President Smith • 



Keynotes Convention 



(Continued fmni page *'•> 



resiH'iisibility for providing werk and 

 taking care of the iinenipluytd .<hould 

 gradually be shifted to the lesser units 

 of Government. In Illinois, we are in- 

 formed that the state must provide three 

 million dollars i)er month in 1!''!."> to be 

 matched with nine million dollars per 

 month of federal funds. Retiuirenicnts of 

 the state for three months, or $'.t,00(l,00(i, 

 has been provided from surplus sale.s tax 

 funds. We are confronted, therefore, 

 with the responsibility of providing $•'!,- 

 000,000 per month for fl months, or $27,- 

 000,000 to be matched by $81,000,000 of 

 federal revenue. 



rnemployment Relief 



"I recommetul to this convention: 



"(1) That it aggressively advocate 

 •ttch amendments to present law or new 

 ■tatutes as may be necessary to author- 

 ize all uncommitted state, county and 

 city gasoline tax revenue b^ used to meet 

 the State quota of S27;ood.00O; 



"(2) That the $27,000,000 with $81,- 

 000,000 of federal funds be equitably dis- 

 tributed as conditions and needs may re- 

 quire to each county of Illinois for the 

 purpose of providing work relief, to re- 

 place the present policy of direct relief; 



"(3) That under the direction of local 

 officers and citizens of each county their 

 respective commitments be expended for 

 the improvement, the repair and or the 

 maintenance of secondary or other im- 

 portant rural roads and city streets; 



"(4) That in carrying out such a pro- 

 gram of work, only approved deserving 

 unemployed be used; allowing reasonable 

 wages for such work; but always a scale 

 of wages somewhat below "the prevailing 

 wage of the respective communities. 1 

 do not want to be understood as favor- 

 ing low wages, but 1 believe this recom- 

 mendation is essential in this kind of a 

 program, so that each and every unem- 

 ployed person so engaged will have at 

 all times the inducement to seek better 

 and more permanent employment. 



"By following such a course, total ex- 

 penses will be met currently, the present 

 intention and authority of law for the 

 expenditure of gasoline tax revenue will 

 be fully complied with, motorists and 

 citizens generally will receive value in 

 return for their money, and most impor- 

 tant of all, deserving, but unfortunate 

 citizens, will be afforded an opportunity 

 of honest toil and the i)reservation of 

 their self-respect." 



On tbe subject of rural schools: 



"In recent months much has been said 

 against the country schools. Past and 

 present experience in centralized high 

 schotJls and consolidated schools "has 

 demonstrated that the pupils from rural 

 schools equal and very often excel their 



Pr.'siilent Earl C. Smith. Speaking 



city and village cousins in scholarship. 

 The opposition to rural schools lays much 

 emphasis upon the lO.OOO one-room coun- 

 try school districts of Illinois. It has 

 been stated that Illinois has more school 

 districts than are found in 22 other 

 states. They fail to state, however, that 

 Illinois has more people than are found 

 in a total of 1.5 other states. They 

 charge that the rural school districts of 

 Illinois are administered by about 49.000 

 officials. They fail to include that with 

 few exceptions these officials serve with- 

 out compensation and that these rural 

 school officials have also, with few ex- 

 ceptions, handled the finances "of their 

 districts much more wisely than is true 

 of many cities in the state. Most rural 

 schools are without debt of any kind, 

 their schools have remained open, and 

 with vei-^' few exceptions, their teachers 

 have been paid. The few exceptions are 

 niostlv <iile to -the delay of the state in 

 paying full (juotas from the State Dis- 

 tributive School Fund and this delay in 

 paying these quotas is largely the result 

 of the failure of Cook County to meet 

 its obligations to the State of Illinois. 



On Consolidation Schools 



"Consolidation of schools is being 

 urged as a measure of economy. After 

 witnessing the results of administration 

 of public schools in many of the cities 

 of the state, farmers have every reason 

 to doubt the economy of wholesale con- 

 solidation. If wholesale consolidation is 

 forced, farmers may look forward to 

 heavier taxes upon country property — 

 not only for the necessary increase in 

 buildings, grounds and facilities, but also 

 for operation. The history of consoli- 

 dated schools in Illinois, especially In 

 districts of large territory, lends no sup- 

 port to the theory of economy. 



"Whenever the people of Illinois pro- 

 vide a fair taxing system and the more 

 important rural roads are properly im- 

 proved, then and only then should the 

 farm people of the state be ready to' 

 consider or approve reasonable censoli- 

 dation of schools and school facilities. . . ^ 



"Organized farmers have been through 



a long hard fight to sin-ure basic legisla- 

 tion neces.<ary to control stirplus produc- 

 tion and maintain reasonable price levels 

 for their products. We have had our 

 initial experience with its administra- 

 tion. Many have l>e<;n the rough spots 

 that neeil smoothing. Continued and bit- 

 ter opposition has been met all along 

 the road. 



"While we have not yet secured all 

 we had hoped for and fully realize tbe 

 many problems yet ahead, I submit that 

 the tight has been worth while. You 

 know and I know there would not have 

 been an .Agricultural .Adjustment .Act, 

 but for organized farmers. The Act 

 would not have provided for extension 

 of and liberalized Farm Credits had pot 

 organized farmers been represented ' at 

 the scene of action. * 



"We are sure Farm Warehouse laws 

 and particularly corn loans would inct 

 have been available but for organized 

 farmers. I need not recount the millions 

 of added income farmers received as a 

 result of this sound program of service 

 instead of being forced to sell their com 

 in a burdened market and later witness 

 commercial traders reap the benefit of 

 rising prices. 



".Although not entirely out of tbe 

 clouds, yet we can commence to see tbe 

 sun. 



"Careful appraisal reveals organized 

 agriculture is getting results. 



Mu.st Act Unitedly 



"Today we have many friends among' 

 administrators of government. Some of 

 them have been associated with and 

 leaders' of our cause for many years. 

 However, we do not have an assurance 

 of their indefinite stay. A sincere arid 

 courageous effort is being made against 

 strong and at times bitter opposition to 

 restore farm prices and farm buying 

 powei'. It is a difficult task under such 

 conditions. 



"Our duty, our responsibility, yet cur 

 opportunity is plain. Farmers can and 

 will be effective only to the extent they 

 are united and act in and through .strong 

 militant, but constructive organiza- 

 tion. ... 



"The power and influence of pmanj 

 farmers have not yet been harnessed in 

 the ranks of organization, r Their under- 

 standing, cooperation and membership 

 should be earnestly solicited. Their as- 

 sistance is needed. I most sincerely be- 

 lieve that the program of the County 

 Farm Bureaus, some conception of state 

 problems and policies in which all rural 

 people have a common and vital interest; 

 reasonable understanding of our national 

 pxogram to raise and maintain farm 

 prices, coupled w:ith the general program 

 of departmental and business services 

 provided by the Illinois Agricultural As- 

 sociation fully justifies our goal — 100,000 

 ACTIVE MEMBERS." 



I. A. A. RECORD 



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