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Mebi-uary, 1931 



THE I. A. A. RECORD 



Page Fifteen 



state's present quota of the gasoline tax 

 be allocated to the cities of the state 

 for construction and maintenance of 

 city streets. Such action, if taken, 

 would seriously hamper and delay the 

 completion of the state's magnificent 

 highway system. We recognize, how- 

 ever, the injustice of present laws 

 which in effect force the property own- 

 ers and cities along designated state 

 highways through such cities to build 

 and maintain such highways. In recog- 

 nition of this injustice, it is believed 

 the Association should express its will- 

 ingness to support a change in the 

 present law, which would place upon 

 the state responsibility for the main- 

 tenance and rebuilding, when necessary, 

 of all city streets which have previously 

 been designated as state highways. Such 

 action by the General Assembly would 

 remedy the injustice of present laws 

 and at the same time would not seri- 

 ously interfere ^th the completion of 

 ,the higfiway system of the state. 



Motor License Fees 



"It as believed there should be some 

 revision in the license fees on trucks, 

 especially in the lower brackets. We 

 should also seek exemption for farm 

 tractors from the requirement of li- 

 censes when being moved from farm 

 to farm, and for farm purposes. ,; ' 



"We should seek a statute protecting 

 farmers from responsibility for injuries 

 caused by live stock on highways where 

 reasonable care has been exercised in 

 the control of such stock by its owners. 



"The question of reapportionment 

 has for years been a disturbing element 

 in the political and sectional life of this 

 state. It is believed that the Association 

 should take a constructive position on 

 this question. While it is recognized 

 that the present constitution provides ■ 

 for representation in our legislative 

 bodies according to population, yet cer- 

 tainly no one could successfully main- 

 tain that the framers of the constitu- 

 tion did or could foresee the great cen- 

 tralization of population that now ex- 

 ists in Cook county, which is larger 

 than ,the balance of the state. 



Reapportionment Plan 



"In his recent message to the ' Gen- 

 eral Assembly, the Governor of Illinois 

 has recommended a solution to this 

 question, which would give representa- 

 tion in one House on a basis of popula- 

 tion and limit representation in the 

 other as to territory. The principles i 

 ^embodied in this recommendation are 

 in keeping with the fundamentals of 

 representative government as exempli- 

 fied in the Constitution of the Ui^ited 

 States. - ^•■■ ■ ■ : ':' ' ; ' ;^:; ■ ■■ i ^ .i- ■ .::'- ' ■ :: - :' i4'^ — ■ y-;;.. ;,, -^ 



"I recommend Careful consideration 

 on the part of the delegates assembled 



MM': 



to this important question, believing 

 that its proper solution would greatly 

 influence and encourage a better under- 

 standing between the metropolitan and 

 rural interests of Illinois. 



"Solutions to all of these important 

 questions call for the most careful and 

 constructive thought on the part of the 

 citizens of the state, regardless of their 

 business associations or connections. 

 Agriculture is one of the foremost in- 

 dustries of the state. Those engaged in 

 the industry, constituting a substantial 

 portion of its population, must not fail 

 to state their position. There was a 

 time when farmers being in the ma- 

 jority could feel secure in their rights. 

 As time moves on, farmers are becom- 

 ing more and more in the minority. If 

 their interests are to be protected, they 

 must give careful study to the more 

 important questions of public policy 

 and after such consideration, stand 

 together in protection of their rights. 

 I know no way for farmers to speak 

 or act effectively, except through or- 

 ganization. / :< ,; ,. 



Organization Needed 



"Effective organization of agricul- 

 ture was never more needed than it is 

 today. If humanity were actuated by 

 the golden rule, organization, except 

 for social purposes and perhaps for the 

 promotion of more efficient production, 

 would be unnecessary, but humanity 

 does not act in that way. Selfishness is 

 a human frailty, groups and classes are 

 self-seeking and seem to be bent on se- 

 curing preferment and advantage. The 

 continuous economic struggle demands 

 strengthening the organization. Appar- 

 ently many farmers fail to realize this 

 fact. It is every member's business to 

 take information to and promote in- 

 telligent thought among those outside 

 the ranks of organized agriculture, 

 that further strength may be added to 

 efforts being put forth in behalf of 

 their industry. - ' 



Membership Increases 



"It is pleasing to report a steadily in- 

 creasing membership and a very large 

 percentage of membership dues paid 

 during the year; yet the imperative 

 need of strengthening the ranks of ag- 

 riculture causes one to feel that there 

 are still entirely too many Illinois farm- 

 ers who have not been enlightened 

 about the needs and opportunities of 

 membership in the Farm Bureau move- 

 ment of the state. 



"The auditors' report, which will be 

 presiented by the treasurer, discloses 

 that the income of the association was 

 larger during 1930 than in any of re- 

 cent years, and although the program 

 of the Association has been greatly ex- 

 panded, it has been carried on well, 

 within the Association's income. 



No Imimediate Expansion 



"Looking to the future, I do not 

 hesitate to recommend that there be no 

 further expansion in the Association's 

 program during 1931. I believe that 

 the full time and attention of the Asso- 

 ciation should be given to strengthen- 

 ing activities now embodied in the pro- 

 gram. In making this recommendation, 

 I do not underestimate the value and 

 merit of many suggestions that are com- 

 ing forward, which call for further ex- 

 pansion and development, but I cannot 

 be unmindful of the fact that the pres- 

 ent manpower of the Jllinois Agricul- 

 tural Association and associated com- 

 panies does not justify increasing pres- 

 ent responsibilities. 



Develop Personnel 



"Attention should be given to pro- 

 viding and developing understudies to 

 those who are carrying some of the 

 chief responsibilities of the institution. 

 This is a safeguard that should never 

 be overlooked by successful business 

 enterprises. Further expansion should 

 be held in abeyance, pending substan- 

 tial increase of membership and result- 

 ant increased income, and until such 

 time as the many projects now under 

 way are all well established. • 



L^Salle's Reco^jd 



The story about LaSalle County 

 Farm Supply Co.'s distribution of pat- 

 ronage refunds published in the Janu- 

 ary RECORD should have stated that 

 908 of the 1,243 Farm Bureau mem- 

 bers in the county (73%) received 

 patronage refund checks, writes Mana- 

 ger M. H. Comisky. 



A total of $29,3 50.87 was returned 

 to stockholders in the form of pre- 

 ferred stock dividends and patronage 

 refunds. . . 



Delegate Representaticwi 



The number of I. A. A. members 

 within a county in good standing on 

 the last day of the calendar month next 

 preceding the day of any annual or 

 special meeting of members of the As- 

 sociation has been fixed as the day for 

 determining the representation each 

 county is entitled to at the annual or 

 special meeting next succeeding such 



dayr; 7~^^ : TT 



A resolution to this effect was passed 

 by the I. A. A.< Board of Directors at 

 its January meeting. Each organized 

 county is entitled to at least one dele- 

 gate, and additional delegates for each 

 500 members or major fraction thereof. 



