The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1928-09-05
ORGANIZATION OF
FARMERS MUSTCOME
President of American Fedora
ton Tells Co. Agent Sheldon
of Direct Needs

Organization is the key to the solu-
ton of the difficulties confronting
the farmers in the opinion of S. H
Thompson, President of the American
Farm Bureau Federation. In a per-
sonal message to Lynn Sheldon
county agent of Redwood Falls, anc
to members of the Redwood County
Farm Bureau, Mr.. Thompson, who is
easily the most outstanding man in
agriculture today, stresses this idea
of the need for organization and
makes a plea for the enlistment of
every farmer in America behind the
Farm Bureau movement.
"That there is a real and vital
agricultural problem is keenly appre-
ciated by all informed men," says Mr..
Thompson. "The evidence is all too
convincing that agriculture has not
been receiving its fair share of the
national income Although farmers
constitute approximately one-third Of
this country's population our share of
the nations income is barely eight
percent of the whole. A remedy for
this condition must be found and that
remedy must be permanent and effec-
tive.
"The future progress of the agri-
culture industry depends today more
than at any other time in the history
of our country on strong organiza-
ton. Lack of organization has been
the greatest drawback to the bust
ness of farming. Had the farmers
been as well organized as industry,
banking, labor or transportation,
many of the problems that now con-
front us would have been solved, as
they would never have existed.
"The degree to which the farmers
of the land are able to influence the
nation in the adoption of a sane agri-
cultural policy such as should prevail
depends entirely upon the extent to
which we are organized and speak
with united voice.
an the past the Farm Bureau has
been signally successful in getting
for the farmers what they want. This
was because in As states we have
IIldIl a
behind US. If we had 100000 farm
families in our ranks, we could get
what we want that much more read
lily and thoroughly.
Zone thing we want, of course, is
more efficient production. We want
more bushels per acre and we want
better live stock. These are impor-
tant factors in our program for i'm
proving our condition, and the Min
nesota State Farm Bureau as well as
the national organization have made
valuable contributions to the work of
increasing efficiency of production
and distribution. Yet these things
in themselves, are not, | think, the
final goal of organized effort.
Behind every task is the aim to
bring about better and safer condi-
ton for the business of farming in
America, so that sound agriculture,
so vital to the life and stability OF
this republic, may not be lacking.
1--WE must put agriculture on such
a substantial basis that it will bring
satisfactory returns, but the end
must be to make the home and the
farm attractive and really worth
while for the best of men,"
During the last winter Mr.. Thomp-
son was almost continuously in Wash
ington, where as the spokesman OF
organized agriculture he was in daily
conference with members of the Con-
gressional Committees who sought TO
find out from him the farmer sentl-
ment on farm relief.
"The cry has been raised" he con-
tinues. "That you can't solve the
farmers problems in Washington. II
is a curious fact, however, that the
grocerymen are trying to solve some
of their problems in Washington.
The manufacturers are trying To
solve some of their problems there.
So are the railroads, the labor group,
commerce and banking, the automo-
bile men, even the fertilizer manu-
facturers.
"The American Wholesale Grocers
Association maintains legislative OIL
flee at Washington. So does the Ma
tional Automobile Chamber of Com.
merce, the National Association OF
Manufacturers, the American Rail.
way Association, the American Fed
Grafton of Labor, the Chamber OF
Commerce of the U. S. A. The Ameri-
can Bankers Association, The Nation
al Fertilizer Association and many
others.
1T is time for the farmer to ope1
his eyes and realize that only thru
organization can he ever hope to SCI
the dawn of that day we dream abou
when the farmer will be on plane
economically and socially the same a
that of the other great groups COM
prising our national life"