Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1929-07-31

prOVlQe a contact rgdIl-
lied farmers and the government
even though they may not come 10
the board for the purpose Of OBJ
tanning loans /. Any organized group
may come to the board at any time
for counsel, advice and assistance
in meeting their problems.
The Federal Farm Board, aside
from its chairman, is composed IF
men of long cooperative expert
ence. All of its members, includ-
ing the chairman, n in complete
sympathy with the cooperative
movement. In the ten days that
the board has been in session, /
have watched with much interest
the meeting of minds on the part
of these men who have Zen
brought together for the purpose Of
assisting the farmers Of America.
I have been impressed with their
sympathy and their common I'M
derStanding of the problems of pro-
duction and marketing; with Their
intimate knowledge of the specific
problems in the various coopera-
tive groups. I have been greatly
pleased and encouraged by the
unanimity of opinion which has
prevailed with respect to the poll
cies presented to the board.
Cooperative Policy
THE major policy of the board
will be the expansion and strength
ening of the cooperative movement.
You may ask at this point, What
effect the development of coopera-
tive marketing will have on other
agencies now existing? The an
sWer seems to me to be simple. 1t
is purely a question of efficiency.
Any efficient, well-managed organi-
Zation that is satisfactorily serving
the public at a reasonable cost will
in some way work into the picture.
The inefficient, whether they be CO.
operative organizations or individ-
ual operators car not hope to con-
tinue permanently, and whether the
passing Of the inefficient operator
is brought about by cooperation OF
competition the results are the
same.
Again we are asked, What is
the relation of the board to be 70
other agencies now in existence
the great department Of agricul-
ture, the large extension service,
the state agricultural colleges and
experiment stations, and each and
every other federal and state agency
working for the advancement Of
agricultural interests? We do not
see that there should be any SER
iouS interference with, or disturb
ance Of, existing agencies. Con-
greSS has very wisely asked US to
avoid duplication. a sentiment with
which the board is in full accord.
Certainly we do not propose to in
terfere with, or transfer to the
jurisdiction of the board, any gov
eminent activity unless such trans
fer is in the interests of the great
er efficiency and more effective
service to the American farmer.
There may be some work which pc
culiarly fits into the operations Of
the board and is essential to its
efficient operation.
Il wish to assure you, however,
that as a general rule it will be
the policy Of the board to call on
all federal and state organizations
Tor assistance and cooperation, per
haps to an extent that may cause
some Of you to think we are trying
to get them to do our work. The
task before u is Of such magnitude
that a cor1mon-SenSe program re-
qulreS that we utilize to the fullest
extent every agency in existence
which may be able to contribute
anything to the cause.
Marketing Act Delayed
The enactment of the Agricul-
tural Marketing Act is a matter
that has long been delayed and per
maps the uppeSloSt thought in the
minds Of many of you is when and
now are we going to get busy to do
something under it. Prompt action
Is important, but it is still more i'm
portant that we move in the right
direction. In the short space Of
time it has been able to devote tn
the problem, the Board has reach
ed the conclusion that its first OBJ
eratlonS can be most useful. and
more safely carried on, if it under
takes to further the activities of
established agencies in the o
operative marketing field. Perhars
the building up and strengthening
OF these cooperative agencies will SO
simplify many problems that their
solution will become comparatively
easy.
The records Of the department
OF agriculture show that there are
some 100000 farmers in the Unit
ed States, or practically one-third
ofthe total, who are now members
Of approximately 1880
tive associations. If these coopera-
tlves can be built up 50 that their
strength and efficiency are recog-
nized by those not now members
the question of extending member
ship very largely settles itself. In
other words, it is inconceivable that
any farmer would refrain from be-
longing to a cooperative organiza-