Evening Republican, Volume 22, Number 73, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 28 March 1919 — INDIANA FEDERATION OF FARMERS MEETING. [ARTICLE]

INDIANA FEDERATION OF FARMERS MEETING.

On the 25th day of March atthe Assembly room of the Claypool hotel a body of several hundred fanners met for the purpose of perfecting an organization of Indiana reaeration of farmere as they realized they were there for a business pur pose there were fifty-three organized counties represtented, according to P H. Hauter, who represented the local Betterment Association at this m TSris Taylor of Newbufg,, was elected chairman of the day ano E. Reynolds, of Tippecanoe county was elected secretary. Mr. Taylor opened the meeting with a very brief speech in which he asserted that “solution of the farmer's problem must be made on a bisis of justice and fairness of all concerned.” “To the farmer, red flag is intolerable’ said Mr. Taylor. “The only flag the fanner knows and loves is the red, white and blue. I believe in fairness to all concerned. lam not one of those who believes that there are no two great factions fighting each other, I believe that the only purpose of the farmer is coming here today is to have a great organization of farmers an the state and not for the purpose of fighting fiction.” Mr. D. O. Thompson, secretary ox the Illinois State Farmers Association gave a short talk and reviewed the history of their organidataon. “The need for state organization is shown in the fact that the farmers have business interests that can not be handled by individuals. For Illinois. We have voted to spend $60,000,000. It is of tremendous importance to the farmer, that these roads are constructed properly and with the proper material. Up to the present time much stress had been laid on large production but today greater questions must be solved and that is a question of markets and marketing. Two important principals of the State Farmers Association are well organized County Associations and adequate provision of ample funds carry out the work of the organization. (Mr. H. J. Sconce, president of Illinois Farmers’ Association gave * short and interesting talk and also Mr. C. V. Gregory, member of the executive committee of Illinois State Association. Dean J. H. Skinner, of Purdue university brought out the danger of Radicalism, “unjust and unfair methods and in such organization I am not of those who believe that in this 'organization partisan politics, the I. W. W. S. and on Partisan League. We must work for bigger things and must have the right kind of men for leaders.” . „ . TT • Mr. Coleman of Purdue University stated that Purdue so far had taken up only the crop production part of the farmers, but that they have been working for the past six months on marking crops and thought as soon as state organization was perfected that they could co-operate and probably give some good advice on that line. . . Agriculture today stands m the limelight because of great food shortage across the sea, said Mr. Skinner. We need to improve our marketing faculties. The .farmer must get his crops to consumers at a price he can afford to pay. Th® big problem of the farmer today is HOW can I be a more efficient man? |We must work to reduce the cost of production so that when the lower prices come and they are coming as surely as the world goes around, we can go on and make a profit. ■ Mr. Skinner said the farmers should not sit idly by while the assessment of their lands are being made for taxation. They should have some representation m tins matter and should not leave it entirely to others. Mr. Brown of Monon stated the trouble with the farmers was that they have’nt had any way of presenting their case, that they would have to form an association, in which way they could show that all farmerswere behind the movement and they could present the right kind of a movement and meet other industries half way, that things could be sealed in favor of all parties, he said it would like well organized counties, strong Association and good sound men at head. The credentials committee report was adopted. The Constitution by-laws committee reported and the constitution was adopted with a few minor amendments. . . .«* The resolution committee report *nd was placed on file. The following officers were elected: President, John G. Brown, Monon. First Vice-President, Dr. Hieman, Blackford. . Second Vice-President, Lewis Taylor, Newburg. . Ten directors were elected. The director from our district as J. W. Hickman, Lafayette. The Secretary and Treasurer will be elected by the Board of Directors. The organization as it now stands represents between 25,000 and 30,000 fanners.