164 IOWA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 



at that agricultural convention for the purpose of organizing the 

 American Farm Bureau Federation. 



ORGANIZATION. 



1. Believing that the strength and origin of the American Federation 

 of Farm Bureaus have been achieved through co-operation with the state 

 and federal departments of agriculture, upon a sound educational pro- 

 gram we declare it to be our purpose to continue such co-operation in 

 the future, and that neither business enterprise nor legislative activity 

 should diminish such co-operative, educational activities, 



2. We declare our independence of affiliation with any commercial, 

 labor or industrial organization, but maintain a co-operative attitude 

 toward all movements promoting the welfare of American institutions. 



3. We urge the strengthening of county organizations financially and 

 otherwise, in order that capable men may be employed to manage the 

 work of the county organizations. 



ECONOMIC. 



1. With few exceptions In the past 40 years the farmers' sole profit 

 has come from unrestored fertility taken from the soil, and from long 

 hours of work and unpaid labor of women and children. We insist that 

 these are legitimate factors in the cost of food production, and must be 

 so recognized by commercial interests and by the general public. 



2. We assert that the farmer is entitled to a just profit on the cost 

 of production on all products with these items properly accounted for, 

 with due consideration of the hazardous risks he encounters, and with 

 a wage allowance for his own labor and ability commensurate to that re- 

 ceived in other occupations. 



3. We recognize that land ownership is stewardship; that ownership 

 does not give the right to soil depletion, and we deplore the system of 

 tenantry that encourages a rapid reduction of soil fertility. 



4. We unqualifiedly assert our loyalty to the principles of the freedom 

 of the people under our American institutions; and while recognizing the 

 right of any and every class of our people to associate themselves for 

 material benefit, we just as strongly assert the right of every American 

 citizen to the free and unhampered privilege of disposing of his labor 

 or products thereof as he may individually desire. 



5. We desire to point out that a large factor in the high cost of living 

 is the curtailment of production through shorter hours, lessened efficiency 

 of labor and strikes. 



6. Recognizing the economic law that impels the consolidation of 

 business we proclaim that relief from the extortion of monopoly in manu- 

 facture and commerce is to be found in co-operation, in enforced publicity 

 of business records, and a just graduated income tax rather than through 

 interference with the economic law upon which great industries are 

 founded. 



