Page 2 



The DKnoU AgricuHaral A««ociation Record 



December 6, 1924 



^ IL.L.INOIS 



CVLTUBAL ASSOCIA1 



RE CORP' 



Published every other SatardAT by the Illinois AsrlcuN 

 tural Association, <0S South Dearborn Street- Chicago, 

 Illinois. Edited by Dspartm«nt of Intormatlon, H. C. 

 Butcher. Director. 



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

 offlce at Chicago. Illinois, under the act of March 3, 1879. 

 Acceptance for mailing at •pectal ratsa of postaca pro- 

 Tided for In Section 116>, Act of October I, 1917, anthor- 

 lied Oct. 31. 1931. 



The Individual membership fee of the Illinois Ayrlcul- 

 tural Association is five dollars a year. This fee Includes 

 payment of fifty cents for subscription to the nilnola Am- 

 rlcnltural Association Rxoosd. 



Postmaster; In returning an uncalled-for or miasent 

 copy, please Indicate key number on address mt Is re- 

 quired by law. 



OFFICERS 



Pnaldent, S. H. Thompson, Qolncy. 

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

 Treasurer, R. A. Cowles, Bloomlngton. 

 Secretary, Geo. A. Fox, Sycamore. 



11<h... 



1«h... 

 13th... 

 14th... 

 15th... 

 16th... 

 17th... 

 18th... 

 19th... 

 20th... 

 21st... 

 22nd.., 

 23rd... 

 24th... 

 25th... 



EXECUTIVB COMMmSE 

 Bj Congressloiial Districts 



Jscob Olbrlch, Harvard 



Q. F. Tullock. Roekford 



C. E. Bamborough^ Polo 



W. H. Moody, Port Byron 



H. E. Gostnbel, Hooppols 



A. R. Wright, Varna 



F. D. Barton, Cornell 



R. F. Karr, Iroquois 



J. L. Whianand, Charleston 



Earl C. Smith, Detroit 



Samuel Sorrells, Raymond 



Stanley Castis, Alton 



J. E. LIngenf alter, LawreneevMIe 



Curt Anderson, Xenia 



.Vernon Lessley, Spsrta 



Directors of Departments 

 I. A. A. Ofllce 



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

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

 Titansportatlon, L. J. Quasey; Taxation and Statistics, 

 J. C. Watson; Finance, R. A. Cowles; Fruit and Vege- 

 table 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. Qougler; special representative 

 on Tuberculosis Eradication, M. H. Petersen; Legal 

 Counsel, Donald Kirkpatrick; Co-operative Accounting, 

 Geo. R. Wicker. 



The Slipping Clutch vs. 



the Three-In-One Gear 



If the McNaryTHaugen bill did nothing more 

 thjan awaken public sentiment to the fact that there 

 is a difference in the farmer's dollar and the non- 

 farmer's dollar, all the time, money and energy 

 pijt npon it were well invested. 



The McNary-Haugen bUl has blazed a trail in the 

 public's brain. In the wake of the trail there is 

 common knowledge that the farmer's dollar is 

 worth less than is right. The fanner's dollar is 

 something like a slipping clutch on an automobile. 

 The clutch fails to get the full eflBciency out of the 

 power expended; the farmer's dollar returns only 

 87 per cent eflSciency. The non-farmers' dollar 

 these days is like a three-in-one gear in a Ford. The 

 engine runs no faster, but the gear brings extra 

 mileage. 



The task of the agricultural commission recently 

 appointed by President Coolidge is to help tighten 

 the slipping clutch in the farmer's car so it can 

 have a fair chance of keeping up with the three-in- 

 oie gear of the non-farmer. The President went 

 on record during the recent campaign that the 

 inequality between the two kinds of dollars must be 

 equalized. That is an achievement of the McNary- 

 Haugen campaign in itself. 



. This inequality is shown by the chart herewith 

 reproduced. The chart is a Bureau of Labor Statis- 

 tics wholesale price index, classified by the bureau 

 ibto agricultural and non-agricultural commod- 

 ities. The years 1909 to 1914 are taken as a basis 

 for comparison. In other words, to use a continu- 

 ation of the partially drawn figure of the clutch 

 atd the gear, the basis line of 100 in the chart 

 could be taken as meaning the average speed of all 

 automobiles (dollars) from 1909 to 1914. The 

 li^e labeled agricultural, then, means that the farm- 

 er's car's clutch has be^ slipping at various 

 amounts since the beginning of 1922. The three- 

 in-one gear non-agrricultural car has been ahead 

 all during the period. The average speed of all 

 cars (all commodities) is shown by the heavy black 

 lipe in the middle. 



[A minute's study of the chart shows that there 

 lus been a recent tendency of the agricultural line 

 to rise toward the non-agrioultural level. This has 



been caused by the increase in farm products prices 

 during the summer and fall, but at the tail end of 

 the agricultural level we find a sudden downward 

 trend. 



The after-election boom, which came after the 

 chart was made, is undoubtedly causing the non-ag- 

 ricultural line to turn upward sharply. From obser- 



I8Z2 t923 192% 



ration the indications are that the agricultural line 

 is running about level with its last point. The re- 

 sultant widening between the lines means that the 

 three-in-one geared car is getting way ahead of the 

 ear with the slipping clutch, and illustrates the 

 present need for enactment of legislation embody- 

 ing principles such as underlied the actual mechan- 

 ics of the McNary-Haugen bill. 



Solemn consideration of this chart pictures the 

 tremendous task of the agricultural commission and 

 at the same time shows a great field of endeavor for 

 all farm organizations. The Illinois Agricultural 



Association has been in the front trenches battling 

 to bring these upper and lower lines together. 

 Even the fortunate occurrence of a world shortage 

 this year has not brought the lines to equality. As 

 long as this inequality exists, the I. A. A. will con- 

 tinue to help tighten the screws on the slipping 

 clutch. .. 



A Warning 



Every little while some new promotion scheme 

 is launched in connection with ground rock phos- 

 phate properties or operations in Tennessee. Some 

 of these schemes have not seemed to be based upon 

 honest objects. Others are honest in purpose but 

 are founded upon unsound business principles or 

 form. Nearly always such plans seem to center 

 around the idea that the Illinois farmer is the big 

 game to be bagged. 



There are indications that promotion projects are 

 in the making at this time. 



Farm Bureau and farm bureau members should 

 not allow themselves to be tied up at one end of a 

 contract without knowing that the fellow at the 

 other end can and will make good and that the 

 contract will prove to be worth while to the phos- 

 hate user or investor. This applies whether the 

 scheme is one of bond or stock selling or one of 

 phosphate rock selling, especially if the latter is for 

 future delivery. 



The I. A. A. maintains a phosphate-limestone de- 

 partment whose business it is to keep informed on 

 all developments in the phosphate field and be able 

 to give intelligent and unbiased advice to its mem- 

 bers and the Bureaus. Before being led into any 

 such schemes be sure and make use of this service 

 which is yours for the asking. Wild cat schemes 

 of any kind are not only disastrous to the victim 

 but are unfair to legitimate, honest producers in 

 the industry. 



An Aeorn Today; An Oak Tree Tomorrow 



The essay contest is over. It has planted seeds 

 of thought in the nimble brains of approximately 

 1,000 Illinois boys and girls who competed. An 

 application of the old adage, "From little acorns, 

 giant oak trees grow*^ is fitting here. The farm 

 bureau thoughts germinated in the minds of these 

 1,000 boys and girls will grow into untold value 

 for the Farm Bureau and its work. 



The planting and growth of many of these seeds 

 of thought has without a doubt caused sprouting 

 among other members of the families. Some of the 

 letters from the winning contestants who wrote on 

 **Why Dad Should Belong to the Farm Bureau," 

 reveals that fathers who have been non-members 

 have seen a little more light and have even signified 

 their intention of joining. 



The Farm Bureau is an acorn today; it will be 

 an oak tree tomorrow. 



The Voice of the Members 



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

 many letters from members wilt be printed each isme as space 

 will permit. Utters should be short and snappy: aU must be 

 tipied to be printed. AU constructive criticism of the Farm Bu- 

 reau—county, state or national umts — *s welcomed. If you have 

 amy grievancts. pram or sutgettions, here is the place to teli 

 them. It's your coUimn. make it vhat you will. Address letters 

 to a. C. Butcher, I. A. A. Record, 60S S. Dearborn, Chtcofo. 



$15 

 $10 



To Voice of Memberm Inntead of mrrslBs 1b boor* of 

 trade, why not m^rfce nil fnrm ortrniil»ation« Info one oa- 

 tlOHOI fe4er«tlon bo When ( onKrena and the President 

 wnnt to know what the (amiers want they eonld apeak 

 tkrouKh 8aiu ThompHOn like organised labor apeaka 

 throoBk Sam Gompera. „ ._ ,,,, , 



Helmer Hamaoa. Newark, IHlaola. 



Voice of the Meaibcrst 



I shall uadertake to set forth wkat I believe U a fair 

 •and straightforward answer to the letters which were 

 printed In the Inut Record written by W. F. FnsH>>«>* 

 president of the Chrlpttlnn <«nnty Farm Boreaa of .Yoko- 

 nils.. Mr. EnKelmaa's letter referred speclflcally to re- 

 duction from VIS to $10 of farm hurean dues. 



This letter la to point ont the aeveral aaperlor advan- 

 taffea of the $15 memberablp. It aboald not be constmed 

 la any way a« being antanronlstlc to Mr. Easel- 

 man. He has merely broosht up a qaestloa whieh 

 should be answered for the benefit of all the nscas- 

 bers. 



The oriranlaatlon department has had eoaalder- 

 able experience working with various county Farm 

 Bureaus on the matter of the amount of dues. It 

 eusts about mo much per member to run a County 

 Farm Bureau and render service. The atse ef the county, 

 condition of the roads, concentration of the membership, 

 ctCn •« fuetors refcnlatlnK Ihia cost. 



Two tfalniTM Induce a farmer to Join the Farm Bareaui 



1. Kno>«ledKe of the need of nitrrtrnltoral economic 

 and socini life of a Kcneml farm oncantaatloa, and 

 kla duty to support such an orKanlsatlon both asor- 

 ally and fluanclally, 



::. Individual and collective benefit of the aervlcea 

 olfered-Jiy the ortrnnlsation. 



1 point ,^nt these two matters as a basis for my argru- 

 ment to 'follow. 



A good farm bureau member looks at tke cost of the 

 aervlec In the light of value received. This, I believe 

 kas been fully proven In our experience In several cona- 

 tlcM. There Is also a psychoiofcieal viewpoint w^lth re- 

 spe<>t to the amount of meniberMhlp fee. Any man with 

 any business ability would far rather beiOBsr to an or- 

 fcani/.atiun which has some assets back of It than to an 

 orennlzallon which is broke, lie would also 

 far rather Join an organivJitlon which Is well A»mm^» 

 Axed flnancinlly than to help lift a bankrupt /»••«!» 

 one "out of the hole.** Hence, the ararument Main 

 for a membership fee suttclently large to ■*"«»« 

 properly carry on the work of an organlxa- PrestiPe 



For a Farm Bureau to properly hold Ita 

 membership It Is also necessary that it render real serv- 

 ice. This service costs money. The wreakest county 

 Farm Bureaus today In a financial way Hnd It hard to 

 render the kind of aervlce which their membcrahlp re- 

 quires. 



The argnment, of coarse, always presented In connec- 

 tion with the reduced ntembershlp fee Is that more men 

 w^lll Join. There are two viewpoints which may be taken 

 of that statenientt 



In the first place, our experience does not bear out 

 any truth In that argument. For Instance, In the last 

 membership campalfcn one county reduced Its duen on 

 the strength of a feeling that It would get a larger 

 membership. After a strenuous campaign that county 

 was only able to sign up 00 per cent of Its former mem- 

 bership. Hence, the reduction la the daea seemingly 

 bad no effect whatever. 



I'hree other counties Increased their membership dues 

 from SIO to $IS per year and in nil three cases a greater 

 percentage of the old membership was signed up thaa did 

 the county that reduced the dues. 



The second viewpoint Is that even should the reduc- 

 tion in dues Increase the number of members it would 

 call for Increased service from the county Farm Bureau 

 ofBce and also the I* A. A. on less funds. It costs more 

 to serve 1,200 men In a county Farm Bureau than It does 

 to serve OOO. On the basis of the 

 division suggested by Mr. Engelmau 

 a county Farm Bureau with 1.200 

 members would have an income of 

 «7,K(>0.no. On the «15.00 basis an equal 

 amount of Income could be obtained 

 from 780 members. Certainly a bet- 

 ter service could be rendered on that 

 Income to 780 members thaa could possibly be rendered 

 to IJMO. 



From our experience and observation. It Is not the 

 amount of dues that keeps a ninn out of a county Farm 

 Sureau In 0.% per cent of the cases. \Ve all recogalae 

 the fact, of course, that It Is quite often used as a reason 

 why a man docs not Join, but la reality It Is more an 

 excuse than a reason. 



1 am convinced that a farmer who Is sold on orgaalxa- 

 tlon will Join a county Fnrm Bureau and the Illinois 

 Agrlculturnl AsHOclntlon no matter what the dues, so 

 long as they arc within reason; but If he Is not aold on 

 orgnnlKatlon It Is a hard matter to get him la even 

 though the dues be only one dollar a year. 



I believe that the membership In general In the Illlnola 

 Agricultural Association will agree that 91S per year 

 dues In the County Fnrm llurcnu and the Illlnola Agri- 

 cultural Association Is not out of line with the duca paid 

 In other organisations of a similar nature representing 

 other indastrles. There is no excuse to be made from n 

 standpoint of service or of dollars and cents saved the 

 membership of these organizations. . The c<»uiity Farm 

 Bureaus in Illinois and the Illinois Agrl^-ultural Associa- 

 tion have paid maay times the annual dues in the aav- 

 Inga that have been effected through the varlona llaea 

 of service which the organisation offers. 



G. B. Metsger, director* 

 Organisation Department, L A. A.- 



$15 Means 



More 



Service 



Important 



"Voice of Members*' Column t The relationship of the 

 farm bureau member to his Farm Bureau can be ex- 

 pressed In three words. — he Is It. If the farmer w^ho 

 becomes a member hy signing the membership contract 

 fully realises the uecesalty for farmer organisation, and 

 that the Farm Bureau Is his own organisation. In which 

 he Is one of the ualts, he will think and apeak of It as 

 his own. 



Too naany members have seen only one or two things 

 of value In the Farm Bureau, — those things which have 

 brought them a direct saving of mon- 

 ey.'— and have failed to see the bene- *« . , 

 flts to agriculture as a whole. Ac- UtreCt 

 compllshments of a general nature n j^. w < 

 that may be of far greater value DenenlB l^eOMt 

 than any direct aavlngs arc over- 

 looked by too many of us simply be- 

 cause we look only for direct cash 

 aavlags. 



In any co-operative or organised effort It Is easy to 

 forget that It Is team work that moves the load. In the 

 old fashioned barn raising when the man in charge aald. 

 **IIeave Ho,** and all lifted at once. It was their combined 

 force that put the big tinil»ers in place. Team work did 

 what no one working alone could liave accomplished. 

 Each one did his bit when he was called. In the Fama 

 Bureau the call to defend the organisation against mla- 

 taken Ideas of service comes in various ways and places. 

 With the lack of experience In organisation among us 

 fanners It Is not to be wondered at that some of us are 

 confused by the enormous strides made In legislation, 

 tax questions, freight rntes, and co-operative marketing, 

 and the activities w^tthln the county for more efflclent 

 methods of crop and live stock production. 



This la an age In which agriculture muat be made a 

 business Instead of Just a means of existence. Aa a 

 business It should pay Interest on the capital and labor 

 Inveated, The farmers are the only oaea that can make 

 It do BO. 



(Continued on page 3, column 3) 



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