288 FARMERS' ORGANIZATIONS 



izations of somewhat progressive or radical tendencies, met in 

 Conference in Washington, and decided upon a plan of national 

 federation. Their widely circulated prospectus announced: 



"The end kept steadily in view is a Temple of Agriculture as 

 the National home of the associated farm organizations, thus 

 providing for the fitting representation of the great foundation 

 industry of agriculture at the nation's capital." 



The Conference decided in favor of establishing a Farmer's 

 National Headquarters in Washington. One plank in the plat- 

 form adopted there read as follows: 



"To establish National Headquarters at Washington, to include every- 

 thing needed to enable farmers to keep a close watch on how thei< business 

 is attended to by Congress and the Departments. Such headquarters are 

 needed not only to attend to the farmers' interests and to insure their securing 

 a square deal, but they are needed to give the right support to the Representa- 

 tives in Congress who actively support the farmers' program, and as a clearing 

 house for all who desire to cooperate with the organized progressive farmers 

 in public welfare work. We appeal to all farmers and all other public-spirited 

 citizens, to assist in making this effort to establish a people's legislative clearing 

 house a success." 



The purpose and scope of this federation's work are clearly 

 foreshadowed in the plank and prospectus quoted above. Officers 

 are maintained at the capital, in charge of a permanent manager. 

 An official organ is issued. 3 The chief activity is in the legislative 

 field to promote desired legislation, to oppose undesired legisla- 

 tion. Among measures supported in the past are these: Parcels 

 Post; Direct election of United States Senators; Federal Farm 

 Loan Act. Among pending measures for which this federation is 

 now working are these: Government owned and operated mer- 

 chant marine; Government ownership and operation of the rail- 

 roads; Government ownership and operation of natural resources 

 now in private hands. The method of work by this federation 

 consists largely in two things in conferences and in farmers' 

 national committees. Conferences bring together representatives 

 from organizations specifically concerned in pending govern- 

 mental policies. Farmers' National Committees likewise rep- 

 resent these same organized farm interests, and thus form a 

 temporary subfederation. In this sense the Farmers' National 

 Headquarters becomes the joint Washington office of various active 

 farm organizations. In some cases the affiliation is temporary- 

 while the emergency lasts; in other cases a definite relationship 

 is established. The published list of farm organizations having 

 their Washington offices in the Farmers National Headquarters 



3 The Farmers' Open Forum, Washington, $1.00 a year. 



