sembly for use on township and road 

 district roads constitutes the first allo- 

 cation of state funds for these farm-to- 

 highway roads. These state funds must 

 be expended in the manner that will 

 secure the maximum mileage of service- 

 able all-weather roads. The standards 

 of design and specifications for these 

 roads must be held to a minimum. They 

 cannot be the standards of design and 

 specifications required for state and 

 county roads which carry heavy tr;iffic 

 at high speeds. 



We urge the Association to use every 

 proper influence in endeavoring to have 

 State requirements for these roads held 

 to the minimum. Standards or design 

 and specifications for these roads should 

 he left largely to the discretion of the 

 several county superintendents of high- 

 ways and local road comissioners who 

 are familiar with local conditions and 

 needs. We request the Division of 

 Highways to undertake experimental 

 work to determine the types of con- 

 struction and specifications for farm-to- 

 highway roads which are most economi- 

 cal and practicable. 



We further request the Board of Di- 

 rectors to develop and sponsor methods 

 and plans for obtaining continued as- 

 sistance from state funds for the con 

 struction and improvement of these 

 farm-to-highway roads. 



Some changes in the organization and 

 administration of our road system may 

 be necessary in order to obtain the 

 maximum benefits from the money pro- 

 vided for roads. We request th^ Asso- 

 ciation to give attention and study to 

 this problem. 



X. PROPERTY ASSESSMENT 



Legislation effective January 1, 1946, 

 providing for the assessment of prop- 

 erty in each county at an average of 

 100% of its full fair cash value already 

 is resulting in confusion and misunder- 

 standing and undoubtedly will lead to 

 much litigation. A few governmental 

 units will not receive sufficient funds. 

 In the majority of instances, over a 

 period of years, there will be substan- 

 tial increases in taxing power. Bond- 

 ing power has been greatly increased. 

 State controls over tax levies are ren- 

 dered much less effective and respon- 

 sibility for local tax levies is placed 

 squarely upon local officials. It is im- 

 portant that Farm Bureaus be on guard 

 to protect the interests of their mem- 

 bers. The law provides that the max- 

 imum rates to be levied in any govern- 

 mental unit may be established at 

 higher or lower levels by referendum. 

 This provision affords taxpayers an op- 

 portunity to control local tax levies. 



We urge that each County Farm Bu- 

 reau establish a tax committee which 



will keep informed concerning local 

 conditions, needs and practices and ad- 

 vise its membership and the public in 

 order that local tax levies may be held 

 to the amounts reasonably necessary. 



XI. SCHOOL SURVEYS 



The Association is pledged to .issist 

 local committees in studying and solv- 

 ing their local school problems. There 

 is wide-spread interest in and support 

 for improvement of our schools. Of- 

 ficial county school survey committees 

 have been established in many counties. 

 These committees have an opportunity 

 to blueprint school reorganization and 

 to devdop plans for the improvement 

 and strengthening of our school system. 

 The Association should give all feasible 

 assistance to these committees. 



We urge the County Farm Bureaus 

 in the counties where school survey 

 committees have been established to 

 take an active interest in the work of 

 these committees, to make suggestions 

 for the improvement of local schools 

 and to assist the survey committees in 

 working out a constructive long-range 

 program for the improvement of the 

 school systems of their respective coun- 

 ties. 



XII. EDUCATION IN COOPERA- 

 TION AND FARM OR- 

 GANIZATION 



We believe that the education of all 

 citizens should include instruction in 

 the fundamentals of rural life. Pub- 

 licly supp>orted educational institutions, 

 and especially those responsible for the 

 training of future rural citizens, should 

 give much more attention to the in- 

 struction of students in the principles 

 of cooperation and rural organizations. 

 Such instruction should be begun in the 

 elementary schools and continued 

 through high school. Students in Vo- 

 cational Agriculture classes should re- 

 ceive thorough instruction in the fun- 

 damentals of cooperation and in the 

 purposes and methods of rural organi- 

 zations as well as instruction in crop 

 and livestock production. 



We believe that all teachers in rural 

 elementary and high schools should 

 have as a part of their qualifications 

 for teaching, at least one course in rural 

 life. Teachers of Vocational Agricul- 

 ture, Agricultural Extension workers 

 and all agricultural college graduates 

 should be required to have completed 

 courses in cooperation and rural organi- 

 zations. We request the appropriate 

 authorities of the State of Illinois, of 

 the University of Illinois, of the other 

 teacher training institutions, and of all 

 rural elementary and high schools of 

 the state to give this subject their care- 

 ful consideration. 



In order to create greater interest in 

 education for services in rural areas, 

 we ask college authorities to call to the 

 attention of veterans and other stu- 

 dents, the opportunities available to 

 dependable and well-trained young men 

 in the field of agricultural cooperation. 

 We also call upon the managers and 

 directors of farmers' cooperatives and 

 other farm organizations throughout 

 the State to bring to the attention of 

 veterans and agriculture students the 

 opportunities available in their respec- 

 tive organizations. 



XIII. HEALTH AND MEDICAL 

 CARE 



Many proposals have been made 

 dealing with the problems of rural 

 health, medical care and hospital facil- 

 ities. Some of these proposals have 

 been very constructive, while others 

 have gone so- far as to advocate social- 

 ized medicine. 



We express our uncomprising oppo- 

 sition to any laws or policies directed 

 toward the socialization of medicine. ' 



We will support in every reasonable 

 way sound plans for the extension of 

 hospital facilities and medical care to 

 the end that the people of all areas 

 may have access to greatly improved 

 health services. 



THE UNFINISHED TASK 



In a little more than a quarter of a 

 century the Illinois Agricultural Asso- 

 ciation has grown to be one of the 

 largest of the state farm organizations. 

 Today a very high percentage of agri- 

 cultural producers within Illinois are its 

 members. Upon the horizon can be 

 seen ^the limitation to further substan- 

 tial membership increase. The organi- 

 zation has reached an early stage of 

 maturity. The well laid policies of its 

 founders and early leaders have ripened 

 into wisdom. Emphasis has shifted 

 gradually and almost imperceptibly 

 from promotion to stewardship and 

 service. 



The job is far from complete. On 

 the contrary, the farmers of Illinois 

 today are faced with larger responsi- 

 bilities. New problems and new service 

 demands require of the organization a 

 greater versatility, a greater energy and 

 a greater ability. We must consolidate 

 our gains and revitalize our democratic 

 processes within our organization. 

 From the rank and file must rise new 

 leaders. Their qualities of leadership 

 must be enhanced through an aroused 

 membership consciousness at all levels 

 of our organized agriculture. 



This respKjnsibilitv within our ranks 

 is of the essence of the responsibility 

 that lies with all groups and all peoples 

 if, under God, the world is to know 

 Christian principle and Christian peace. 



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L A. A. RECORD 



