Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 40, Number 15, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 29 October 1907 — A GOOD TALK TO THE FARMERS [ARTICLE]

A GOOD TALK TO THE FARMERS

Ben. P. Coen, a 'TSlSper county boy, a graduate of Reifcselaer school# aud for soma time a teacher iu the high school here, but for the past two years Professor of English in the Colorado, Agri cultural College, at Fort Collius, Colo., is one of our coming young meu in college work, aud the fol lowing very worthy article from his pen has just been published in the News Notes from that college: •‘The world is progressing rapid ly, and nowhere is greater progress being made then oq the farm. - To be successful the farmers must talk, plan, and work together. To ae complish anything in their meetings, lor whatever purpose, they must be able to deleat the schemes and wiles of the demagogue, the gratter. And would - be-frieerdr-’j£qQwletfge ot parliamentary rules is almost a necessity, in order that the modern farmer may hold his -own.—- — —— “In business —The Colorado farmer must work with his neighbor. Is he a member of the Grange, he is called upon to vote on important questions: he has to fee that certain motions are presented and passed, else what he be lieves may not be expressed. Is he a fruit grower, he must belong to the Fruit Growers’ Association. He will want to help arrange for the sale of his fruit. His influence will be very slight unless he can look out for iu a public nteet ing. Is he a sugar beet raiser, he must have decided opinions. As fop getting these opinions before the meeting and having influence with those who make the prices, his views are not worth the sflap of a finger, unless he, the possessor of these views, has some ability in taking part in public meetings- In almost every business transaction, knowledge of parliamentary drill, law or,rules .pi order is of supreme importance.

•‘ln politics—The conventions ate controlled by the few who know what to do, when to do it, and how to do it Many honest men and wouu-n are disgusted with politics, because their ideas ol honesty do not hold If these same weu and women knew rules ot procedure, and used them, their views would obtain. You may say, ‘T do not have oecasiou to take part in these meetings,” but the primaries, the school meetings, and the pubic, meetings of all kinds require tha* men and women conduct them. church and in society— Tbepame demands qre made upon men and women. Every church, every club, every lodge, at present Jells the same tale. Three fourths of the members hang back, and let the one-fourth control the meetings, outline the policy, and dictate terms. The other threefourt.hs complain of mistreatment, or believe in different policies. But who is to blame? Even in teachers 1 conventions, and chambers of commerce. there are many whose only remarks are “Yea, yea,” and '‘Nay ,usy.” , crying .need of the hour is men and women of the farms, nut with more honesty and sanity or view, but men and women who can make their inQaence< felt .in the