The Nezperce herald. (Nezperce, Idaho) 1900-1957, 1923-03-22
THE COUNTY AGENT CRISIS.
Consideration BY County Board Brings
Out Opposition and Support. De-
eide at April Meeting.


consideration of the appointment of /;
county agent Their special session
was not many hours old before ample
evidence had been placed before then
to show that this is very live ques
tion in Lewis county. Petitions, bear
ing many names, including some of the
most prominent farmers in their dis
tricts, from the Craigmont, Fletcher
and Nezperce communities were pre-
sented against the appointment of an
agent, and appeals favoring the ap-
pointment were made by some of the
most prominent farmers in the county
Word was received here that dele
cations would arrive from Kamiah
and Winchester to lay their commun-
ity claims before the commissioners,
and to afford such delegations, and
all others interested, better opportun-
ity for stating their case and to give
all chance to hear talk on the
County Agent by w. B. Kjosness,
state head of this department, Presi-
dent C. w. Buckley called meeting
of the Nezperce Commercial Club for
the noon luncheon hour at the Nez-
perce Hotel and invited the county
commissioners and everyone concerned
in the matter to attend.
The anticipated delegations were un-
able to get here, but several parties
from the Winchester and Craigmont
sections were present and sponsored
their community's sentiment on the
question. A large delegation of local
business men and farmers were on
hand. The question was debated
freely, pro and con, and the county
commissioners were afforded large op-
portunity here for getting the popular
drift on the matter.
Mr.. Kjosness was first called upon
to talk, and gave clear and fairly
elaborate exposition of the origin and
purpose of the county agent movement
and its source and usage in this COM
try. His remarks gave much light to
many on the subject, and were more
explanatory of the service and free
from direct argument urging its
adoption. He concluded with a state
ment that he would like to have a
conference with those farmers whom
he found in opposition to the service,
as we'll as any who desired to get more
data on the matter, and it was agreed
that general meeting of farmers
would be held at the Fraternal Hall
in this city next Saturday afternoon
for a thorough threshing out of the
question.
John Booth followed Mr.. Kiosness
with talk favoring the agent lit is
rather etriking that most all the
young farmers favor the office), and
he was in turn followed by Owen
Meade and J. M. Patton, of the Craig
mont community, who argued agains.
The move. Then A. o. Martin took
he floor for and J. w. Henderson, of
he Mohler community and president
If the County Farm Bureau, expressed
ike sentiment o. A. Roupe then told
1t length his reasons for being op-
,osed, and c. J. Miller extolled the
,ause, as did also w. Frank Johnson.
W. A. Eastman spoke in opposition.
?. M. Harding took the favorable
tide, and made one of the best
peeches of his life, and pointed out
thing that other farmers Of means
night consider with pride and profit,
he matter of helping worthy young
nen to get real start in the farming
,ame.
Following this meeting, which last
d well into the afternoon, the county
convened at their
hambers in the court house and there
onned petitions and heard further
rguments in the case. The matter
ppeared so largely involved that they
Iecided to leave it before the people
ntil the regular session of the board
which convenes on April Q.
At that time it is the plan of the
commissioners to take definite action.
n the meantime further petitions and
rgument will be in process for and
gainst.
Farmers Mass Meeting Saturday.
The officials of the local Farmers
Jnion, the Seed Potato Growers Asso-
iation and other agriculture organi-
ations have called mass meeting to
e held at the Fraternal Hall in this
ity at 2 p. M. Saturday, March "a, {
0 confer with State Leader of Coun-
Y Agents w. B. Kjosness on this
uestion and others pertaining to farm I
lterests.
1t is the desire that all farm organi- l
ations in the county be represented
t this meeting; that all concerned in
he farmers welfare be there. Mr..
is remaining in the north
to take part in this confer 9
nee, and it is his wish that it be as i
as possible. c