Catoctin clarion., 1923-02-08
MARYLAND
FARMERS BEGIN
TO ORGANIZE
PLAN STATEWIDE BODY TO
WORK OUT METHODS TO
BOOST AGRICULTURE.
MUCH ALREADY IS DONE

Since the recent meetings at Fred.
erick Of the Maryland Agricultural So.
ciety and Maryland Farm Bureau Fed.
Grafton and the even more recent con.
ference Of agricultural organizations
called by Governor Ritchie at Annap-
oils, farmers all over the State and
all others whose financial interests
depends In large measure upon agri-
culture, have been aroused by the
Governors statement that "The Leg
islature of 1924 should be the Legis-
lature Of the Farmer" and are begin
ming to take stock Of themselves and
organize their forces SO that they will
be able effectively to look after their
interests in the next Assembly.
Already a Statewide committee is
being formed to work out definite
agricultural program to be presented
to the Legislature Of 1924 and men,
bers Of farm organizations In every
county are beginning to get together
in order to send to the Legislature
men who will carry out that program.
Thoughtful men interested In agricul.
ture, merchants, bankers, lawyers, doc
tors In every county. as we'll as farm
ers, are beginning to realize that they
are years behind the general manu-
featuring and commercial bodies,
which long have been organized for
their particular interests. Representa-
tives of railroads, the steel and ceal
I'D II nd ~<h hox 60
years had the influences Of their
organization felt In Congress and in
State Legislatures. And the farmers
Of Maryland are taking Governor
Ritchie's advice and beginning to weld
together their organizations, and all
those engaged in business related to
agriculture, 30 that they will be able
to present Statewide front in 1924
when they ask the State to help them
solve their problems.
The farmers have been unorganized,
have long been digging out Of the soil
the materials which have insured the
prosperity Of others. The farmer has
been going his individual way regard
less of the interest he has in common
with other farmers. True, the State
universities have worked in various
ways to increase production, machin-
cry Of all kinds has been manufactured
to save labor, the carriage Of farm
products has invited the building Of
great railroads, captains Of industry
have secured great sums of money by
tax exemption, direct taxes, bonuses;
all Of which has redounded somewhat
to the interest of the farmer, but only
incidentally and the farmer never has
held a main place in the scheme Of
benefits from the law-making Of legis-
lative bodies. And not only that, but
when farmers flrst began to organize
protectively as other great industries
were organized they faced prosecution
in courts of law. Dairymen who or
ganized in Baltimore were indicted
and in Chicago and New York were
indicted and prosecuted.
Then came the war. In response to
the appeal Of the President, farmers
increased the number Of acres under
cultivation by forty million, and that
Notwithstanding they sent q million
farmers sons to war. The farmer
got better prices for his products, but
the cost Of everything he bought, ma
chinery, clothing, tools, food, went up.
Taxes were doubled. Then came defla-
tion. but instead of reducing the price
Of labor and such things as the farmer
had to buy, 1t simply reduced the price
Of what he raised to sell.
Big industry and labor unions rot
their leaders on the Job. and through
the power Of their organization 70.
tanned for themselves much Of what
they had won during the hour Of their
country's stress. But what Of the
earmsrsf 10 saYs thsRaalYes they