Jasper County Democrat, Volume 21, Number 104, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 29 March 1919 — FARMERS’ STATE ORGANIZATION [ARTICLE]

FARMERS’ STATE ORGANIZATION

Perfected at Meeting Held in Indianapolis Tuesday. On March 25 at the assembly room of the Claypool hotel in Im dianapolis a body of several hundred farmers met for the purpose of perfecting an organization, or Indiana Federation of Farmers. There were 53 organized counties represented, according to P. .H. Hauter, who represented the local Jasper County Betterment association at this meeting. Lewis Taylor of Newburg was elected Chairman of the meeting and E. E. Reynolds of Tippecanoe county was elected secretary. Mr. Taylor opened the meeting with a very brief speech in which he asserted that the solution of the farmers* problems must be made, on a basis of justice and fairness

to all concerned. "To the farmer the red flag is intolerable,” said Mr. Taylor. “The only flag the farmer knows and loves Is the red. white and blue. I believe in fairness to all concerned. I am not one of those who believe that, there are now two great factions fighting each other- I believe that the only purpose of the farmer in coming here today is to have a great organization of farmers in the state and not for the purpose of organizing a fighting faction.” D. O. Thompson, secretary of the Illinois State Farmers’ association, gave a short talk and.reviewed the history of their “The need for state organization is shown in the fact that the farmers have business Interests that cannot be handled fy individuals. For Instance, for the road program In Illinois we have voted to spend $60,000,000. It is of tremendous importance to the farmer that these roads be constructed properly and with the proper material. The question of transportation by railroads and trucks is another subject of vijal Importance to the farmer. “Up to the present time much stress had been laid on large production, but today a greater question must be solved and that is the question of markets and marketing. Two important principles of the state farmers’ association are well organized—county association and adequate provision of ample funds to carry out the work of the organization.” H. J. Sconce, president of Illinois Farmers’ association, gave a short and .interesting talk, and also C. V. Gregory, member of the executive committee of the Illinois state association.

Dean J. H. Skinner of Purdue university brought out the danger of radicalism, .“unjust and unfair methods and in such an organization. I am not one of those who believe that in this organization we should tear up the world. We must keep out of the organization partisan politics, the I. W. W’s. and non-partisan league. We must work for bigger things and must have the right kind of men for leaders.” 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 marketing of crops and thought as soon as a state organization was perfected that tney could co-operate and probably give some good advice on that line. “Agriculture today stands in the limelight because of a great food shortage across the sea,” said Dean Skinner. “We need to improve our marketing facilities. The farmer must get his crops to the consumer at a price he can afford to pay. The 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 just as assuredly as the world goes around —we can go on and make a 'profit.” Mr. Skinner sAid the farmer should not sit idly by while the assessment of their lands was being made for taxation. They should have some representation in this matter and should not leave it wholly to others. Mr. Brown of Monon slated that the trouble with the farmers was that they haven’t had any way of presenting their case; that they would have to form an association, in which -way they could show that all farmers were behind the 'movement and they could present the right kind of a front and meet other industries halfway; that things could be settled in favor of all parties. He said he would like well organized counties, a strong association and good, sound men at the head. f The credentials committee report was adopted. The constitution and by-laws committee reported and the constitution was adopted with a few minor amendments. The resolution committee report was placed on file. The following officers were elected; President, John G. Brown, Monon; first vice president, Dr. Hickman, Blackford county; second vice president, Lewis Taylor, Newburg. Ten directors were elected. The director from our district is J. W. Hickman of 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 farmers.