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The Dlinou Agricultural A«»oci«tioB Record 



October 11, 1924 



ILiLilNOIS 



rCVLTVBAL ASSOCIA 



^RECORD 



'nblished every other Saturday by the Illinois Asrlcul- 

 ural Association, 608 South Dearborn Street, Chicago. 

 Ulnois. Edited by Department of Information. H, C. 

 3utcher, Director. 



Bntered as second class matter Oct. 10, 1921, at the post 

 offlce at Cbicaso, BUnolB, under the act of March i, 1S7I, 

 Acceptance for mailing at special rates of poitaffs pro- 

 vided for in Section 1103, Act of October 3, 1>17, autbor- 

 lied Oct. 31, l»il. 



The Indlvldaal membership fee of the Illinois Arcicul- 

 tural Association Is flTe dollars a ye^r. This fee Includes 



f'ayment of fifty cents for subscription to the Ullnol* A#- 

 Icultural Association Record. 



Postmaster: In returning an uncalled-for or mis-sent 

 :opy, please indicate key number on address as Is re- 

 lulred by law, 



OFFICERS 



President, S. H. Thompson, Qnlncy. 

 Vice-President, C. B. Watson, DeKalb. 

 Treasurer, R. A. Cowles, Bloomington. 

 Becretary, Geo. A, Fox, Sycamore. 



EXECUXrVE COMMITTEE 



By Congressional Districts 



11th Jacob Olbrlcli, Harvard 



12th G. F. Tullocic, Rockford 



13th C. E. Bamborcugh, Polo 



14th. ...i W. H. Moody, Port Byron 



18th ..H. E. Gocmbel, Hooppole 



16th A. R. Wright. Varna 



17th F. D, Barton, Cornell 



18th.....:... R. F. Karr, Iroquois 



IHh J. I_ Whianand, Charlaiton 



20th Earl C. Smith, Detroit 



21st Samuel Sorrel Is, Raymond 



22nd Stanley Castle, Alton 



23rd J. E. LIngenfelter, Lawrencavllle 



a4th Curt Anderson, Xsnia 



2Sth Vsmon Lesslsy, Sparta 



Directors of Departments 

 I. A. A. OiBce 



General Office and Assistant to Secretary, J. H. Kelker; 

 Organization, G. E. Metzger; Information, H. C- Butcher, 

 Transportation, L, J. Quasey, Statistics, J. C. Watson; 

 Finance, R. A. Cowles; Fruit and Vegetable Marketing, 

 A. B. Leeper; Live Stock Marketing, Wm. E, Hedgcock; 

 Dairy Marketing, A, D. Lynch; Phosphate-Limestone, 

 J. R. Bent; In charge Poultry and Egg Marketing, F. A. 

 Gougler; special representative on Tuberculosis Eradi- 

 cation, M. H. Petersen; Legal Counsel, Donald Kirk- 

 Patrick; Cooperative Accounting, Geo, R. Wicker. 



To Find Profits in Grain Marketing 

 Since 1920 



The Federal Trade Commission is continuing its 

 investigation into the- margins and profits of term- 

 inal grain middlemen in the principal markets in 

 the United States upon request of the Illinois Ag- 

 ricultural Association. 



When investigating the Grain Marketing Com- 

 pany, it was found that the Federal Trade Com- 

 mission had ascertained the profits — w h i c h 

 amounted to from 3 to 8 cents per bushel for wheat 

 on the Chicago market — on grain down to and in- 

 eluding the year 1920. The I. A, A. asked that 

 these figures be brought down to date and the Fed- 

 eral Trade Commission has agreed to do so starting 

 with the Chicago market. 



We Need Strong Cotnmunitie* 



Frank D, Barton of Cornell, Livingston county, 

 in talking on the Farm Bureau radio program Oc- 

 tober 3, emphasized the value of good, strong com- 

 munity organizations as the greatest factor toward 

 a successful Farm Bureau. Here is the way he 

 puts it: 



"It is found that in the counties where rural 

 communities are organized, the program of the 

 Farm Bureau is more nearly carried out than in 

 communities where the individual member is left 

 to work alone on the program. 



"The greatest source of dissatisfaction arising 

 among the members is because they do not avail 

 themselves of the many helpful activities that are 

 theirs for the asking. 



"Community organization with good live com- 

 munity meetings affords the opportunity for the 

 farm adviser to meet the Farm Bureau member- 

 ship in groups and take up the farm problems com- 

 mon to the community and also a chance for the 

 individual member to take up his individual prob- 

 lem with the adviser after such meeting." 



The Council Reports Progress 



Although we haven't said a great deal about the 

 McNary-Haugen bill recently, we have by no means 

 forgotten it. The executive committee reiterated 



its stand for it in the meeting of October 3. 



The American Council of Agriculture reports 

 that a large number of senators and representatives 

 have been pledged for the bill. All those who voted 

 for the bill when it was defeated have already 

 pledged their continued support of some measure 

 which would carry out the "spirit" embodied in 

 the McNary-Haugen bill. 



The "spirit" of the McNary-Haugen bill is — an 

 American price for the American consumption, in- 

 dependent of the world price for the surplus. 



"Qualit^t Members" t 



Give this a thought : 



Is the Farm Bureau gradually resolving itself 

 onto a "selective membership" basis t 



In many Illinois counties a committee goes over 

 a prospective list of farmers before a re-organiza- 

 tion campaign and culls off the "undesirables" — 

 those kickers and chronic. knockers who can't push 

 an ounce but can drag back worse than a balky 

 mule. 



Will it be customary to vote on prospective mem- 

 bers as is now the custom in lodges T 



Advanced Farm Bureau thinkers are talking of 

 "quality members" these days. 



Here's Another Thompsonigram 



It's President Thompson talking: 



"We can't wait for Moses to come out from 

 somewhere and do the things we (the farmers) 

 want done. A lot of hard work must be done and 

 you are going to know how it is done. The hardest 

 thing in the world is to get people engaged in the 

 agricultural industrj- to see their opportunities, I 

 feel sorry for the man who apologizes because he 

 belongs to the Farm Bureau. I wish he didn't be- 

 long." (Picked up by Adviser Fahmkopf at 17th 

 district meeting at Bloomington,) 



The Farm Bureaus Are True Representatives 

 of Agriculture 



Perhaps you saw the I. A. A. exhibit sometime 

 this summer. It has been shown at the Aurora 

 fair, the state picnic and the state fair at Spring- 

 field. It is estimated that about 20,000 people saw 

 it at Aurora, most of those who attended the state 

 picnic saw it — that's about 12,000 more — and we 

 think at least 75,000 people saw it at Springfield. 

 A conservative estimate would be that 100,000 

 people have seen it — and they usually stopped to 

 study its message once it attracted their attention. 



The exhibit was a huge map of Illinois, 10 feet 

 wide and about 20 long. The Wabash, Ohio, 

 Illinois and Mississippi rivers were shown by act- 

 ually running water. Lake Michigan, the part that 

 bites out a chunk of Illinois, was also shown with 

 real water. The whole map was covered with grass, 

 and, while it was not exactly true as to the topo- 

 graphical features of all parts of the state, it made 

 a pretty sight and attracted a lot of attention be- 

 cause of its naturalness. 



On the grass were placed a number of miniature 

 buildings representing the Illinois co-operative 

 organizations. The model home and farm build- 

 ings of "Mr, Farm Bureau Member" were in 

 a prominent position. The services of the I. A. A. 

 were chief features. 



The Illinois Chamber of Commerce asked the Il- 

 linois Agricultural Association to bring its exhibit 

 to the Illinois Products Exposition wherein the 

 wonderful resources of Illinois will be on display 

 from October 9 to 18, in Chicago. The I. A. A, is 

 to represent agriculture. ... 



Therein lies the point of this editorial. 



It is becoming more and more customary for the 

 Farm Bureau, county, state and national, to be re- 

 garded as true representatives of agriculture. 

 When business men want aigriculture represented, 

 they come to the Farm Bureau organization. This 

 is especially true in the counties. And it is as it 

 should be. 



The Voice of the Members 



Members are invited to speak their minds in this column. As 

 many Utters from members vill be printed each issue as space 

 witi permit. Letters should be short and snappy; all must be 

 siirnd to be printed. All constructive criticism of the Farm Bu- 

 reau — county, state or national units — is melcomed. It you have 

 any teievances, praise or suuestions. here is the place to tell 

 them. It's your column, male it what you uiill. Address letters 

 to a. C. Butcher, I. A: A. Record, 6ot S. Dearborn, Chicago. 



Bow would you "seU" the Farm Bureau if you were to go 

 after a good neighbor who does not belongi We printed some 

 letters on this topic last time, but here's another good one: 



Dear Friend t Will aaswer your letter received a few 

 days mgo. Tkaak yoa for yoar questions. 1 don*t want to 

 ■ell my membership In the Farm Bureau, 1 sure think 

 the farmers are sone without some oraanlsatlon or 

 means of atlcklna: tosether, We most have an oraan- 

 Isatlon or sooner or later have the price set down on 

 what we raise to sell. We are aone until that happens. 

 I vrlah every land o^ner or renter were Farm Bureau 

 menshers and would eleave toaether as they should. V\> 

 oonid then do aaythlna In reason. 



L. D, Henard, Buncombe. IlL 

 Orgontzotion counu, ESPECIALLY ij we all use it, Mr. Hen- 

 ard. — Ed. ——— 

 Dear DIrectori 



1 feel that the farmers need very mneh to eo-operate 

 or work hand, head and heart toaether In every line not 

 only la buylna but In selllna farm products. But what 

 has always puuled me Is how to brlna It about because 

 so many farmers are so close run flnanclaily that they 

 cannot hold their crops but must sell as soon as har- 

 vested. While there are a good many that can bold un- 

 til they please to sell and I have seen aood business men 

 hold too Ions and lose much by not anderMtnndlna that 

 wrhen there was a arent demand for a product that was 

 the time to sell and not to buy while when the price 

 waa low and there ivas plenty of a farm product was 

 the time to co-operate and help each other If possible 

 ananclally to he able to hold that product from the spec- 

 ulator and In the farmer's band until nil could set a 

 price that would pay all expenses and a small profit at 

 least. 



We need co-operation on these lines mentioned but 

 who will produce 'the remedy for our lllsf 



E. E. LInhart, Carrier Mills, IlL 



Hand, head and heart — that's a good point, E. E. — Ed. 



Dear Sin 



Received your letter today and In reply would any 

 that my personal opinion Is thnt the hish cost of labor, 

 contpared with the returns we farmers act tor our pro- 

 duce Is our areatest problem. 



We have to pay at least S45 a month for hired man 

 and from $::o to a24 a month for hired girl. .\nd by the 

 time the hired help and some extra day laborers are 

 paid, the renter's profit Is aone. We must pay from 30 

 to SO cents an hour for common labor and In one case 

 durlna the winter months I had to pay f3.00 for 7 hours, 

 nsan Inbor nt shreddlna corn fodder, .From 9 to 4 o*cl<M;k 

 wns cnlled a day. 



Another problem Is the 7 per cent Interest we must 

 pny for loans. 



Another problem hns been buylna com from SS to 85 

 cents a bushel for corn to feed to hogs and sell for OH 

 cents per pound, thereby losing about .3 cents a pound 

 on all hogs fed, HoMrever. this has been proportioned a 

 little better now by hogs going up a little. 



J. B. Lelb, Astoria. Illinois. 

 And that isn't all of 'em either, eh, Mr. Leib? — EtL 



Dear Sin 



la reply to your question t '''What has the F'aras Bu- 

 reau done for youf— so for I cannot see where It has 

 done me any good and 1 am not for it any more. 



When I can ace where It Is helplna nie and 1 can afford 

 to. I will do all 1 can for It. but I couldn't now It I 

 wanted to. 



Hoping thin srill be the answer you arc looking for 

 as it la my idea of It, I rcasaia, 



Floyd W. Renner, Walnut, III. 

 Did you ever hear of a doctor alivays saving ALL of his 

 patients, Mr. Renner? — Ed. 



Dear Sin I think the largest problem of agriculture 

 la to get a fair remunerntlon for Its labor and capital 

 Invested. 



The fact that this government has gone on record de- 

 nying the American farmer the protection necessary to 

 give him a fair remuneration seems to me to compel us 

 to unite along the same lines ss isbor and capital, and 

 practically all other Indoslrirs are now organised, and 

 demand for our products a aultable price that will en- 

 able ua to exist and compare favorably with other lines. 



H. H. Uoislnger. De Long, III, 

 Anather argument for stronger organization— stick and fight, 

 folks, we're doing our tbsrndest. — Ed. 



Dear Sirt As I see it a farmer should expect many 

 things from co-operative marketing, ^'ot over night or 

 even In a month or a year, but in time. Of course moat 

 farmera expect greater prices for their produce, but we. 

 mnat also decreaac our aelling cost. .\ reduction of 

 freight, commission, etc., would mesn much toward la- 

 creased profits. 



We should expect to contract to sell all our products 

 thru this organisation. 



We must expect reslstsncc. Old line commission nten 

 and speculators are now spending large sums to defeat 

 co-operntlve marketing, Whyt Their fat profits will be 

 thrown to the farmer. 



We can expect recognition from the public If we con- 

 trol the marketing of our goods, 



Nearly all manufncturcrs, wholpsniers and retailers are 

 members of their renpectlve organisations, whereby they 

 cnn set s price on their goods. Organised labor says. 

 "We demand so much — "; why not the former f 



W'hnt cnn we expect from co-operntlve marketing? It 

 la the only way to meet competition, for as long ns we 

 do not have a voice In marketing, we are competing 

 with an organised world. We farmers each stand alone 

 against the various obstacles that arc too great to over- 

 come unless we use the modern method of getting our 

 share by co-operative marketing. 



Wilbur H, Gehring, Edwardsviile, III. 

 And here's still another— a clincher.— Ed. 



THE LIARS' CONTEST 



IT I§I 



Dear Sin I kave beva tirtMT <• tcH the truth 

 for several yeara reKardloK Improved methods of 

 farming and Farm Bureau activities and hope I 

 have assisted somewhat In ffettlnv this sreat work 

 across. 



In order to compete In jour colnmn I enter the 

 following 1 



After obaervlns' Farm Barean work frons all 

 anvies I have rome to the conclusion that It hasn't 

 done any Kood. Sweet clover will ^ruw well upun 

 acid soil. There Is no nse In crop rotation as corn 

 will srow better and blsB^r when planted yenr 

 after year on the same field. There Is nothlaff to 

 treating oats for smut or sprayinc fruit trees for 

 Insects. 



The Farm Bureau had nothtnfc to do with legis- 

 lative work, tax equallsntlon, or railroad rate re- 

 duction. It has done nothlnic to promote co-opera- 

 tion or a live stock commission association. It 

 fought the Capper-Tlncher bill and M<-\nr>--Han- 

 sen hill, tried to raise railroad rates, worked for 

 Pittsburirb Plus and asalnst the Deep ^^'aterway. 

 As a whole it worked asuiust the best latereata 

 of avrleulture. 



If thia ahi*t one, then what laf 



O. L. Hatch. Roaelawa Farm. Kewaaee, III. 



