983 
The N. Y. Federation of Agriculture 
What Causes Opposition to It ? 
AX I^rrORTAXT RESOLI’TIOX.—At the meetin,!? 
of the Dairymen's Leafxne, in T'tioa last December, 
some farmer yet unknown to ns presented the fol- 
lowin" resolution: 
WnKREAS. The last Legislature of our State failed 
to pass laws favorable to Dairymen's League interest, 
and that much of the present trouble will have to be 
charged to the members of that body who failed to 
meet farmers’ wishes by not favoring such laws as they 
thought necessary for the future of their work. 
Whereas, The creation of the State Food Commis¬ 
sion consisting of three members and the Farm and 
Market Commission consisting of ten members ap¬ 
pointed by Gov. Whitman, not one of whom is interested 
directly in agriculture, is a direct insult to the farmers 
of the State and deserves a marked rebuke. 
Therefore. RESOLVEn, That the Dairymen’s League 
in annual session favor a non-partisan party in onr 
State that will place the Legislature and executive 
branches of our State Government in favor of giving 
the interests of agriculture due consideration. 
It was passed by a whoop from all over the house. 
There was no negative vote. 
A START IX ORGAXIZATIOX.—About that time 
a small conference of some of the progressive farmers 
of the State was called in Xew York City to con¬ 
sider the suggestion to elect 50 farmei’s to the 
Xew York I.egislature. In the meantime Mr. A. C. 
Townley, who successfully organized the farmers of 
Xorth Dakota two years ago, came to X'ew York for 
the purpose of telling the Eastern people of the 
Xorth Dakota movement. He came with the ap- 
l-roval of the Federal and State Administration, and 
spoke in Cooper L'nion in the city of Xew York. 
IMr. Townley chose the evening of the farmers’ con¬ 
ference, that Xew York farmers maj’ know what 
their fellow farmers of the West were suffering and 
doing to protect themselves. Being a successful 
organizer for farmers, Mr. Townley was invited to 
the farmers’ conference. He came in for a few 
minutes and spoke briefly of the Xorth Dakota 
movement; but had no voice in its deliberations. 
He did not come to Xew York to organize any move¬ 
ment here. He plainly said so, and had no influence 
on the conference one way or another. Xeither did 
be attempt any. No one wanted to establish a non¬ 
partisan league on the Dakota plan, and no one 
attempted to do so. The records of the meeting 
prove it, and evei*y one of nearly a hundred of the 
most reliable farmers of the State know it. xVll of 
these facts are susceptible of easy proof, and we 
offer to pay the expense of any interested person 
who would care to look up the record and report the 
facts. 
A MANUFACTURED STORY.—On this record 
the political trust interests manufactured a story 
which for subterfuge, intri.gue and misrepresenta¬ 
tion would be hard to surpas.s. First we are asked 
to believe that the farmers of North Dakota who 
were the first to exceed their quota of Liberty bonds, 
and whose sons are in the trenches of Europe, are 
seditious; and that their organization is dislojml. 
Then we are told that an attempt was made to in- 
1 reduce it here; but the heroic and patriotic stand 
of the officers of the Dairymen’s League and the 
Grange kept it out of New York State. After this 
burst of eloquence we are cautioned that the prin¬ 
ciples of the Federation of Agriculture look simple 
enough, but they may be abused; and as the man 
who organized it wanted a non-partisan league, they 
must be disloyal, too. Anyway, the officers of the 
Federation cannot accept political office; .Tohn J. 
Dillon is not an officer of the Federation, hence'he 
wants to be Governor. 
THE MATTER OF LOYALTY.—One thing about 
the ToAvnley meeting in New York they carefully 
suppress, because it would destroy the whole story. 
.Tohn Mitchell, Avho holds three commissions from 
Governor Whitman, presided at the meeting. If 
Mr. Townley and his organization was disloyal, why 
did John Mitchell give him the administration sanc¬ 
tion and encouragement in New York State? In 
opening the meeting Mr. Mitchell said he had three 
sons in the army and then distinctly stated: “You 
may he sure that if this ^oere a disloyal meeting I 
never ivould he here!'" 
MILK INTERESTS.—Of course, the conspirators 
knew that this story alone would not go very far. 
They had to have a setting for it. For two years 
the milk trust has tried to secure official sanction 
of a complete monopoly of milk in New Yoiic City. 
They blame The R. N.-Y. for the defeat of the first 
Wicks l)ill which gave it to them. They have said 
that they feared no other opposition. Now they are 
trying to work the same scheme by another angle 
through a 25-year exclusive contract with the 
League. The R. N.-Y.’s oppo.sition to this and its 
criticism of the surplus rebate agreement furnished 
the text for the charge that Mr. Dillon and The R. 
N.-Y. were opposed to farm organizations, and, if 
■Uhe* RURAL N E W-Y O R K E R 
no one believed it, the story would cause oonfusion 
anyway. ,^nd occupy the minds of farmers who 
otherwise might be thinking of real grievances. 
SUPPRESSING DISCUSSION—The.se things ex- 
]']ain why the politicians and officeholders are ti’ying 
so hard to sit on the lid and pi'cvent talk or dis¬ 
cussion of the Federation of Agriculture. They go 
about to fai*m meetings and talk like wise owls 
against the Federation. Xo one shows any interest 
or enthusiasm in what they say, hut let some one 
get up and merely say “50 farmers in the Yea? York 
Legislature" and yoii can hear that crowd a mile 
away! 
Newspaper Help For Farmers 
In contrast with the attitude of the Rochester 
Herald, which is attempting to foster the belief 
already held by too many city con.sumers that the 
present high prices for food are due to farmer 
profiteering, is that of the Binghamton Repuhliean- 
Hcrald. This city daily, published in the great ?ius- 
nuehanna G alley of southern Central Xew York, is 
wise enough to recognize that the actual conditions 
upon the farms of its section should be made known 
to its city readers, and that nothing can be gained 
by arousing a feeling of resentment among con¬ 
sumers against those upon whom they are dependent 
for food and clothing. The following edititorial 
expresses well the attitude which this journal take.s 
toward the greatest of American industries, and is 
one instance of frank expression of bald truth which 
does not bear the stamp of an offort to array con¬ 
sumer against producer in the interest of those who 
take large toll from both and who do not desire to 
see them brought closer together; 
The Farmer’s Poor Reward 
The farmer has few enough men to take up the 
cudgels for him. Most city dwellers are indifferent as 
to whether or not he receives a fair return for his 
work and investment. Y'et this is basic. The farmer 
feeds and for the most part clothes all the people, 
whether they live in city or country. As a reward for 
this fundamental service he gains, for the most part, a 
bare existence. The average small farmer around these 
parts does more hard -work for less money than almost 
any of the persons who live off what he produces. 
AgriculUire, which is the most important of Amer¬ 
ican industries, ought to be made also one of the most 
attractive. Especially during the war, when success 
or failure partly depends upon the stimulation of farm 
production, is this important. 
As Theodore Roosevelt says: “The welfare of the 
farmer stands as the bedrock welfare of the entire 
Commonwealth. Hitherto he has not received the full 
share of industrial reward and benefit to which he is 
entitled. He can receive it only as the result of organi¬ 
zation and co-operation. Along certain lines the gov¬ 
ernment must itself co-operate with him; but normally 
most can be accomplished by co-operation among the 
farmers themselves, in marketing their products, in 
buying certain things which they particularly need, and 
in joint action along many lines. The State can wisely 
supplement such work of co-operation, but most of such 
work it cannot with wisdom itself undertake.” 
It is good to find at least one public man who under¬ 
stands the importance of this problem and who has 
some ideas about a remedy for the situation. 
The Non-partisan League in North Dakota 
[Many readers have asked us about this League and 
its present condition. The Eastern papers h.ave con¬ 
tained many abuswe and sneering remarks about the 
organization. We have asked some of our readers in 
Xorth Dakot.a to give us the facts, and the following, 
from .Tudge .1. A. Coffey is, we think, a fair state¬ 
ment.] : 
At the primaries held on .Tune 20 the League was 
entirely successful in nominating its entire State ticket, 
and all three of the congressmen representing this 
State. They claim, with some show of success, that 
they will be able toi elect all of their men this Fall. 
That remains to be seen, but the chances are strongly 
in their favor. 
The farmers of the State are behind the League pro¬ 
gram. Perhaps not to the full extent advocated by 
some of the League leaders; in all movements there 
are some more radical than the others. In all pai'ties 
that is the case, and has been the case. When they 
get right down to business and find a program that a 
majority can agree upon it is not genei’ally as radical 
as advocated by some of the most radical leaders. The 
same thing will be true in regard to the Non-partisan 
League. 
The farmers of the State are in favor of terminal 
elevators within their own State, and in connection 
with these elevators they want flour mills to manu¬ 
facture the wheat into flour, thus preparing it for the 
markets, keeping the shorts, bran, etc., within the 
State for use in stock raising. 
The farmers want their own packing plants within 
this State. They do not believe they get a square 
deal shipping to the big packers. 
The farmers are in favor of a hail insurance law 
similar to the Canadian law. I believe upon these 
propositions the farmers are well agreed and that they 
will stick until they have gained their purpose in these 
respects, and perhaps upon some other grounds. 
The farmers’ movement starteil before the League 
was organized. Some 80 per cent of the voters of the 
State had upon two or three occasions asked for appro¬ 
priations for the purpose of investigating the terminal 
elevator. Governor Hanna camouflaged the issue and 
the people got nothing. Their will in this respect had 
been thwarted ; they were told to “go home and slop 
the hogs.” ’riiey felt insulted, and they went at this 
matter rather seriously and determined at least that 
their will, when it was cle.arly expressed, he at least 
given some attention, and recognition, claiming that as 
•a representative government, they should have a voice 
in their own affairs. 
Political enemies of the League charge disloyalty. 
The farmers of this State have shown by the responses 
they h.ave made to the calls of the Government, the Red 
Cross, the Y. M. C. A., Knights of Columbus, Salvation 
Army, etc., that they are loyal through and through ; 
and they are. j. coffey. 
Up-State Farm Notes 
GRANGE EXCHANGE ORGANIZING.-The New 
York State Grange Exchange, organized last Winter 
with a capital stock of .$100,000, is arranging to begin 
active business soon. The directors will meet in Syra¬ 
cuse August 21 to perfect working plans and to engage 
a manager. The latter, it is expected, will be an Onon¬ 
daga County man. The new farmers’ buying and selling 
agency will be State-wide in scope, with headquarters in 
Syracuse. W. N. Giles, secretary of State Grange, an- 
iKunces that the new exchange will do a million-dollar- 
a-year business. It has the backing of the full membership 
of the State Grange and the Food and Markets Division 
of the State Department of Agriculture has promised 
its support. Dairymen will buy their commodities 
through loc.al agencies of the organization, all orders to 
be placed at the Syracuse office. Information, including 
weekly market quotations, will be disseminated by a 
bureau for this purpose. Other bureaus will instruct 
producers concerning freight rates, routes, etc., and will 
handle grievances for shippers. The first business will 
have to do with feed, fuel, fertilizers, etc., with materials 
bought^ in carload and gross lots. Later on smaller or¬ 
ders. will be cared for, and all articles used on the farm 
will be purchased by the agencies. Farmers will expect 
much help from the new organization, and it is hoped 
it may be in working order in time to help the sale of 
Fall crops. 
FRUIT EVAPORATORS TO HAVE COAL.—The 
New York State Fruit Evaporators’ Association, aroused 
by the Fuel Administration’s rulings on coal for evapo¬ 
rators, has sent representatives to Washington, backed 
by Charles E. Treman, State Food Administrator. For¬ 
mal request was made for 74,000 tons of anthracite 
coal, and now word has been received that 70.000 tons 
has been granted to the apple men. If necessary to 
supplement this 10,000 tons of coke can be had for 
evaporating purposes. A big sea.son is expeced in this 
line, as the price of apple barrels is so high many apples 
will go to the driers. The State maple sugar makers 
may need to apply for a similar grant of coal if the 
usu.al supply of maple products is to be made next 
Spring. 
COOPERAGE STOCKS LIMITED.—The Food Ad¬ 
ministration is urging Western New York apple growers 
to place their orders for barrels at once, so that coopers 
may be busy, half to be delivered early, half later in the 
.sea.son. Staves are .$17 per 1,000; he.ading, 17c set; 
hoops, 5 ft. 0 in. size, .$22.50 per 1,000; 6 ft. size, .$2.5. 
This makes the materials per barrel 57.8e per .set, f. o. b. 
mills. They are being sold at State points at 8.5o each. 
_ NE'W CANNERY RECORDS.—Central and Westeni 
New York canneries are all making new records on the 
1018 pack. Enormous crops of fruits and vegetables, 
with a read.v market waiting all the time for the goods 
for Government use. make ideal conditions for big packs. 
The problem now is to secure sufficient cans. Many 
factories run both day and night for peas continuously 
since early .Tune. The record yield of peas so far was 
made by Floy Carr and Son of Holly, who delivered to 
the Ilud.son Canning Co. 5,870 lbs. of shelled peas from 
one acre of land. Cortland growers secured around 
4,800 lbs. in special cases per acre, one farm having 05 
acres. At 4e a pound this makes a highly profitable 
crop. Inoculation of seed secured finest results and 
some canneries have announced that next year they will 
place seed only with those farmers who will agree to 
inoculate it. 
CHEESE PRICE UP.—The Watertown and Gou- 
verneur Dairy Boards sold chee.se at 24% and 24%c 
on Saturday, the highest prices of the year. The cool 
weather of last week permitted a better grade of cheese. 
One year ago the sales were much larger in quantities 
and the prices were around 20%c. 
TOBACCO A TOP NOTCHER.—Baldwinsville far¬ 
mers report a record tobacco crop. Their only fears for 
the crop now are hail and early frosts, either of which 
would cost them thousands of dollars. Buyers are visit¬ 
ing the growers, offering 40c a pound, most farmers 
being reluctant to sell at that figure so early. 
POTATO SEED DESIRABLE.—Parties of Long 
Island potato growers visited Cortland County potato 
fields recently and pronounced them the finest of any 
seen en route from their homes. Much seed at fancy 
prices will result to these growers, because of extra care 
in the prevention of disease and careful seed selection. 
WOMEN FARM WORKERS GET BRASSARDS.- 
—Girls in the land army of Central Xew York, with 
Miss Pansy Stone as director, will be issued insignia 
indicating the service they are performing to the State. 
These will be in the form of a brassard bearing the 
coat-of-arms of New York State. Each girl must have 
served at least three weeks at agricultural work to 
secure one. Throughout the country the land army 
girls are giving satisfactory service. Several were 
asked to demonstrate tractors at the big tractor demon¬ 
stration on Saturday, as proof that a woman-driven 
machine can do the work of three men and three teams 
of horses. 
‘ ANOTHER SMALL ADVANCE IN CHEESE.- 
Cheese prices advanced %c this week over last week’s 
prices. The Gouverneur Dairy Board sold 2,9.31 boxes, 
made by 38 factories, at 24e. Last year at this time 
the price was 20%c. Other dairy boards sold as fol¬ 
lows : Watertown, 8,331 boxes, at 24c; Canton, forty 
factories registered 2,761 boxes at 24%c: Brockville, 
22140 Cuba and Salamanca, 25e; New York, 25 to 
25%c. 
THE BEAN ACREAGE in Yates, Genesee and Or¬ 
leans Counties, where the largest acreage is usually 
grown, has decreased from 108 per cent last year to 85 
per cent this year; cabbage acreage 85 per cent, as com¬ 
pared to 107 per cent. For the State as a whole the 
bean average is only 69 per cent, as compared to 140 
per cent last year. Potatoes have dropped from last 
season’s average of 124 per cent to 89 per cent. The 
State promises a production of almost 7,000,000 barrels 
of apples, or 42,000 cars, as compared to 14,800 cars 
last year. The Hudson Valley crop is estimated at 5.160 
cars, with 7,710 cars last year; Western New York 
.33,125 cars, as compared to 7.000 cars last year. The 
State as a whole promises 283 per cent of last year’s 
commercial crop of apples, while Western and Central 
New York has 480 per cent of last year’s crop. 
M. G. F. 
/ 
