organise
Ition, are Lined up SOLID In their de-
termination to help put across the
movement in Maryland to make agri-
culture . paying business.
Never before In the history Of agri-
culture has the need for cooperation
Amsng the farmers and In the agrioul
hsral industries been no apparentc
The greatest Of the men In the United
States are bending their energies to
aid In every way possible. Governor
Richie has pledged himsek TO give