Evening capital. [volume] (Annapolis, Md.) 1922-1981, 1923-02-08
MARYLAND
FARMERS BEGIN
TO ORGANIZE
PLAN STATEWIDE BODY TO
WORK OUT METHODS TO
BOOST AGRICULTURE.
MUCH ALREADY IS DONE

grafton and the even more recent con.
ference OF agricultural organizations
called by Governor Richie 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 Statewide committee is
being formed TO work out definite
agricultural program 10 be presented
to the Legislature of 1924 and mem
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 well 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 coal
industries, and others have for many
years had the influences of their
organization felt in Congress and in
State Legislatures. And the farmers
OF Maryland are taking Governor
Riches advice and beginning to weld
together their organizations, and all
those engaged In business related to
agriculture. so that they will be able
TO. present n Statewide front in 1924
when they ask the State to help them
solve their problems. 81
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, hut only
incidentally and the farmer never has
held main place in the scheme OF
benefits from the law-making OF legis-
lative bodies. And not only that. but
when farmers first 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 a million
farmers sons to war. The farmer
got better prices for his products, but
the cost OF everything he bought, ma.
ohtnery, clothing. tools. food. went up.
Taxes were doubled. Then came defia.
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 got
their leaders on the job. and through
the power OF their Organization re-
tained for themselves much of what
they had won during the hour of their
country's stress. But what of the
farmers? To save themselves they
were compelled to sell their grains
and live stock in a brief period. and
glutted markets and falling prices
caused more farm hardships than the
agricultural industry ever had known.
Losses that came down on farmers
like a cyclone reduced prices of farm
products and farm lands and drove
thousands of young men from the farm
TO the cities, cost the farmers, &C
cording to careful estimates OF sta
tisticians. sS.O00,OO0.000. Such losses
to the manufacturing. banking or mer-
camille interests would have choked
the courts with bankruptcy proceed.
ings. filled aims houses and jails,
started bread lines in every city, para.
lyzed building and other city indus
tries.
But the hitherto unorganized farmer.
apparently doomed to destruction, like
the worm when tread upon. at last
turned and began to organize. Con-
gress woke up, repealed the law against
cooperative selling and is sure to pass
the bill increasing facilities for loans
on long time. Western grain men are
by cooperation reducing cost OF ele-
vator charges. securing advances OF
money so the grain can be held for the
best price, and getting better freight
rates. BY cooperation, Western cream.
cries are producing a uniform grade
of butter and, instead of hat in hand
begging the city retailer for a fair
price, are now fixing their own prices
on the basis OF surSly and demand.