HD 14-84 A4- '-%r & 8Cw TiL* S *&" V |e sy Cornell University Library The original of this book is in the Cornell University Library. There are no known copyright restrictions in the United States on the use of the text. http://www.archive.org/details/cu31924013716406 FARM ORGANIZATIONS HEARINGS BEFORE THE COMMITTEE ON BANKING AND CURRENCY OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 1, 1921 STATEMENTS BY Messrs. CHARLES A. LYMAN, JOHN A. MeSPARRAN, L. B. JACKSON, GRAY SILVER, E. L. HARRI- SON, and MILO D. CAMPBELL. WASHINGTON GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE -32428 1921 COMMITTEE ON BANKING AND CURRENCY. House of Representatives. SIXTY-SIXTH CONGRESS, THIRD SESSION. LOUIS T. McFADDEN, POETER H. DALE, Vermont. roscoe c. Mcculloch, Ohio. EDWARD J. KING, Illinois. FRANK D. SCOTT, Michigan. ADOLPHUS P. NELSON, Wisconsin. JAMES G. STRONG, Kansas. L. S. ECHOLS, West Virginia. EDWARD S. BROOKS, Pennsylvania. WILLIAM H. HILL, New York. ROBERT LUCE, Massachusetts. CLARK BURDICK, Rhode Island. Pennsylvania, Chairman. MICHAEL F. PHELAN, Massachusetts. JOE H. EAGLE, Texas. OTIS WINGO, Arkansas. HENRY B. STEAGALL, Alabama. JAMES A. HAMILL, New Jersey. AUGUSTINE LONERGAN, Connecticut CHARLES H. BRAND, Georgia. W. F. STEVENSON, South Carolina. Feedeeio H. Blackfobd, Clerk. FAKM ORGANIZATIONS. Committee on Banking and Currency, House or Representatives, Tuesday, February 1, 1921. The committee met at 10.30 o'clock a. m., Hon. Louis T. McFadden (chairman) presiding. STATEMENT OF ME. CHARLES A. LYMAN, SECRETARY OF THE NATIONAL BOAR© OF FARM ORGANIZATION, WASH- INGTON, D. C. The Chairman. Give your name and state your official connection. Mr. Lyman. Charles A. Lyman. For over two years I have been secretary of the National Board of Farm Organization, located at 1731 I Street NW. The organization was formed in the summer of 1917 by a number of farmers' self-help organizations. These organizations have been in existence for a good many years. In the spring of 1917, about the time that Mr. Hoover came to this country to take charge of what became known as the National Food Administration, a great many people came to Washington. It was to meet this situation that farm leaders came to the National Capital and they met in the various conferences before the war emergency boards, and out of the various meetings they decided it was advisable and necessary to form a national union, a clearing house, for then - organizations so that they might have representation. The board was called the Federal Board of Farm Organizations for the first year or so, and later the name was changed to National Board of Farm Organizations. The board has been in existence now for nearly four years and has put out a great deal of printed and mimeographed material to its general mailing list, so that it is not very hard to know what the board has been doing and what its purposes are. I have here a copy of what was called "The farmers-win- the-war program," being the offi- cial compilation of the membership, program, and resolutions of the convention held under the auspices of the National Board of Farm Organizations in Washington, D. O, August 27, 28, and 29, 1918. This contains a copy of the constitution and by-laws of the National Board of Farm Organizations. The objects are given as follows: 1. To unite the farm organizations of the United States for all purposes upon which they may agree, lea\ing each free to take or not to take as an individual organization any action or position upon any question wherein it does not agree with the others. 2. To afford a ready means of giving voice and weight to the views of the farmers in national affairs. 3. To promote the interests of the farm families of America, to conserve and increase the influence of those who feed and clothe the people, and to further a national recog- nition of the power and position of the farmer in national life. 4. To increase the value of the ser vice of the farmer to the Nation, and of the Nation to the farmer. 4 FARM ORGANIZATIONS. The constitution shows the manner of holding meetings, who the officers shall be, the membership eligible, duties of the general board, the officers and employees, and method of financing. There were ten farm organizations which subscribed to this consti- tution and by-laws when the board was organized in 1917. The Chairman. Can you name those organizations* Mr. Lyman. Farmers' Educational and Cooperative Union of America; Farmers' National Congress; National Agricultural Organi- zation Society: National Conference on Marketing and Farm Credits; National Council of Farmers' Cooperative Associations; National Dairy I nion; Pennsylvania Rural Progress Association; National Milk Producers' Federation: Federation of Jewish Farmers of America, and Farmers' Society of Equity. Those were the original ten and, at the present time, there are, I believe, five or six other organizations which have united. I think in the order in which they have joined they are the Wisconsin Society of Equit§: next the Farmers' Equity Lnion '[the national equity organizational next the American Society of Equity and, last, the Florida Citrus Exchange, and I believe there is one other organization. Mr. Wingo. I would like to have you put in the record the head- quarters of each of these organizations and their chief officers, and their Washington representative, where they have one. The Chairman. Will you do that, Mr. Lyman? Mr. Lyman. Yes, sir ; I will do that. Mr. Wingo. In other words, so that we will have a general outline in the record of all these organizations. The Chairman. That wiil include, also, a list of your affiliated organizations here ? Mr. Wingo. Yes: not only of your affiliated organizations here and the representatives of those affiliated organizations, but give the chief officers of their main organizations ana! the location of them. Mr. Lyman. Yes, sir. I want to say that the men who serve on the general board of the National Board of Farm Organizations are selected by their own member organizations. The officers of the general board, as such have and exercise no authority to name any one to serve or represent a member organization. That is left entirely to the member organization and the selection is made either in annual convention or by their own officers or boards of directors. Each organization, according to a later amendment to the constitu- tion, has the right to select five members to serve on the board. Only two of the organizations have availed themselves of that right. They are the National Farmers' Union and the National Milk Pro- ducers' Federation, which are the largest in membership. These two organizations are national organizations or federations and are organ- ized in a great many States. National Board of Farm Organizations. Officers. — Charles S. Barrett, chairman; Charles A. Lyman, secretary-treasurer. Executive committee. — R. D. Cooper, chairman; Charles S. Barrett, Gifford Pinchot, J. H. Kimble, John A. McSparran. MEMBER ORGANIZATIONS AND THEIR REPRESENTATIVES ON BOARD. Farmers' Educational and Cooperative Union of America (National Farmers' Union): Chas. S. Barrett, national president, Union City, Ga. A. V. Swift, national vice president, Baker, Oreg. Maurice McAuliffe, president Kansas division, Salina, Kans. FARM ORGANIZATIONS. 5 E. L. Harrison, president Kentucky division, Lexington, Ky. R. F. Bower, 1731 1 Street NW., Washington, D. C. Farmers' National Congress: J. H. Kimble, legislative agent, Port Deposit, Md. H. E. Stockbridge, 3 Ormewood Court, Atlanta, Ga. A. P. Sandles, secretary. Hartman Building, Columbus, Ohio. National Agricultural Organization Society: Dr. Chas. McCarthy, director, legislative reference library, Madison, Wis. National Conference on Marketing and Farm Credits: C. W. Holman, secretary, 1731 I Street NW., Washington, D. C. Natipnal Dairy Union, N. P. Hull, president, East Lansing, Mich. Pennsylvania Rural Progress Association: Gifford Pinchot, president, Milford, Pike County, Pa. National Milk Producers' Federation: Milo D. Campbell, president, Coldwater, Mich. R. D. Cooper, president Dairymen's League, 303 Fifth Avenue, New York City. J. D. Miller, vice president Dairymen's League, 303 Fifth Avenue, New York City. Richard Pattee, manager New England Milk Producers' Association, 51 Cornhill Street, Boston, Mass. W. J. Kittle, secretary Chicago District Milk Producers' Association, Crvstal Lake, 111. Farmers' Society of Equity: E. M. Sweitzer, president, Shippensville, Pa. Federation of Jewish Farmers of America, Benj. C. Stone, secretary, 174 Second Avenue, New York City. American Association for Agricultural Legislation: Dr. Richard T. Ely, secretary, University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wis. Intermountain Farmers' Association: C. G. Pattereon, secretary, 306 Judge Building, Salt Lake City, Utah. Pennsylvania State Grange, John A. McSparran, master, Furniss, Pa. Farmers' Equity Union: C. O. Drayton, president, Greenville, 111. Wisconsin State Union, American Society of Equity: E. C. Pommerening, president, Oshkosh, Wis. S. E. Livingston, vice president, Durand, Wis. Otto F. Rohm, director, Black Creek, Wis. American Society of Equity: Noyes Matteson, president, Clintonville, Wis. A. O. Sampson, secretary-treasurer, Madison, Wis. Florida Citrus Exchange: C. E. Stewart, manager, Tampa, Fla. Mr. Brand. You might answer now what is the combined member- ship of ail the organizations— the aggregate membership of the combined organizations. Mr. Lyman. The combined membership is approximately, so far as I know, about a million and a half active membership and with a dormant membership much larger than that. Mr. King. What do you mean by dormant membership ? Mr. Lyman. For instance, the Equity Societies undoubtedly have initiated 150,000 and possibly 200,000 members out through the Equity territory. At the present time, for various reasons, they do not number that many. However, in all questions affecting agri- cultural cooperation that membership can usually be counted on. Mr. King. Is the dormant membership a paying membership ? Mr. Lyman. No, it is not a paying membership at the present time. Many of the members of self-help organizations, and this applies to members in our board, after they have carried on their educational work, organize themselves into community groups, local warehouse companies, grain marketing companies, cooperative creameries, and so on, and then the membership, very foolishly I think, drop out of the parent organization; they do not maintain their dues, but they become active working members of local cooperative activities. Mr. King. Do they respond to suggestions in legislative matters? Mr. Lyman. My experience has been that in practically all the O FARM ORGANIZATIONS. matters in connection with collective marketing and in insistence representation on boards and commissions, that this membership is very responsive. I have observed frequently that certain organiza- tions wjiich have no direct connection with our board take action perhaps six months or a year later, in indorsing various matters approved by our board. Mr. Kjng. Do these ideas originate here in Washington and go out, or do they originate with the various organizations and come in to Washington ? Mr. Lyman. They are the reflection of the farmers at home inva- riably, "except that as new conditions arise our organization advises its member organizations of what is going on. For instance, if a new rural credit bill is introduced, as one has been introduced lately, our officers at Washington would inform the membership of that par- ticular matter. Then they would go over it in their conventions or in their various offices at home. Mr. Kjxg. When you appear before a committee here to represent 1,500,000 farmers, can you give us an idea how you represent and how you are sure you represent the sentiment of those farmers on this proposition. Mr. Lyman. The reason I feel so confident the board does represent them is because the board itself is composed of the officers of the member organizations, and these men get together from month to month and year to year, and in their discussions and in their various sessions at Washington thoroughly canvass the agricultural situation. For instance, the Farmers' Union men will come to the meetings here in Washington about twice a year. There may be a dozen, 15 or 20 presidents and secretaries of State farmer unions. These men, who clearly represent their membership, tell what they are doing in their own States and what they want done nationally. For instance, if there is discrimination and boycotting on the part, we will say, of coal dealers, they will call that matter to the attention of the organized milkmen who are on the board. The milkmen may possibly say, " While we have not had any trouble with that particular matter, we believe you folks know what you are talking about," and so the whole group gets together with reference to some coal situation. In this Eamphlet there is a resolution on the coal situation which illustrates ow this is done. Mr. Kixg. To what pamphlet do you refer now, for the purpose of the record 1 Mr. Lyman. The farmers-win-the-war program which I referred to in the beginning. There is in it a reference to discrimination in the matter of coal, and the whole group, after the matter had been thoroughly explained, adopted a resolution. Mr. Brand. I want to ask you one question: Has your organiza- tion or any other farmers' organization in the United States been able to handle the coal situation and reduce the price to the consumer? Mr. Lyman. Yes, sir. There is one organization, in affiliation with our board, which has in a certain degree solved the coal question. It was only when the Fuel Administration was formed and what we con- sidered, was a very unwise provision introduced, that the ability of this organization to secure coal in carload lots was impaired. I am talking about the Wisconsin Society of Equity. It is quite interesting FARM ORGANIZATIONS. 7 to know that this organization, through a very able business repre- sentative, was able to get anthracite coal for its local members at a wholesale price, when apparently the great Pennsylvania State Grange, with 83,000 members, has not been able to make that same arrangement in anthracite coal. Mr. McSparran has explained to me why that has not been done. The Chairman. In connection with these organizations which are affiliated with your organization here in Washington, has each one of those organizations a Washington representative ? Mr. Lyman. No; not in all cases. The organizations which have Washington representatives are the National Farmers' Union, the National Milk Producers' Federation, and the Maryland- Virginia Milk Producers' Association, which is an affiliation, by virtue of its mem- bership in the milk federation. I think that is all that have direct representation. The board itself acts as the representative of the other member organizations. The Chairman. Do those organizations have men who come here at interesting intervals when matters of legislation are up in which they are especially interested ''. Do they have men to come here at those times? Mr. Lyman. Yes; they come here quite regularly. Sometimes meetings are called by the executive committee of the general board to consider and meet some unusual situation. The Chairman. Are they regular members of the board or are they special representatives to handle legislative matters ? Mr. Lyman. Well, sometimes it is both. There are something like 20 or 24 members on the board itself, and those men are generally officers or officials of member organizations. Then, in addition to these men who come, a great many of the State officers of subsidiary organizations will come. Sometimes they come df their own accord ; there will be some particular problem which won't be known to the Washington office, which they will bring up for consideration. The Chairman. I did not notice that you mentioned the Dairy- men's League there ; are they affiliated with your organization ? Mr. Lyman. I did not mention the subsidiary organizations of the National Milk Producers' Federation. The Dairymen's League is one of them. The Chairman. It is a subsidiary member? Mr. Lyman. Yes; and it is one of the largest member organiza- tions of the National Milk Federation. The Chairman. Do they have local representatives here all the time? Mr. Lyman. Only through Mr. Warber, who is the manager of the National Milk Producers' Federation. The Chairman. Do they have special representatives who appear here frequently in connection with matters in which they are interested ? Mr. Lyman. Yes, sir. And two members of the Dairymens' League are on our board, Mr. Miller and Mr. Cooper. Mr. Holman has called my attention to the fact that Mr, Campbell, president of the National Milk Producers' Federation, has taken up quarters tem- porarily here for the winter months. During the war period there were a number of people here a good deal of the time. The farm organizations had no representation on the Food Administration. I 8 FARM ORGANIZATIONS. do not know of any bona fide representative of a farm organization who was on the Food Administration; while, on the other nand, the place was thronged with dollar-a-year volunteers who represented the packers, the millers, and processers generally of foods and feeds. They got here first; that is why our organizations came here later on. These men were here when Hoover arrived, and they were in the employ of powerful corporations dealing with foods and feeds. And very pleasant gentlemen they were. They ingratiated them- selves with Mr. Hoover and surrounded him and lived with him at the clubs and so on, and for a long time it took united effort on the part of our board and other cooperative organizations to break down the prejudice which I think Mr. Hoover had for a while against the farm organizations. However, that was overcome toward the end. I believe it is entirely overcome at the present time. Mr. Wingo. That is very gratifying. I thought I was the only man in America who had suspected Mr. Hoover was not a superman. A whole lot of people thought he was some kind of a superman, but I thought he was just an ordinary man of high character and splendid business ability. Mr. Lyman. I am not intending to cast any reflections on Mr. Hoover ; I am only stating facts. Mr. Wingo. I am not casting any reflections on Mr. Hoover, either; I am only suggesting he is an ordinary citizen and not a superman. I have thought all the time he is just like the President, Mr. Hughes, Mr. Harding, and any other man, susceptible to the influences to which human nature subjects the ordinary man. And it is very gratifying to me to see you think the same as I do, because I have been criticized and accused of lese majesty by some of these people who thought he was a sort of superman. Mr. Stevenson. - I would like to ask if there is any particular legislation now contemplated to which these hearings are directed ? The Chairman. I will answer that in this way: We got into this matter rather innocently during the hearing that was given to Mr. Marsh, representing the Farmers' National Council. When questioned regarding the financing of their organization, Mr. Marsh said he would be very glad to answer them if the same questions were pro- pounded to other similar farm organizations, and that seemed to have precipitated a situation in which many of these organizations wanted to be heard. And the chairman of the committee has been in receipt of many inquiries as to when the hearings were going to be held and different ones wanting to be heard. As a result of these inquiries and the general feeling on the part of the committee to hear whatever these gentleman had in mind to say to this committee we have continued these hearings, and there are certain things developing here which may be used as the basis of legislation. Mr. Stevenson. The only reason I was -asking, I just wanted to get in mind whether there was anything definite to which the testi- mony was directed. The Chairman. Up to this time, it is a very general proposition. Mr. Stevenson. I would like to ask a question or two, then, if we are on a fishing expedition. The Chairman. I might enlighten you further by saying I have here a copy of the Prairie Farmer, under date of January 22, 1921, dated at Washington, and which seems to be a special article to the FARM ORGANIZATIONS. 9 Prairie Farmer evidently from a correspondent here in Washington who sizes up these hearings in a rather erroneous manner. The reason I am calling it to the attention of the committee at this time is to correct this erroneous impression. It is headed "Investigating the farmers," and reads: What he calls the farmers ' lobby is to be investigated by Congressman McFadden, chairman of the House Committee on Banking and Currency. He is preparing, it is said, to call the Washington representatives of all the farm organizations before him and make them show the sources of their revenue and authority. This will be easy for the farmers' organizations here out in the open because they are a new kind of lobby that tells its whole story bo the world may know. I want to say I have never called these organizations lobbies. I do not think I have mentioned the word until I read it here. It is evidently an attempt on the part of somebody to make this appear as an investigation of lobbies. No doubt it has been brought about by the agitation perhaps at the other end of the Capitol, where Senator Kenyon has introduced a bill to cover the question of lobbies here. And I have no doubt that perhaps this writer has confused these two things. Then the article says further: Mr. McFadden is interested because he wants to cut off the tax-exemption feature and thus disable the Federal land bank system, and the farmers ' organizations have opposed him. It will be interesting if he will also call the lobbyists who want the land banks killed, and who appear for other private interests and make them tell who pays them and who they represent. Now, that is an insinuation that is entirely unfounded. I think the gentlemen on this committee here know and I want these farm- organizations here to know and to understand I am not opposed to the farm-loan system, nor is this committee. In fact, we are expect- ing at a very early date, as soon as the Supreme Court decides the question, as to the constitutionality of the farm-loan act, that legis- lation perfecting that act will be taken up and considered by this committee with the idea of perfecting the farm-loan act, and making it the useful agency of the farmers it was originally intended to be. And no one is more sincere in that proposition than the chairman of this committee and I know the members of this committee all feel they want to make that farm-loan system do the things the farmer expects and has a right to expect it will do. And I want to say to you when that time comes, this committee will consider that and we hope to perfect the system so that it will be workable. In addition to that, I want to say to the committee that while the present system provides long-time credits, it is the hope of the chairman, at least, and I know of many of the members of this committee, that there will 'be considered and worked out a plan of short-time rural credits. It is a matter uppermost in our minds, and I want the farmers organizations to understand we want to work out a proper system of credits for the farming community. We are c-incere in that, and any allusion such as this is entirely erroneous and I hope in the interest of getting a fair solution of this rural credit problem this committee may have the cooperation of these farm organizations in giving us their views, so this thing can be solved properly. Mr. Brand. I may add there if these newspaper reporters would direct their activities against the Supreme Court of the United States and make it decide that case, they would render a great service to the country. 10 FARM ORGANIZATIONS. The Chairman. It is a very unfortunate thing the Supreme Court has taken so long to decide, because the situation is critical. Mr. Wingo. Would you permit me, in view of your suggestion there: I think possibly it might be unfortunate if the impression should get out that the committee resents the conclusion that some people have drawn, especially some farm organizations, that we are going after lobbyists. There is a very widespread opinion in the country that every one who appears at Washington in behalf of any legislation, whether they come from good motives or bad motives, are lobbyists, and all persons and all classes and all organizations who have been denied what they want from Congress generally unite in their campaign of making the American people believe Congress is divided into two classes — damn fools and crooks — and the favorite cartoon is to picture a lobbyist, a very fat, pompous gentleman, sitting on the dome of the Capitol. There is one of them going the rounds now. I think it is very unfortunate these patriotic repre- sentatives of the farm organizations should even by their own papers fall in the category of the evil-minded men who are leading Members of Congress around like children, according to propaganda. We are as much to blame as anybody else, because every now and then some howling coyote from the tall timber or short grass breaks into Con- gress and advertises his claim that he is the only honest man in Congress. And after all we ought to exercise a little patience here, and not lose faith in the common sense and justice of the American people. Down in my district they think I am honest, but they think possibly the Members from Pennsylvania are not. And that is the saving grace of the whole situation, and the primary purpose of this, I will say to my friend from South Carolina is, it was suggested, as the chairman has stated, we did ask one gentleman what his organization was, how did the committee know what weight to give to his representation, and then that gentleman suggested we inquire of all these other representatives of farm organizations, and it was apparent it might be wise, while we were at it, to get a record of all those activities and who they were representing and how they were getting along. And I think instead of being an antagonistic hearing to these farm organizations, it is one all the wise ones I have talked to welcome; it gives them an opportunity to show they are getting on fine as representatives of their people and they have a right to speak for their organizations. And it will also disclose these organizations are just like Members of Congress, that they honestly differ among themselves, and out of the combined exchange of ideas, it will effect demands for legislation and the public good will be served. I do not think it is a waste of time here; I think it is very valuable. Mr. Stevenson. Mr. Lyman, you referred a minute ago to some- thing about the packers: Is your organization familiar with the packers' bill that is now being pressed before the House ? Mr. Lyman. Yes; I think they are pretty familiar with the whole background of efforts to secure packer-control legislation and they have seen the copies of this recent bill. Mr. Stevenson. I am in entire sympathy with the farmers' end of the business, but I am not informed on that packers' bill. What is the attitude of your people toward the bill? FAKM OKGANIZATIONS. 11 Mr. Lyman. Our board has been reflecting the view point of the member organizations and has consistently gone on record for effective packer control. Mr. Stevenson. You do not know the details of the present legisla- tion; that is, perhaps sufficiently to say whether that is defective or not ? Mr. Lyman. All I can say is the member organizations are working in support of the measure. Mr. Wingo. Another matter that is of pressing interest: Has your organization gone on record with reference to any of those so-called antifuture gambling bills? , ,, Mr. Lyman. The board itself has not met to consider that matter (that has come up in recent weeks), but a number of the officers of member organizations have expressed themselves as absolutely opposed to future trading. Mr. Wingo. What do you regard as proper legislation to stop that ? I have found some men who make the statement you do and come along and ask me to support a bill that would legalize gambling in cotton futures. Mr. Lyman. Now, you are just asking for my personal viewpoint ? Mr. Wingo. No; I would like to know, because it is a pressing froblem. Of course you may not have paid any attention to it, but am just old-fashioned enough to believe gambling is bad whether it is a poker game or selling cotton you have not got. Mr. Lyman. I agree with you. Mr. Wingo. And I believe it is proper to get rid of the whole bunch; but that is not the majority opinion of Members of Congress, and it does not seem to be the majority opinion of the producers of the country. What is the view of your organization, that we should undertake to legalize and restrict it and to say we will allow gambling up to three times the cotton crop as proposed in some pending bills, such as the Capper bill ? Mr. Lyman. That would not be my personal viewpoint. It is true, however, that a great many of the members who actually are in the business of selling their grain through their own local elevators, avail themselves of the hedging privilege. Mr. Wingo. That is the point I want to get at. Mr. Lyman. They avail themselves of the hedging privilege in part; not all of them. I do not know whether 50 per cent of them do (I doubt it) , but there are enough of them who do and who have been lead to believe it is wise and necessary, to make it a little difficult for us now to say just what the viewpoint is. We are working on that now. Mr. Wingo. There is an honest difference of opinion there ? Mr. Lyman. There is a difference of opinion. Mr. Wingo. There are a great many farmers who believe that for the purposes suggested by you — take the cooperative marketing organ- izations, say the wheat growers — they should be given the privilege of hedging. Mr. Lyman. Yes. I confine my statement to the hedging privilege. Mr. Wingo. Evidently they are sincere in that. How much do you think they should be permitted to hedge; three times what they hold, or three times the crop, or what ? 12 FARM ORGANIZATIONS. Mr. Lyman. Personally, I do not think the hedging privilege is worth the candle. Less than 50 per cent, I am satisfied — much less — of the farmers generally avail themselves of the hedging privilege. Mr. Wingo. I do not believe 25 farmers in my district Know what hedging means by personal experience. Mr. Lyman. When you go into the real benefits that accrue under the hedging system, I doubt if it is worth while. I think other ways can be worked out which are better morally and financially. Mr. Wingo What is there to this suggestion, that these men who want to hedge on wheat and cotton, who are actual producers, are thinking more and demanding the hedging privilege more for their own benefit as traders in these commodities than as bona fide pro- ducers Is there anything in that claim ? Mr. Lyman. There might possibly be. My statement with reference to future trading is purely my own personal feeling in the matter, and I can not say what action the board itself will take. I believe that the majority of our membership which is engaged in the handling of grain is very much opposed to the activities of these boards of trade and chambers of commerce, which are undoubtedly gambling in their products. Mr. Wingo. Have you taken up with your organization and have you undertaken to get the voice of the actual dirt farmers in your organization with reference to whether or not it is necessary for Congress to legalize hedging and to try to shut out the rest of the operations ? Mr. Brand. You had better strike out that word "dirt" farmers. Mr. Lyman. We are all dirt farmers in our crowd. Mr. Brand. But that is an offensive term to the farmer. Mr. Wingo. I am a farmer, the same kind of a farmer my friend here is who suggested that to you, and I am serious about it. I am getting down to the man engaged solely in producing wheat and in producing cotton and not interested in marketing or manuafcturing the cotton as a business. What do they think is necessary; do they really understand it and have they undertaken to express what their judgment is with reference to the necessity of having exchanges whereby those who handle that product should be permitted to hedge and to protect themselves on the price of their product? Some farm organizations in my district have indorsed such a bill, yet in the same letters condemn all gambling ? Mr. Lyman. All I can say in answer to that is we are all working on it as conscientiously as we can. Here at the Washington office, that is simply one of the many very important problems. I am not an authority on these questions, Mr. Wingo, and there are men in our organizations much better qualified — men who can speak as experts — and I would welcome their coming to Washington to answer ques- tions such as you are asking. Mr. Wingo. Another question I would like to ask. What informa- tion have you that tends to show that there is any effort on the part of the Agricultural Department to aid in the organization and main- tenance of one of these many farm organizations to the detriment of the other farm organizations. The reason I ask you that, I have a letter which I received from a man, not in my district, but a man for whose character and judgment I have a great deal of respect, and he has suspected that the Agricultural Department, either through some FARM ORGANIZATIONS. 13 responsible official or group of officials, is trying to build up these farmers' bureaus of Mr. Gray Silver's — the American Farm Bureau Federation — that they are trying to build up that organization and that the same group of officials are unfriendly to, say, the Farmers' Union, for instance. Mr. Lyman. Now, Mr. Wingo let me point out to you the difficulty in trying to answer that question, even if I had any views on the matter. Here we are working for various matter s important to agri- culture, the Capper- Volstead bill, the nitrate bill, and many things of that sort. For the most part, we can get along pretty well here at Washington Mr. Wingo. I did not ask you for your opinion, I asked you if you had any views. Mr. Lyman. Of course, through the hopper here we get all sorts of statements. Mr. Wingo. I appreciate your viewpoint, and the writer of (his letter takes practically the same viewpoint. He says: The fact that the bureau has all the earmarks of a Government functioning insti- tution, intended as its activities indicate, to put to route all independent self -supported farm organizations, is sufficient warrant for me to ask why. The Chairman. I will say to the gentleman I have a statement issued by C. B. Smith, Chief of the Office of Extension Work, north and west, United States Department of Agriculture, and the States Relation Service, sent out on December 28, 1920, to all cooperative field agents — that is, to the county agents, home economics, etc. — which covers, I think, some of your questions. Mr. Wingo. Does he undertake to maintain one organization to the detriment of another, or not ? The Chairman. Evidently Mr. Smith is very much interested in the formation of the American Farm Bureau Federation, I judge from the letter. Mr. Wingo. I want to proceed to another point raised in the letter of inquiry to me. The Chairman. I might say to the gentleman further, in connec- tion with that, I think it would be wise for the committee to hear Mr. Smith and also Dr. True, of the Department of Agriculture, at some subsequent meeting, when I think that question of the relations of these various farm organizations and the United States Department of Agriculture can be covered thoroughly by these two men. Mr. Lyman. Mr. Chairman, I wonder if I may just add a few more statements into the record before there are more questions? There are some other people here, I understand, who are going to be heard, and I do not want to take up too much time myself. The Chairman. There are two or three questions I want to pro- pound to you, myself. Mr. Wingo. Before you get to them, there is one other question in this letter. Another thing that this correspondent of mine refers to is a publication which I have before me — I will not mention its name i i the record, but apparently it is a farm paper, because it has farm advertisements in it with reference to pulverized sheep manure, and bjlldog stump pullers and things like that — which seems to think the person boosting this organization is inside the Agricultural 14 FARM ORGANIZATIONS. Department. He also complains about some meetings, that this farm bureau tries to take credit for a lot of work that some other organization did. He says: As an instance of the kind of stuff they put over — a speaker at the short course in Columbia, Mo., last week claimed that the bureau had stock commission houses in Omaha, St. Joe, Kansas City, etc. Most of his audience, of course, not knowing better, believed him, when the truth is these sales houses belong strictly to the Farmers' Union. The bureau was not in existence when they were established. Instances of this kind can be multiplied. You, I believe, say you do not care to go into the question of whether or not the agents of the Agricultural Department have been encouraging this or whether it is just simply the natural jealousies that arise between two organizations? Have you any information now that would back up this suggestion of his that they are making claims and trying to crowd out of the field all but one organization ? Mr. Lyman. I do not know anything about the particular matter you refer to. Of course, the farmers'union has been in existence for 16 or 17 years and everybody knows it has been in the business of cooperative marketing of live stock for a good many years out at those places. I might say we estimate that the actual cooperative busi- ness done by our member organizations is about $2,000,000,000 worth annually. A large part of that, nearly $1,000,000,000 worth, is done by the State farmers' unions in live stock, in grain, etc., and another large part is done by the cooperative milk marketing associa tions which belong to the National Milk Producers' Federation. The equity societies and the Florida Citrus Exchange do a huge busi- ness also. Mr. Wingo. Have you any concrete legislation now pending before this committee of which you wish to urge immediate adoption? Mr. Lyman. I believe not. The Chairman. Now, Mr. Lyman, one thing we are particularly interested in here, to carry out the consistency of our position, is that you state to the committee how your organization is supported; from what sources you derive your money, and we would also like to know what your total expenditures are, and so forth and so on. I will let you state that in your own way; I think you are familiar with about what we want in that connection. Mr. Lyman. Our total receipts from member organizations last year, as near as I can get it from the books (and I might say I did not know I was to appear until late last night), totals $11,566.20. The Chairman. For the year 1920? Mr. Lyman. For the year 1920, and it was given by 15 member or subsidiary organizations. The largest contribution for last year was given by the National Farmers' Union, $3,000, and the second largest was given by the National Milk Producers' Federation, $2,000. Those contributions were made in lump sums ; I think on two occa- sions in each instance. We have some member organizations that sent in $100 a month. The Farmers' Equity Union is one of them. Mr. Wingo. That is for the maintenance of your headquarters here ? Mr. Lyman. Yes, for current expenses, and the maintenance of our headquarters here. We have another organization that has voted to give $100 a month and has sent in $500 in the past year. The Chairman. That is contributed in bulk from the treasury of those member organizations? FARM ORGANIZATIONS. 15 Mr. Lyman. Of these subsidiary organizations. The Chairman. How do they raise their funds ? Mr. Lyman. Most of them raise their funds by annual membership dues. The milk associations, in some cases, are authorized by their membership to deduct a certain percentage on sales before their checks are returned to them. The Chairman. That amount you state there of $11,000 and odd is the total receipts from every source ? Mr. Lyman. Not from every source. In addition to that, we received perhaps $200 in small contributions for bulletin service. We send out reports usually weekly, and some enthusiastic farm leader will hand in a check for $10 or $15, or $25 perhaps in one or two cases, and say " I want you to send the buUetins to our local unions." The Chairman. What would be the outside figure of your total receipts during the year, 1920 ? Mr. Lyman. About $200 for that purpose. And then, in addi- tion to that, we have at the present time a gross income from rentals of our building of over $600 a month, and I estimate that the past year will show a net return of about $2,000 over operating expenses. The Chairman. So that your total income Mr. Lyman. Would be somewhere under $14,000. The ChairmAn. Will you tell us what officers receive salaries and what salary each one receives ? Mr. Lyman. I believe I am the only one who receives a salary. I get $350 a month, and then we have clerks or stenographers who get the usual salaries. The Chairman. There are no other officers, directors, or trustees or attorneys who receive salaries? Do you employ an attorney? Mr. Lyman. No; we have no special attornej 7 . The Chairman. No retained attorney ? Mr. Lyman. The member organizations, some of them, have their own attorneys. Mr. Wingo. Have you any experts ? Mr. Lyman. There are a good many experts in our member organizations. Air. Wingo. I know you have a good many expert farmers in your member organizations, but I mean have you any so-called easy chair kid-glove experts that you keep on your pay roll ? Mr. Lyman. No; not on our pay roll. The interest of the mem- bership is sufficient to make available the expert service which they themselves employ. The Chairman. What was done with the balance of the money, of the $14,000 of receipts ? Mr. Lyman. It went into correspondence, printing, publicity, etc. The monthly budget I suppose ranges now between $800 and $900. The Chairman. Do you carry on general newspaper advertising ? Mr. Lyman. No; no paid advertising. The Chairman. It consists of the printing of circulars and letters, and information that goes out direct to your member organiza- tions, to the farmers ? Mr. Lyman. Yes. And once in a while we will send a news story to the representatives of the press here in Washington. Of course, we hold meetings; sometimes we hold our conferences at other 16 FARM ORGANIZATIONS. points, out in Chicago, for instance, and there is some traveling expense. I occasionally go out on trips. I think my traveling ex- penses for the last year were a little over $900. Mr. Brand. What are your membership dues per annum ? Mr. Lyman. That is left entirely to the organization and to our executive committees. There are some organizations needing help from us, rather than being in a position to give us financial help. We do not make financial contributions a requsite to membership in all cases. The Chairman. It has been suggested some of these organiza- tions receive money and support for their work from big combina- tions that are interested in legislation. Is there any organization like that, like the packers, we will say, or people engaged in the fertilizer production, or any of those well-known organizations, that contribute in any way to your organization ? Mr. Lyman. No, sir; not to my knowledge. There was one case a year ago where a man used to come around to our office, and after he had been around there for perhaps a year or so he felt that he was a little indebted for office space, and he paid $50. I wish he had not paid it. But it was not known at the time that he might have had connections with any organization with which we were not working in entire accord. The Chairman. You mean to infer he was a real lobbyist ? Mr. Lyman. I think he was a real lobbyist; yes. The Chairman. Do you care to give the committee the name of that gentleman ? Mr. Lyman. I would rather not give the name, but the thing was absolutely unintentional. He gave the $50 after using the mimeo- graph on some occasions. Mr. King. Did he use your stationery ? Mr. Lyman. No; he did not use our stationery. Mr. Wingo. He drank your grape juice and ate your sandwiches, didn't he ? [Laughter.] Mr. Lyman. I don't know whether he was around at that time or not. Mr. Wingo. I think I saw him up there drinking your grape juice and eating your sandwiches. The Chairman. Is your organization in favor of public ownership of the railroads ? Mr. Lyman. The board itself has made no declaration in regard to the railroads. The membership, of course, is located in many parts of the country, and there are undoubtedly members who believe in Government ownership, there are others who believe that the roads should not have been returned so soon, and there are others abso- lutely impressed with the belief that the Government's attempt or efforts at operation were unsuccessful. We have all viewpoints on that question. So we let the thing alone, because under our plan of organization those questions which are controversial to agricultural coop ara tors and which are going to create dissension and drive out member organizations are by agreement avoided. The Chairman. In that connection you have not received any contributions in any way from the so-called Plumb Plan League, or any other of those organizations interested in the Government owner- ship of the railroads, telegraphs, and telephones ? FARM ORGANIZATIONS. 17 Mr. Lyman. Not one cent. Mr. Brand. Has any Government employee ever collected any dues for your organization ? Mr. Lyman. Has any Government what ? Mr. Brand. Has any Government employee in any capacity ever collected any dues for your organization ? Mr. Lyman. Any of our employees ? Mr. Brand. No; any of the Government employees. Mr. Lyman. I never heard of it being done. No; I am positive it has not been done. Mr. Brand. In how many States do you operate ? Mr. Lyman. I would say 40 States. Some one member organiza- tion is bound to have membership in 1 of the 40 States. Mr. King. What organization operates in Illinois ? Mr. Lyman. We have two milk producers' organizations there which belong to the National Milk Producers' Federation. Mr. King. In the northern part of the State? Mr. Lyman. The Chicago Milk Producers and the Southern Illinois Milk Producers. Then the Farmers' Union is organized there, but it is not very strong numerically at the present time. The Farmers' Equity Union also; it is a very strong, compact organization. Mr. Drayton is the president, with national headquarters at Greenville. Mr. King. You do not receive any money or help or aid from the Joe Fels single-tax fund, do you ? Mr. Lyman. Absolutely not. I would like to say that I am a farmer. I grew up on the farm and have had my own farm since I was 21 years old, and have 440 acres in Wisconsin. And I gfew into this work naturally, because the Equity Society came along in about 1903 or 1904, I think, about the time I had finished college, and I joined the Equity Society and for about seven years I was president of the Dane County Union of the Equity, and of the local union in my community as well, and for several years I was chairman of the State legislative committee of the Wisconsin State Equity Union. I want that to go into the record, because every time a man appears here they wonder whether he is a real farmer or not and where his heart really is. Mr. Echols. What position does your organization take with reference to the Calder coal-regulation bill? Mr. Lyman. We have not considered that measure yet. I am very much interested in the general drift of the investigation and the proposed legislation, and I intend to bring it to the attention of the board. Mr. Echols. Interested in what way? Mr. Lyman. I mentioned at the start the activity of the Equity organization in Wisconsin in getting coal for its membership, and I have that particular interest, because I have been working closely with that particular organization. I think that information that is continually available to the general public as to prices and costs of production acts as a deterrent to profiteering and I hope something good may come out of a bill along that line. That is my personal viewpoint. 32428—21 2 18 FARM ORGANIZATIONS. STATEMENT OF MR. JOHN A. McSPARRAN, MASTER PENN- SYLVANIA STATE GRANGE. The Chairman. Now, Mr. McSparran, you have been sitting here and you have heard the general trend of this discussion: Are you connected with any of these local farm organizations here in Wash- ington ? Mr. McSparran. How do you mean; with the national board? The Chairman. Yes. Mr. McSparran. I am a member of the executive committee of the National Board of Farm organizations. The Chairman. That is the concern Mr. Lyman is connected with? Mr. McSparran. Yes. The Chairman. Are you connected with any of the other farm organizations here ? Mr. McSparran. No. The Chairman. Are you connected with the National Grange? Mr. McSparran. Of course, eveiy State Grange is a member of the National Grange. The Chairman. You are not an officer of the National Grange at this time ? Mr. McSparran. No. The Chairman. You. heard the statement which was made here a few moments ago of how this committee got into this discussion of these problems. We have heard Mr. Maish, representing the Far- mers' National Council; we have heard Mr. Gray Silver, Washington representative of the American Farm Bureau Federation, and Mr. Atkeson, the National Grange representative here, and this morning Mr. Lyman. Now there have been many statements made regarding the activities of these organizations here and the matter of the con- tributions, receipts and expenditures. We are particularly anxious to know, owing to some statements made in the early part of the hearings, regarding the overlapping of these various organizations and we are particularly anxious to know from you, if possible, whether or not any of these organizations are not attempting, so to speak, to swallow up the other organizations and to become "the" organiza- tion — "the" farm organization of the country? And generally speaking, a statement from you covering that will be appreciated by the committee; also, whether or not the United States Department of Agriculture is in any way supporting any of these organizations in their activities, either directly or indirectly, and aiding any proposed plan to control the activities of farm organizations ? Mr. McSparran. I had an intimation in Pennsylvania — it is a question that is pretty close to us in Pennsylvania just now, because of a situation that is existing there. In Pennsylvania we are, as an organization, working very closely with the county agents. In fact, I think we have an almost ideal condition in Pennsylvania; the State College and the State Department of Agriculture (the college as the source of agricultural information; the department as the source of agricultural administration) and the county agent as the county local headquarters for the dissemination of scientific knowledge, and the grange, with its 83,000 members and 950 community organiza- tions, form a chain that is in our estimation almost ideal and they are working together nicely. Lately, however, there is something FARM ORGANIZATIONS. 19 else coming into the field. I understand that there is a man from Illinois who has come into Pennsylvania with the idea of developing a State federation of farm bureaus, and there have been meetings held at which this question was discussed. Now the grange feels that placing another organization into Pennsylvania at this time is only a duplication and that it would not be a wise policy. Of course, how- ever, we do not presume and the grange has no right to say that no other farm organization shall come into Pennsylvania, even though we are a big strong organization and have a big membership ; but we do object very seriously to our being taxed to put over anocher organization that we do not think is needed and which is a direct duplication of what we already have; because we have the county granges in almost every county in the State, and it would be almost an exact duplication of the county farm bureau. We have an annual meeting of the State grange which would be almost a counterpart of the annual meeting of the State federation of farm bureaus if they were organized. Mr. Wingo. Do you mean by taxing that some department of the General Government is doing it I Mr. McSparran. Yes. You see, the county agents are supported by taxes from the Federal Government and also taxes from the local governments. Mr. Wingo. Then you charge those county agents are trying to huild up this Federal farm bureau in Pennsylvania in antagonism to the grange ? Mr. Stevenson. Or in duplication of the grange. Mr. Wingo. Or in duplication and nece vsarily antagonism. Mr. McSparran. I do not know whether it is necessary to raise that question, whether it will bring about antagonism or not. Mr. Wingo. I was just trying to see how far your mind is working on that. Mr. McSparran. It is more, I think, an apprehension of disagree- ment; because we do not want, especially at this time, a situation to arise where farm organizations will get to righting each other. We have plenty on handiin this reconstruction period without scrapping with each other, and it is a question of lining up the most effective organization we can get under the circumstances. Mr. Wingo. Just what proof have you that the county organiza- tions have been going out of their way to build up this farm organi- zation and to give to it help it does not give to the grange '( Mr. McSparran. For instance, we have county agents in the State who have insisted upon building up a county farm bureau on the membership basis. The Chairman. You said the county agent was doing that? Mr. McSparran. Yes; some of them; not all of them. But some of them are doing that and we have remonstrated with them and talked with them and we think that is not within their jurisdiction; that they have no right to do that and especially in view of the fact they are paid by either Federal, State, or local taxes. Mr. Wingo. Here is the point I am getting at : Have you any proof that the county agents are doing anything more than taking what they think might be the most avadable organization in their par- ticular county, farm organization, in order to aid them in carrying out their work? I can readily understand where a county agent 20 FARM ORGANIZATIONS. might be in a county where the Farmers' Union would be the stronger, and he would naturally feel like we would — affiliate himself with the strongest organization in that county and push it. Then I can see how he might feel in your State; that the grange was the strongest organization available, and he would take advantage of that organi- zation to aid his work. Have you anything to show those activities are other than the natural gravitation to which I have referred ? Mr. McSparran. Instead of answering your question, will you permit me to go on and give you some points ? I think we can get it quicker by doing my way, and then you can ask the questions you want later. Mr. Wingo. All right. Mr. McSparran. Last June, in Pennsylvania, these county farm bureaus held a meeting. These county farm bureaus had been organized in almost every case by the county agents. They held a meeting of the farm bureaus of the State. There is no federation there, but they just called a meeting, as they do from time to time call a general meeting. So last June they had a meeting, and in that meeting they decided — these representatives of the farm bureaus — that they would put over a State federation of farm bureaus. The Chairman. What representatives of the farm bureaus — the county agents ? Mr. McSparran. Well, the county agents in meeting and these members of the county farm bureaus which the county agents had established, you see. And it was at that meeting — I do not charge it was the county agents particularly, but the thing that had been created by the county agents was the thing that decided they would have a farm bureau federation in Pennsylvania. And then after a little while we find there was a fellow sent in apparently. We do not know his affiliations — I have not looked them up particularly — but he came from Illinois, and it appears to us as though he was coming there Mr. Stevenson. Who was the gentleman ? Mr. McSparran. A man by the name of Heaton. The Chairman. I will say that it says in the testimony already given to this committee that Mr. Heaton is named as one of the solicitors for memberships. He puts on these campaigns soliciting members in the various States. He is part of the American Farm Bureau Federation. Mr. Wingo. Does the record show what he is ? The Chairman. Mr. Silver has testified in reply to questions that were propounded to him as to why Pennsylvania was not federated that they never sought membership in a State until they were invited. Now, you say Mr. Heaton was in Pennsylvania soliciting those organizations to join the American Farm Bureau Federation? Mr. McSparran. I do not think Mr. Heaton was in before this meeting I spoke of; I do not know that he was. Mr. Stevenson. The county bureaus were organized before he came there ? Mr. McSparran. Oh, yes; the county bureaus. Mr. Stevenson. And then they called a general meeting of the bureaus ? Mr. McSparran. The greatest asset in the organization of many of these county agents is the educational proposition, and a lot of FARM ORGANIZATIONS. 21 grange members went into the organization of the county farm bureaus. That was the creature of the county agents. I do not think they would have been created in possibly a single county — in hardly a single county in Pennsylvania — if it had not been for the fact the county agents insisted they wanted a sort of sustaining member- ship. And then the next move was to get these members together and the next move was to insist on the federation of the farm bureaus. And there it was we took issue with them. Mr. Brand. Who started that ? Mr. McSparran. The county agent started that move and the county agent started the county farm bureaus. Mr. Brand. The man paid by the Government ? Mr. McSparran. Yes. That is the situation up to date in Penn- sylvania. Then I had an experience a few months ago: I -was invited to address the Wisconsin Society of Equity at their annual meeting, which is a self-help organization; and T found out a few days before I went out there that the proposition had been made to a bunch of the leaders of the Wisconsin Society of Equity that they take the Wisconsin Society of Equity, boots and breeches, and lift it right over into the American Farm Bureau Federation. The Chairman. What was their plan in that '? Mr. McSparran. To just take it right over: to take over the offi- cers and put them there and to take their paper and put it there The Chairman. And to pay them salaries? Mr. McSparran. Yes: just to take it over; just to lift it right over and put it over there [illustrating!. The Chairman. Before this committee the other day, Mr. Cray Silver was testifying, and I asked him the question as to whether or not they were proposing to be "the" organization of farm organi- zations, and he said of course they were ambitious. And I asked him whether or not the proposition had been made to take over any of the officers of organizations and he said no. Mr. McSparran. I am sorry to have to disagree with Mr. Silver: but the circumstances lying around that Wisconsin situation would seem to be very damaging circumstances, namely, Mr. Howard himself wrote to Mr. Burritt, who is the extension representative of agriculture of the university in New York State, in which he said that he was in favor of that move in Wisconsin —the taking over of that organization. I do not know why he would write a letter like that if it had not had anything to do with it and had not had any connection with it. Now, this other evidence that proves it conclusively to me: I made as earnest a plea as I could to those people that they ought to stand by self-help organizations: that the National Farm Bureau Federation was an untried proposition, and that an organization that had had a record like the Society of Equity in Wisconsin, a great economic record, and which had developed large economic and coop- erative institutions, that they ought just to stand their ground, and especially in view of the fact they were members of the National Board of Farm Organizations, and had an affiliation here at Wash- ington, just the same as they would have in the other case; that they were giving away a good bit and not getting much in return. I made that plea and then they made every man who ran for presi- 22 FARM OEGAJNIZAXIUJNS. dent — it was their election, and they made every man who ran for president get up and stand before that audience of 1,' 00 farmers and tell them they would have nothing to do with that proposal and every man who ran for president said — some of them said — ' 'I was in favor of that proposal, but I am not now; and, if elected, I will stand for the Society of Equity. And there was one of them there admitted he was in favor of it; and there were several others. It seems to me those men would not have gone that far, to make t public issue of it in the convention, if there was nothing to it. The Chairman. In connection with that, do you know of any other organization to which a proposition has been submitted by the American Farm Bureau Federation, or to any officers of other organi- zations in an attempt to get those people to join the American Farm Bureau Federation ? Mr. McSpaekan. Yes, I do. I know of other cases. In fact, in the Pennsylvania State Grange, there was a proposal made to an officer of the Pennsylvania State Grange to bring their organization over, boots and breeches, into the American Farm Bureau Federation. The Chairman. The entire Pennsylvania State Grange ? Mr. McSpaekan. Yes. The Chairman. Do you care to state to the committee by whom ? I do not want to embarrass you, but at the same time this is important in view of the testimony already given to this committee. Mr. McSpakean. That proposal was made by Mr. Silver to me just a few weeks ago, that we just come right over into the National Farm Bureau Federation. Not only is that true, but I think I can show you from official data that it is the general policy of the organization itself, of the American Farm Bureau Federation. In Mr. Howard's New Year's message to the county agents — this is a message in the County Agent and Farm Bureau. It has across the top of it "An agricultural journal that reaches every county agent and home demonstrator in the United States," and on the front page is Mr. Howard's message to the county agent. I will read that, with your permission. Mr. Wingo. Do you know whether that goes to the confidential agents of the Department of Agriculture in each county? Mr. McSpaeean. It goes to the county agents. Mr. Wingo. In addition to the regular county agents, the Depart- ment of Agriculture has a certain group of confidential men. Mr. McSpaeean. I do not know anything about that. Mr. Wingo. I can not find out from the Department of Agriculture who they are in my county ; but of course I do easily get them from other sources. Mr. McSpaeean. I do not know about that; but it does go to the county agents. This message is "By J. R. Howard, president, American Farm Bureau Federation." The county agent is the keystone of the federation. The architects of a great and enduring farmers' organization builded to the eternal glory of America, will never forget the importance of that keystone. The American Farm Bureau Federation is exactly what the individual county farm bureaus make it. And the county farm bureau, I have found again and again and again, is just what the county agent makes it. Show me a weak, listless, ineffective county farm bureau and I will show you behind it a weak, listless, ineffective county agent — one of these harmless, meek, milk-and-water fellows forever reiterating that "this is your bureau, members, and I am your agent; please tell me what to do, so that you will continue to pay my salary." My point is that the county agent is set in positive FARM ORGANIZATIONS. 23 position of leadership, whether he will or not. He can no more escape the responsi- bilities of leadership than can a line officer in the Army. When the farmers find that they are investing their money in a hired man instead of a leader, they begin to regret that they pay him a leader's salary instead of a hired man's wages. I would urge every county agent in America to assume a position of real leadership in his county and to stand or to fall on his record as an organizer of farmers into a strong and effective county farm bureau. With strong county bureaus fired with a burning zeal for agricultural justice, our movement will challen?e the admiration of the world. The county agent is the strong right arm of the American Farm Bureau Federation. I have found that by use the right arm retains and increases its power. We intend to make increasing use of the county agent. Therefore, we earnestly solicit his con- stant cooperation. Ask him to continue to help the American Farm Bureau Federa- tion so that the American Farm Bureau Federation may help him and his people. The Chairman. Now, Mr. McSparran, in that connection, your statement is so in conflict with the statement Mr. Silver made here before the committee, I want to read you the questions put by me to Mr. Silver and his answers and then I want you, if you will, to tell the committee more in detail what the proposition is that was made by the American Farm Bureau Federation to the Pennsyl- vania State Grange, or to any of its officers. The chairman said to Mr. Silver, when he appeared before the committee : Have members or officers of other organizations been offered or been given any positions in your organization with the idea of- gradual absorption of those other organizations? Mr. Silver. No. The Chairman. And, if so, what are the other organizations. Mr. Silver. I would say no; I have no such information. That is in direct conflict with what you are stating here, and it is important to this committee to have that cleared up. And I would say Mr. Silver is present at this hearing now and he has asked to make a statement after you have finished. I will now be very glad if you will give us the details of this proposition. Mr. McSparran. As to the proposal made to the Pennsylvania State Grange, it was made to me personally that I would have in- fluence enough to bring the Pennsylvania State Grange over and that they wanted me on their executive board. I can not quote the exact words, but Mr. Silver said something about like this: He said to me, "I am a blunt man and I will come right to the point." He said, "Now, Mr. McSparran, I want you — I want you on our execu- tive committee, and we believe you have influence enough to bring the Pennsylvania State Grange, and we would like you just to come over into the American Farm Bureau Federation." I think Mr. Silver will say I have pretty nearly duplicated the conversation. Mr. Brand. Was any consideration offered? Mr. McSparran. He just said "I would like you to be a member of the executive committee of the American Farm Bureau Federa- tion." Mr. King. At what salary? Mr. McSparran. He did not mention the salary. Mr. Brand. About how much did you expect you would be paid ? Mr. McSparran. I have no way of estimating that. Mr. Stevenson. Take a State like mine, where there are none of these subsidiary organizations in the counties, where the Farmers Union is dead and the Grange has long since ceased to function: Is it not necessary for the county agent pretty near to build up an 24 FARM ORGANIZATIONS. organization in order to do effective work for the Department of Agriculture in States where there is no organization whatever ? Mr. McSparran. If you had allowed me to go along with my state- ment I would have covered that, but since you prefer it the other way, I will take it up now. The position we take is this: The United States Chamber of Commerce is built up a^ a self-help organ- ization to take care of business. They were not interfered with by the Government; they were not served with any pap or anything; they went on and built up their organization. The Federation of Labor was built up as a self-help institution to take care of labor, and they have built up a powerful organization, as you all know. Now, about the same time, some of the farm leaders in this country realized that agriculture, if it was going to hold its place, would have to bring together the farm organizations of the country by virtue of their executive officers; we felt there would never be a voice for an American agriculture until the executive officers of all the farm organizations of the country sat around the board and worked out a policy for American agriculture. That move was hardly made until we find the officers of the Government starting in to further an insti- tution to be the voice of American agriculture, apparently; because their speakers go everywhere, and they say, " That is what we want to do ; that is what we are for." Here is a little circular from Virginia. They have never done a thing in Virginia; they have not turned a wheel. This circular says: Virginia Farm Bureau Federation is to the Virginia farmer what the chamber of commerce is to the city business man. It forms his contact with other interests closely allied with his own and tends toward a mutual understanding and a mutual benefit to all. The Virginia Farm Bureau Federation is the Virginia farmer's representative in all matters pertaining to his welfare. The Virginia Farm Bureau Federation is the Virginia farmer's authority on market- ing, buying, shipping and in all matters in any way related to the distribution of pro- duction to the best advantage. Through centralized sales agencies, the bureau is enabled to so place farm products on the market as to avoid local over-supplies, and hence avoid excessive slumps. Now there is no Farm Bureau Federation in Virginia. Mr. Stevenson. That is not an answer to my question. My ques- tion is this: In a State like mine, South Carolina, where there are none of these subsidiary organizations which the Farm Bureau Federation is attempting to absorb, is it not necessary for the county agents (I am very familiar with their work down there) to build up an organization in each county in order to do effective advance- ment work for agriculture ? Mr. McSparran. Why do that any more for agriculture than for groceries ? Mr. Stevenson. They are appointed and put there to advance the interests of agriculture. Now if they can advance it better by organizing an agency which does not antagonize agriculture, is it not best to do it? Mr. McSparran. You have some organizations in South Carolina. Mr. Stevenson. We have a cotton association which is merely directed to hold cotton, to boost the market, that is all. I want to know if the agents are not justified in making an organization in the counties where there is no other organization there for the advancement of agriculture? FARM ORGANIZATIONS. 25 Mr. McSparran. That is simply a question of opinion; I do not care to state one way or the other on that. Mr. Stevenson. Then why the Grange; what is it organized for? Is it not organized for the purpose of having cooperative effort in advancing agriculture ? Mr. McSparran. Absolutely. Mr. Stevenson. To be sure. Now, where you have no Grange and no other organization, is not an organization organized by the farm bureau agent, better than no organization ? Mr. McSparran. Well, I would want to know first who is in back of the movement. Mr. King. That is what we want to know. Mr. McSparran. As long as the farmers organize themselves, I will take a chance on who is going to run it; but when the farmers are organized by some outside source, then I do not know whether it is a good plan. Mr. Stevenson. I do not know how it is in Pennsylvania, but the farm-demonstration agents in my country are appointed locally; they are members of the farming community of each county. Now there is a farmer who is designated by the State and United States authorities to advance agriculture in that country, and if he has no organization is it not better for him to make some organization rather than to let it go wild ? Mr. McSparran. That is a matter of opinion. (The committee thereupon took a recess until 2.30 o'clock p. m.) AFTER RECESS. The committee reassembled pursuant to the taking of the recess, Hon. Louis T. McFadden (chairman) presiding. STATEMENT OF MR. JOHN A. McSPARRAN— Continued. The Chairman. Mr. McSparran, in order to clarify a little one or two things in your statement this morning, were the county farm bureaus organized by the county agents or were they organized by those in charge in the State prior to placing a county agent in the county? In other words, in the State of Pennsylvania, the exten- sion department of our own State college (which is one of the original land-grant colleges) — it was done under their supervision, wasn't it? Mr. McSparran. Yes, I think it was done under the supervision of the State college. The county agents, however — the thing I was going on was my own personal knowledge of the fact that county agents from one county would go over in another county and assist in putting the organization over there. The Chairman. That, as I understand, was done under the instruc- tions of the extension department of the college Mr. McSparran. That might be true. The Chairman (continuing). Those men being under their super- vision. I just want to get that clear. Mr. McSparran. Yes. There is no doubt about the original purpose. In my mind the purpose of the State college in putting this organization over was to have a working force for extension work and had no idea of a farm organization. 26 FARM ORGANIZATIONS. The Chairman. Yes. Now, Mr. Stevenson, from South Carolina, asked you a question — which you remember ? Mr. McSparran. Yes. The Chairman. Don't you think that some organization for the purpose of carrying on extensive work under this system we have is necessary ? Mr. McSparran. Well, general organization. The difference is this The Chairman. That is, it should not be for any special class ? Mr. McSparran. No ; and then it should not be a definite organi- zation into which the farm agent would go. As long as a bunch of fellows, as we have all over Pennsylvania, a number of people pay in so much to a farm bureau simply as a sustaining membership, and that county agent remained the agent of the whole people of the -county, it was not a membership proposition, it was a money-assist- ance proposition. Now, the Grange has never, in Pennsylvania, ob- jected to that; in fact, we favor it, because in many cases the county commissioners would put up and the Federal Government would put up in order to put over the projects that the county agent would like ±o put over, and there was no objection on our part. The Chairman. Of course, the State was cooperating there. Mr. McSparran. Yes ; the State and the Federal Government, and the county commissioners. Then, all three of those taken together in many cases did not furnish enough money to put over the projects that the county agent would want to put over, and because of that there were people who put in money, Tout they did not establish an organization, you see. That is the point. We did not object — in fact, I was going to mention it again if you had not asked me. There were two things I wanted especially to emphasize in connection with my testimony. One was, I am testifying as a member and master •of the State Grange of Pennsylvania and not as a member of the national board. The national board has taken no action on it. I am not testifying as a member of the national board, but I am tes- tifying as a member of the State Grange, because I believe it is a tremendously serious thing in Pennsylvania and our membership feel the same way, and we took up the question at our State meeting at Allentown of what we were going to do if this thing was going to be put over in Pennsylvania, and I said, "I want a vote of confidence on this thing; I want you to tell me whether or not, as master of the State Grange, I have done right in saying we won't peacefully sit by and allow another organization to be put in Pennsylvania until it is shown the Grange has failed." And they came back and gave such a demonstration as has never been given in Pennsylvania, I do not think in 30 years, and they passed a resolution unanimously. So that I am following the direct action of our own folks in calling this a duplication. And in a State like Pennsylvania, organized like Penn- sylvania is, there is no reason for putting it over and causing that duplication. Mr. Kjng. You made a very interesting statement this morning, in the first place that there was some man from Illinois who wai= seeking to include all the organizations in Pennsylvania in the Fed- eration of Farm Bureaus. And in talking a little further in your testimony, you referred to the fact that you did not mind those FARM ORGANIZATIONS. 27 organizations growing up by themselves, composed of real farmers, etc. (I am stating the substance of your statement), but you did object to their being organized by outside influences. That is what I want to inquire about. Mr. McSparran. Governmental influences. Mr. King. You referred strictly to governmental influences ? Mr. McSparran. Yes. Mr. King. Do you know of any other influence that is operating to sort of trustify the different farm organizations into the American Federation of Farm Bureaus? Do you know of any other influence, outside of the governmental influence you speak of, that is assisting or aiding in any way in this matter ? Mr. McSparren. Not directly; no. Mr. King. Do you know of anything concerning a proposition that has been made by this new Edge Corporation, which has just been organized [laughter] — you knew it was coming, and it ought to come — - do you know anything of a proposition by them to interest the farm- ers, through the American Federation of Farm Bureaus in the sale •of foreign Government bonds? Do you know that they have been invited to engage in that campaign in America ? Mr. McSparran. In connection with what ? Mr. King. In connection with the sale of foreign stocks and bonds. Are you familiar with the organization that has just been completed for the ostensible purpose of extending our foreign trade, so called. Mr. McSparran. No; not with an organization. Mr. King. You have read about it in the papers ? Mr. McSparran. Yes. Mr. King. You have no information of any influence of that kind being brought to bear in connection with this bureau? Mr. McSparran. Not anything that would be called testimony that is definite. Mr. Brand. What part, to your personal knowledge, is the Depart- ment of Agriculture in this city having to do with this American Federation of Farm Bureaus ? Mr. McSparran. I was going to present some testimony and there was another document I am not able to find to-day, I can not locate it — which came out from the Department of Agriculture, I would like very much to have here, but I have misplaced it and can not locate it to-day. Possibly I will be able to locate it later. And there was a New Year's greeting came out here from the depart- ment, an official document, signed by W. O. Lloyd or M. O. Lloyd — his writing is such that I can not figure out which it is, but it is Mr. Lloyd over there in the department — who sends out that New Year's greeting in which he analyzes the beginnings of the farm-bureau movement. He says : It was on that day, in 1911, that ,T. H. Barron began his work in Broome County, N. Y., as a "county agent" of the United States Department of Agriculture, working ivitn farmers in a small area around Binghamton as manager of the "farm bureau" of the chamber of commerce. The Delaware, Lackawanna & Western Railway, the Binghamton Chamber of Commerce, and the United States Department of Agricul- ture furnished the funds for the employment of this agent, share and share alike. The grange was the point of contact with farmers. 28 FARM ORGANIZATIONS. I do not think I need to read it all to you; it is a history of the different persons who had taken part in that development. And then he goes on here to say, in the concluding paragraph :' The county agent and the county farm bureau are the Broome County twins. Tne two ideas — or are they only one — were born and grew up together. The county agent has been the John the Baptist of the farm-bureau movement. Without him it would never have existed and without him it is doubtful if it could long endure. The "agents" have done many things to commend themselves to public esteem, but nothing probably greater than the unselfish devotion they have given to their brother — the county farm bureau. For years it was doubtful if it would live, for it was a sickly and rather unpromising infant; but the brotherly love qHhe county agent pulled it through and to this, more than to all else, is due its present lusty growth and the promise of a vigorous and useful life. Mr. Brand. Is that fellow who is talking there in the Department of Agriculture here in Washington ? Mr. McSparran. Yes; that is the 1921 New Year's greeting sent out by the Department of Agriculture. He has charge of the exten- sion work. It is addressed "to all county agents, county agent leaders, and assistant leaders." And that was sent to every agent in the United States, I suppose, as a New Year's greeting. Of course you understand that this is the county farm bureau; not the Ameri- can Farm Bureau Federation. Mr. Brand. I know there is a distinction. Mr. McSparran. And this farm agent and our extension director in Pennsylvania, through the State college, put over the farm bureaus, in Pennsylvania. This man claims the county agents put them over. Of course it does not matter so long as you include the point that they were put over for the specific purpose of carrying on extension work. But then lately there has been an effort, and this other docu- ment goes on to state — another document coming out from the department, that was issued, I think, about the first week in Janu- ary — which goes on to say that while the Federal Government did not immediately organize the Farm Bureau Federation, that it was deeply interested in it and that it wished it every success. Mr. Brand. Was the man who said that in the department here ? Mr. McSparran. He was in the department. Mr. Brand. The man who said that was in the department here in Washington ? Mr. McSparran. Yes; and if I had known just what line the tes- timony was going to take down here I would have made a very dili- gent search to see whether I could not find it, because I am sure I have it at home. The Chairman. I am sure if you can find it that you can place it in the record, so that the committee will have the benefit of it. Mr. McSparran. It went on to give in a more explicit way the fact the department was interested in that Farm Bureau Federation; it takes two or three paragraphs to show while all we needed was the self-help organizations, and goes on to state, for one reason, it would be creating jealousy between the self-help organizations, and so on, and tries to make a case for the department, that the department did this because there were no self-help organizations that could be the proper medium for the department to reach those people. It is quite a lengthy document; It is a matter of two or three 14-inch pages. Tne Chairman. You may put it in the record. Mr. McSparran. I will try and locate it. (- FARM ORGANIZATIONS. 29 The document referred to by Mr. McSparran follows:) United States Department op Agriculture, States Relations Service, Office of Extension Work, North and Wes-j , Washington, D. C, December SS, 19t0 To all cooperative field agents: Attached is a copy of a paper entitled "Cooperation of agricultural forces," which -was given before the annual State conference of extension workers held at Purdue University, Lafayette, Ind., November 3-5, 1920. This paper attempts to analyze the county farm bureau and to show the relation of the Department of Agriculture and the State agricultural college to it. It also brings out the reason, as we see it, as to why farm bureaus were organized instead of carrying on our extension work through organizations already in existence, like the Grange, Farmers' Union, Equity, etc. Some comment is made, likewise, on State farm bureau federations, on the American Farm Bureau Federation, and on the relation of the Department of Agriculture to these organizations. Very truly, yours, C. B. Smith, Chief. Cooperative Extension Work in Agriculture and Home Economics. [States Relations Service, Oflice of Extension Work, North and West, Washington. D. C. U. S. Depait ment of Agriculture and State Agricultural Colleges cooperatii g.J COOPERATION OF AGRICULTURAL FORCES. [By C. B. Smith, Chief, Office of Extension Work, North and West.] (At a conference of extension agents at Lafayette, Ind., November 3 to 5, 1920, the above subject was discussed by three speakers: Mr. C. E. Gunnels, speaking for the American Farm Bureau Federation; Mr. J. G. Brown, for State Farm Organizations of Indiana; and Mr. C. B. Smith of the United States Department of Agriculture.) This subject was evidently intended to bring out the fact that there are a number of forces at work in agriculture; that these forces were organized for certain distinct purposes- and that each force in carrying out its own particular work has certain relationship to all other agricultural forces. Mr. Gunnels has spoken for the American Farm Bureau Federation, and Mr. Brown for the Indiana Federation of Farm Organizations. I assume that I have been asked to take a part in this discussion because of my connection with the National Depart- ment of Agriculture and the State colleges of agriculture, both of which have the closest kind of relationship to all farmers and all farmers' organizations. In this connection I want to speak particularly of the department in its cooperative relationship to the county farm bureaus, because a discussion of our cooperative relationships with this one organization will bring out the cooperative relationship of the department to practically all other types of farmers' organizations. I do not believe it is going too far to say that the United States Department of Agriculture and the office with which I am connected more than any other one single agency is responsible for the development of farm bureaus in this country. Their organization in cooperation with the colleges of agriculture was begun as far back as 1911, three years before the Smith-Lever Act was passed. They were intended to be then, and fundamentally are to-day, county extension organizations or institu- tions. Up to the time of our entrance into the war, there were a number of forms of these county extension organizations, generally but not always called farm bureaus; but with the giving to the Federal Department of Agriculture large sums of money for the completion of the county agent system, the Federal department, in cooperation with the colleges of agriculture, as a war measure, aggressively encouraged the de- velopment of a rather uniform and definite type of farm bureau. You may reasonably ask, therefore, of both Federal and State officials what a farm bureau is, why it was created, and particularly why it was necessary to bring into existence this new rural organization when there were a number of substantial farm- ers' organizations already in existence. The underlying reasons are these: The Federal Department of Agriculture and the State agricultural colleges are research institutions. They have been in existence a good many years, and through their researches have accumulated a great deal of valuable information, which, if applied to the farm, Congress believed, would make 30 FARM OBGANIZATIONS. agriculture more efficient and profitable and rural life richer and fuller than it is. These institutions not only have had but now have a large staff of research workers who are discovering new things in agriculture, and will likely continue to make such discoveries in the future, so that it is probable that these institutions will always have fresh and advanced information which will be of direct value to the farmer in his business. Congress recognized this situation and so enacted permanent legislation appropri- ating substantial funds, looking toward the dissemination of the information thus secured by the United States Department of Agriculture and the State colleges of agriculture in a practical way to the farmers. The administration of these funds rests with the Federal Government and the col- leges of agriculture, and since they are permanent funds, and since there is a likeli- hood of the colleges and department always having need of reaching the farmers with the results of their investigations, it seemed highly desirable to create in each county of the United States a permanent farmers' institution through which the department and colleges could operate with certainty in extending their information to the last farmer on the most remote farm, and to give the information to the farmer in such a way that it would be adopted into the farmer's practice. When the department and the colleges were charged by Congress with this under- taking, neither of them clearly knew the exact agricultural conditions which existed in each, of the counties and localities of the United States. They therefore did not know just what form of extension work was most needed in any particular locality. This was particularly true in the Northern and Western States where agriculture is greatly diversified. The logical thing to do, therefore, as the natter appeared to them, was to employ a man known as a county agent, thoroughly trained in the science of agriculture, and familiar from experience with farm practice, and locate him in an area not larger than a county, and let him find out from personal examination, what the agricultural situation in that county might be, and then cooperate with the farmers in putting on demonstrations tending to show better methods in the particular phases of agriculture in that county needing attention. That was the first big idea in the organization of county farm bureaus, and a step nearer the farmers than the depart- ment or the colleges had ever before come. Very soon it was seen that if the county agent was to learn in any comprehensive way the agricultural situation in the county, he must needs counsel with farmers in every section of that county — men who had lived their lives there, and made their livng from the farm, and therefore who knew its peculiarities intimately and many of whom also had acquired facts and skill not generally applied in the community, but which were worthy of much wider application. That was the second big idea in the development of the farm bureau. It was then discovered that if you are going to accomplish anything in the way of improving agriculture and rural conditions, not only must the trained scientist and the farmers counsel together, but they must work out a fundamental and continuing policy of work and development in the county, not only for one season, but for a whole year or period of years. That was the third big idea in the farm-bureau move- ment, viz., the sitting in council of the trained agents of the Government with the trained farmers who are entirely familiar with local conditions and local problems, and both contributing to the working out of such a long-time program, cooperation between farmers and agents of the Government in the closest and most intimate way. Now, it soon developed that there were not sufficient Federal and State funds available under the law as enacted, for the employment of a full-time man in every county of the United States, and since the work done in the county wa? in the inter- ests of the entire county, it seemed only logical to ask the county and the farmers to help the Federal Government and State college of agriculture finance the work. The work, therefore, became essentially a public work, financed for the most part from the public funds, and where this did not suffice the farmers were eo thoroughly convinced of its value that they went down in their own pockets and contributed toward the support of this work which had been authorized and in part financed by the National and State Governments. The farm bureau, therefore, as thus developed, is seen to be practically a public institution, developed at the direct suggestion of agents of Government for the pur- pose of creating a channel through which the practical results of research work of Government might with certainty reach the people for whom it was intended. As it has developed, it consists of a country-wide organization of farmers, with farmer officers cooperating under State and national laws with the county and the Federal and State Governments in the use of pYiblic funds for the employment of trained agricultural agents, and in some counties a trained home-demonBtration agent and a trained boys' and girls' club agent, for the improvement of agriculture and home FARM ORGANIZATIONS. 31 economics in the county, all in harmony with and in furtherance of the national agricultural extension act of 1914, the provisions of which every State, through its legislature, has accepted. Now, why did the Federal and State Governments develop such an organization? Why didn't they cooperate in extension work directly with the Grange in counties where the Grange is strong, or with the Farmers' Union in counties where the union is strong, or with the Equity, where the Equity is strong? The reason is simple enough. _ Practically all of these are secret organizations, or class organizations, or commercial organizations. In a considerable degree they are exclusive organizations, and since the work of the Federal and State Governments is financed by all the people and in the interest of all the people, these institutions felt the necessity of developing a nonclass, nonsecret, noncommercial, and permanent institution open to all the farmers in the county, and through which all could find expression, and could deal directly and in an organized way with the State colleges and Federal Department of Agriculture. Besides, none of the farmers' organizations with which the department was ac- quainted had been developed with the idea of extension work in mind, and the agents of Government hesitated to take up work with them, or propose work to them which would necessarily involve a redirection of their organization, to say nothing of the jealousies which might have been created by apparent favoritism in the selec- tion of one organization in preference to another. The county farm bureau, therefore, was created as and has become essentially a public institution very much like your college of agriculture. A name which bettei describes its functions properly would be "county extension institute," or "county agricultural extension Bchool," since the farm bureau is essentially an educational and teaching institution — a teaching institution primarily for adults who have left school, and one of the highest type that the world has ever seen on so large a scale, since, as developed, the teaching is done by the drawing-out process rather than by the filling-up process. It is done by the people themselves working as a full partner with the trained agents of the Government, who in cooperation with these trained agents develop programs of improvement out of their own needs, who assign their own tasks, do the work themselves, and thereby provide for their own development in the only way that any people ever have or can make permanent progress. This county farm bureau, or county extension organization, or county agricultural institute, or county agricultural extension school, is beginning to function in the county very much as the agricultural college functions in the State. From my stand- point, the county farm bureau is essentially a subcollege of agriculture with all its classroom work done out on the farmer's farm, or in his barns or home, or fields or creamery, or in the market place. The work is done essentially on the seminar plan with the teacher on an equality with the students, and all associated together in dis- covering the particular needs of that community, and together working out plans for their solution. I use these terms, "county farm bureau," "county extension organization," "county agricultural institute," etc., synonymously, in order to bring to you the thought that the farm bureau is not just another fanners' organization, but that it is a new institu- tion come into existence. People are not a unit in religion, or in politics, or in philosophy. We have different churches, different political parties, different theories of life, but we are practically all united in maintaining a common public school, and a common State college of agriculture, and a common experiment station. As a teaching institution I believe we all can unite in supporting the county farm bureau, and that this bureau will no more interfere with the development of the Grange, or the Farmers' Union, or the Equity, or any other farmers' organization, than does the State college of agriculture or the Federal Government, which are the parents of the county farm bureau. If the term "county agricultural institute" or some similar term will clear up in the minds of the people the fact that the farm bureau is not just another competing farmers' organizaton, but a new kind of adult-teaching institution instead, the adoption of some such change of title merits consideration. The county farm bureau, like the State college of agriculture, lends its assistance in every way to building up any and all farmers' organizations within the county along any legitimate lines, and in developing new organizations in the interests of farmers. By this I mean that if the farmers of the county desire to organize a com- mercial organization such as a live-stock shippers' association, the farm bureau, through its trained cooperatively employed agents would aid any group of farmers to organize such an association, counseling them as to the advantages of such an associa- tion, advising them as to the constitution and by-laws which have proved effective, giving them counsel as to the difficulties which they might expect to encounter, etc., 32 FARM ORGANIZATIONS. but leaving to that particular group of farmers themselves the actual handling of the funds involved and the actual responsibility through their own officers for the prog- ress of the work, giving them, however, counsel at every step. Now, this is simply the best way of teaching. Farmers, like other people, grow and become self-reliant and confident exactly in proportion as they do things for themselves. So if the farmers of any community want to borrow $50,000 or any other sum, the agents of the farm bureau may properly advise with them as to how to form a Federal farm loan association, and how to get in touch with the Government or other agency in order to secure a long-time loan, and will also help them in developing plans for spending such funds in ways that will help the individuals and the community, but the farmers themselves must do the work through their own offices and must them- selves handle all funds. If the grange wants assistance in vitalizing its agricultural program in the county, the farm bureau lends its assistance through its cooperatively employed agents and otherwise in working out with them plans to that end. The county farm bureau, therefore, as I see the matter, is, in the Northern and Western States at least, to all intents and purposes, a public teaching institution fostered by the Federal Government and the State colleges of agriculture, and with which the Federal and State governments work in the closest cooperation, since it is founded on public law, supported for the most part with public funds, and is organ- ized specificallv to carry on extension work in agriculture and home economics in furtherance of the provisions of the Smith-Lever Act of 1914. Another way of viewing the farm bureau is that it is essentially a local chamber of agriculture, functioning much the same as local chambers of commerce do, but very much more closely affiliated with government than chambers of commerce are. The local chamber of commerce works in the interest of the whole town, and so does the local farm bureau work in the interests of all the people of the whole county, including the grange, the union, the Dairymen's League, the Horticultural Society, or any other organized agricultural group within the county. The local farm bureau does not interfere with the development of any of these organizations, but rather, through its teaching staff and its direct connections with the State experi- ment stations and the National Department of Agriculture, is in position to bring any of the local organizations the latest advice or assistance on agriculture or rural matters. In the old days, if the farmers' union or the grange wanted assistance from the college of agriculture or the Federal Government, they had to send to these depart- ments direct for such assistance. Now the Federal Government and the colleges have placed in each county in the farm bureau trained men on whom any farmers' organization may call and get immediate assistance, and not wait the longer process of dealing with the faraway State or Federal Government. I may be permitted perhaps to make this general summary of the situation as it now exists. The Federal Government and the colleges of agriculture are able to give such farmers' organizations as the grange, the union, the Equity, etc., the same direct help as they have ever been able to give to them, and are not seeking to replace any of these institutions by a like class organization; but the Federal Government and the colleges are creating, with the aid of the farmers themselves, what is essen- tially a county agricultural teaching institution in every county of the United States, commonly known in the Northern and Western States as a farm bureau and placing trained men there to work with all the farmers of whatever group in the development of a common program of agriculture in the interests of all the people of that county; and they are creating these county teaching institutions principally in the interests of economy and efficiency in putting into effect National and State laws for promoting agriculture and home economics. So much for the county farm bureau. Now, as to the State federation of farm bureaus and the National federation. They are not creations of the Government; they are not publicly supported; and they are therefore not public institutions. They are nevertheless very important institutions, and are playing a most helpful r61e in promoting agriculture in fundamental ways of legislation, publicity, and as students of broad economic policies, and they are directly aiding the Government and the colleges in promoting county farm bureaus. The Federal Government took no part in creating these institutions, because it had no fundamental reason or excuse for so doing. In creating the county farm bureau the Federal Government was concerned because it felt the need of a channel through which its information might flow with certainty to all the people in every community. The Federal Government deals with these local organizations through the State extension director and his staff. From the standpoint, therefore, of national demands, the local group were already federated, and we were enabled to reach the most remote community anywhere through the administrative extension officials at the agricul- FARM ORGANIZATIONS. 33 tural colleges dealing with those local groups. The extension directors of all these States are likewise organized, arid meet once or twice every year, and they have officers and committees with which the Federal Government can deal on any extension matters of either sectional or nation-wide scope. The Federal Government, there- fore, has its National organization and its State organization, both of them public in character and publicly supported, and there was therefore no occasion for its seeking another organization to do this same work, and, of course, it had no right to use its public f ands for creating an organization to influence legislation or matters of national policy. The people themselves are the ones to determine what Government shall do. Government does not tell the people what to do except in carrying out the laws enacted by the majority. The previous speakers have fully covered the functions of these two institutions, but I can not leave this phase of the subject without adding that the United States Department of Agriculture feels very close to the State federations, and particularly to the American Federation of Farm Bureaus. These organizations have grown out of the county farm bureaus, and have a fundamental and intimate knowledge of what extension work in agriculture and home economics means to the community and the Nation. The members of these organizations are all members of county farm bureaus, and know the limitations of the county organizations. Knowing these limitations they have seen the need of a State and National organization that shall supplement the work of the county farm bureau in handling the big State and National problems in agriculture in the way of legislation, finance, economics, marketing, and the like. The officers in the State and National organization are in considerable degree farm bureau presidents, or drawn from the extension staff of the State col- leges and National Government. President Howard, of the national federation, was formerly president of a county farm bureau, then president of the State federation. John Coverdale, formerly county agent leader in Iowa, was selected by the federation as secretary of the national association. Mr. 0. E. Gunnels, assistant secretary of the federation, has been suc- - cessively county agent, county agent leader, and extension director in one of the big central States, and assistant chief of the office of extension work North and West in Washington before taking up work with the national federation. Dr. True, as director of the States Relations Service, is a nonvoting member of the executive committee of the national federation, and the extension director and county agent leader of practically every State is on the executive board of the State federations. There is every reason, therefore, for the closest kind of cooperation by the extension forces of the States and National Department of Agriculture with the State and na- tional farm bureau federations. The very valuable work the national federation has already done in analyzing proposed national legislation affecting agriculture, the appointment of rural economics and marketing committees of the ablest minds in the country, the aid given stockmen in their marketing problems at the big terminal centers, and like matters, all taken up within the first year of its organization, indi- cate something of the need and scope of work of this national organization, which may properly handle for the farmers matters that would be improper for the Federal department or State colleges of agriculture to undertake as public departments of Government. And above all they are lending the weight of their influence and directly aiding the Federal Government and the State colleges of agriculture in promoting county farm bureaus as extension institutions in every county of the united States. That is why we believe in them and want to see them grow. In closing, I want to leave on your minds these thoughts: (1) The county farm bureau is not just another farmers' organization. It is essen- tially a new public institution come into existence. (2) All farmers, regardless of their affiliation with any other organizations, can support the farm bureau just as they can support their public schools, and with the same assurance that it will contribute to the public good and will in no way supplant any other farmers' organization. (3) The farm bureau is a type of farmers' organization which differs from all others in many respects. It was not created to meet a special emergency or to correct any injustice, but as a sound, deliberate, constructive movement to promote agriculture, home and rural life, to make farming an efficient and profitable business, rural home life fuller and richer, and to improve the community life of the country as a whole. (4) The State and national farm bureau federations are created to further these same purposes in a still larger way, and are able to do this because of their origin, intimate knowledge of extension work, and freedom of action; and to my mind are functioning essentially as teaching institutions or chambers of agriculture, giving direct and substantial aid to the State and national Governments in promoting extension work. 32428—21 3 34 FARM ORGANIZATIONS. The Chairman. I desire to place in the hearing at this point a statement from the last annual report, Agricultural Extension Service, Pennsylvania State College, in which is denned the farm bureau. THE FARM BUREAU. The necessity for local organization, in order to develop a definite program,_ is obvious. The county farm bureau is the organization which serves as the local point of contact. It is essential that the people of a county or a community take upon themselves certain responsibilities in determining the particular lines of work to be undertaken and in executing that Work. In the last analysis, accomplishment will depend upon what the people themselves do rather than upon the extension service itself. Such an organization must necessarily be nonpolitical, nonsectarian, and noncom- mercial. The business of the organization is conducted in its details by an executive committee designated for that purpose. The county agent is the local representative of the extension service and his local expenses, such as travel in the county', office equipment, telephone, stenographic assistance, etc., are paid by the farm bureau. All extension work in a county is done through the farm bureau organization. The farm bureaus were organized originally for the purpose of cooperating with the college in developing extension work and thus far tney have devoted themselves almost entirely to this purpose. At the close of the year covered by this report 58 county farm bureaus were in operation, three of which were launched within the year. At least two more will be ready at the beginning of the next fiscal year, July 1, and some of the remaining counties are interested in starting. In not a single instance nas a farm bureau dis- continued after starting its work. Detailed reports covering the work within each county aave been published for distribution within these counties. I also desire to insert in the record at this point copy of a circular, "Virginia Farm Bureau Federation — what it is, what it has done, what it intends to do, how to become a member," issued by the Virginia Farm Bureau Federation, Marion, Va. Virginia Farm Bureau Federation — What It Is, What It Has Done, What It Intends to Do, How to Become a Member. [Virginia Farm Bureau Federation, Marion, Va. County Farm Bureaus.] WHAT THE VIRGINIA FARM BUREAU FEDERATION IS. Virginia Farm Bureau Federation is to the Virginia farmer what the chamber of commerce iB to the city business man. It forms his contract with other interests closely allied with his own, and tends toward a mutual understanding and a mutual benefit to all. The Virginia Farm Bureau Federation is the Virginia farmer's representative in all matters pertaining to his welfare. The Virginia Farm Bureau Federation is the Virginia farmer's authority on market- ing, buying, shipping, and in all matters in any way related to the distribution of production to the best advantage. Through centralized sales agencies, the Bureau is enabled to so place farm products on the market as to avoid local oversupplies, and hence avoid excessive slumps. The Virginia Farm Bureau Federation is the Virginia farmer's champion in his fight for better social and economic conditions, for increased production, and for maximum benefit therefrom. The Virginia Farm Bureau Federation is a State and National organization with the strength of the Nation's farmers behind it. It is strictly nonpolitical and was established on nonpartisan principles for the advancement of agricultural interests. It is controlled by the American farmer for the American farmer. The American Farm Bureau Federation is so organized as to maintain distinct branches in each of the States represented and distinct branches in each of the counties in these States; these to operate individually and cooperate collectively in the advancement of their own and the Nation's interests. FARM ORGANIZATIONS. 35 WHAT THE FARM BUREAU HAS DONE. The American Farm Bureau Federation, established in March, 1920, has created. sumcient influence already to accomplish the following: It caused an appropriation of $2,000,000 to be passed in Congress, after that body had stricken from the bill an appropriation of one and a half million, for assisting agricultural extension work. The stricken clause was replaced and a half million- added, and the bill was passed. It has placed several planks in the Republican and Democratic platforms which are vastly important to the farmers. It has instigated a gigantic grain marketing scheme which, when developed, will save the farmers of America millions of dollars annually. This was done through the limiting of commissions. It has obtained an appropriation of one-half million dollars for the eradication of the European corn borer. It has defeated the Nolan bill, which would have added $1,000,000,000 annually to tax on the farmer. It has obtained a membership of 1,200,000. It has formed branches in 34 States between March 4, 1920, and the present date. It has arranged for long-time credit to farmers with Federal reserve banks at a time when money conditions were bad. It has arranged for loans secured by wool held in pools by the farmers. It has obtained the cooperation of county, city, and agricultural papers in giving- proper publicity to agricultural interests. It has arranged a meeting of representative from all wool-producing States, with a. view to pooling 50,000,000 pounds of wool in America to be held for a fair price. WHAT THE FARM BUREAU INTENDS TO DO. The Virginia Farm Federation has for its objects the following lines of endeavor: To create a completely unified States organization to act as spokesman for the farmer and to adequately represent the farmer and the farmer's interests on all occasions. To create a better and more complete understanding between the farmer and the public, with a view to a mutually profitable relationship. To encourage and assist in every way possible the development of food production to its maximum efficiency. To foster and develop all lines of endeavor conducive to better homes, better social and religious life, better health and better rural living in every sense. To safeguard the rights and interests and asBert the needs of the farmer whenever and wherever occasion may arise. To insist upon the presence of farmer influence upon all boards and commissions appointed by Congress or by the President. To defend the farmer's viewpoint in all matters pertaining to tax levies, tariffs, currency, banking, railways, highways, waterways, foreign markets, and all similar legislative actions in any way affecting agricultural interests. To so handle cooperative marketing as to insure maximum benefit to the consumer through a centralized control of the distribution system. To establish new foreign markets for American surplus in farm products. To improve railroad service to farmers and to all concerned. HOW TO BECOME A MEMBER. When you join your county bureau you become a member of the Virginia Farm Bureau Federation and American Farm Bureau Federation. One fee. Make 1921 farmers' year in American farm history. The American Farm Federation Bureau is working in conjunction with the United States Department of Agriculture, and with the various State departments of agriculture. The Virginia Farm Bureau is operating as a connecting link between county organ- izations and the national federation. County farm bureaus serve to connect individual farmers with other individual farmers in such a manner as to strengthen each and strengthen all by cooperation. Membership in any county bureau entitles the member to full rights and privileges throughout the Virginia Farm Bureau Federation and American Farm Bureau Fed- eration. 36 FARM ORGANIZATIONS. County farm bureaus are being organized as rapidly as possible. If there is no farm bureau in your county get in touch immediately with the secretary of the State farm bureau, E. K. Coyner, Marion, Va., and ask for assistance in organizing your county by calling your farmers together in a conference. I also place in the record a new year's greeting from the United States Department of Agriculture States Relations Service, Wash- ington, D. C, dated January 1, 1921, signed by W. O. Lloyd, in charge county agent work. 1921 New Year's Greetings. ten tears of organized county agricultural extension work, 1911-1912. United States Department of Agriculture, States Relations Service, Office of Extension Work North and West, Washington, D. C, January 1, 1921. To all county agents, county agent leaders, and assistant leaders: The new year brings the tenth birthday of county agent work in the Northern and Western States. March 20 is the day we celebrate. It was on that day in 1911 that J. H. Barron began his work in Broome County, N. Y., as a county agent of the United States Department of Agriculture, working with farmers in a small area around Bing-> hamton as manager of the farm bureau of the chamber of commerce. The Delaware, Lackawanna & Western Railway, the Binghamton Chamber of Commerce, and the United States Department of Agriculture furnished the funds for the employment of this agent, share and share alike. The grange was the point of contact with farmers. The day marks the beginning of "organized" county extension work. There are four names that deserve to be remembered in this connection: B. H. Gitchell, secre- tary of the Binghamton Chamber of Commerce, who first enlisted the interest of the ■chamber in the farm people surrounding the city; George A. Cullen, traffic manager of the Delaware, Lackawanna & Western Railway, who cooperated with the chamber to develop the farms as producers of freight for his road; W. J. Spillman, Chief of the Office of Farm Management, of the United States Department of Agriculture, who gave to the chamber of commerce committee the idea of a trained man to be employed continuously working with country people; and James Quinn, then master of the Broome County Pomona Grange, and afterwards president of the first county farm bureau in the United States, who enlisted the sympathetic interest of the farmers. The event ia significant also as marking the birth of the term "farm bureau," first used to signify a department of a city chamber of commerce. The name has had various meanings in the 10 years, and now in the public mind stands somewhat in the same relation to the country as the parent organization, the chamber of commerce to the city. A special cooperating farmers' organization did not come in Broome County until some months later and at first it was known locally as an agricultural improvement association. It was the germ of the present county farm bureau movement that has now grown to include nearly a million members in the Northern and Western States. There are now 1,168 county agents in the same territory out of a possible 1,500 counties. The county agent and the county farm bureau are the Broome County twins. The two ideas — or are they only one — were born and grew up together. The county agent has been the John the Baptist of the farm bureau movement. Without him it would never have existed and without him it is doubtful it it could long endure. The "agents" have done many things to commend themselves to public esteem, but noth- ing probably greater than the unselfish devotion they have given to their brother, the county farm bureau. For years it was doubtful if it would live, for it was a sickly and rather unpromising infant; but, the brotherly love of the county agent pulled it through and to this, more than to all else, is due its present lusty growth and the -promise of a vigorous and useful life. May we not be permitted to join in this new year's greeting to all county agents .as bringing not only the satisfaction of recognized achievement but the high fruition of labor and love that will endure? Very truly, yours, W. O. Lloyd, In Charge County Agent Work. FARM. ORGANIZATIONS. 37 Mr. Wingo. I would like to get the viewpoint of the gentleman. If I understand,' you have no objection to any farmers or group of farmers in Pennsylvania, if they feel like your organization or any other organization is not serving their general needs, or if a particular group of people feel like they need an organization of their own for their particular work, you have no objection to that. But what you do protest against is for any department of the Government to go out and Undertake to supplant the activities of any self-organized farm organizations, that depended for their inspiration upon the thought and the desire of the farmer to better himself, and not upon an outside suggested organization that is interested more in the organization than they are in the work to be done ? Mr. McSparran. That is our position exactly. We of course do not pretend for a moment that any other organization of farmers has no place in Pennsylvania. Mr. Wingo. You take the position, you say, for instance, the farmers' union wants to come to Pennsylvania and organize, that is a question for the farmers to decide whether you need any addition to the grange or whether or not to supplant the grange, and you do not- object to that unless the Federal Government should undertake by funds, should undertake by its agents and should undertake by its prestige to back up that friendly rivalry? You think it ought to be left to the individual farmer to determine for himself which par- ticular self-help organization would best serve his purpose. Mr. McSparran. Certainly. The Chairman. Have you any further statement ? Mr. McSparran. I just want to make this statement in conclusion: I do not know whether you gentlemen realize that this is a very serious situation. I think we in Pennsylvania do realize it and it seems to me there can be but one of two developments: There is a deep desire in the heart of all farmers in this reconstruction period, when we realize that we have so many problems that are very deep and very important immediate problems, that we do not want any scraps coming up among our own folks. But you see we have a situation where, for instance, the grange in Pennsylvania, an organi- zation of 83,000 members and 950 subordinate granges, has to be put in a position of either defending itself or else of allowing an organization to come in by the assistance of an institution that we- are taxed for and which we helped to construct, to set up a counter organization. And we think that the time has come that there has- been enough activity on the part of the county agents; even in some cases the State colleges, though not with us, think that Congress ought to cut that cord; that the time has come when Congress ought to say that those men have to do the work for which they were ap- pointed and for which the money was appropriated. And if that is. done, if Congress will do that, then we have nothing to say about how many farm organizations shall be instituted, nor who will institute them, nor where they shall be instituted. The grange in. Pennsylvania can take care of itself if it is given a fair field, but it does not want to build up county agents as it has done, and to sup- port the State college as it has done, and then to find that this machinery the Government has established there by its own request, or used in spite of itself is being used to put over an organization #8 FARM ORGANIZATIONS. that never could have gotten in a single county in Pennsylvania, except. possibly two or three, unless they had used this machinery which we constructed really for the farm agents. We think they have a place in Pennsylvania; we think they have a work, and we are perfectly willing to help support them and everything of the kind; but, by Jove, we don't think it is fair that there should come in propaganda, whole page advertising in the newspapers, that nobody knows who is paying for in many cases, and lack of cooperation on the part of this organization. The National Board of Farm Organization has made overtures The Chairman. What organization? Mr. McSparran. The American Farm Bureau Federation. We have made overtures time and again to help work out a board and to sit around the table to work out a policy for American agriculture, but they won't do that. The Chairman. Your position is particularly due to the aggressive attitude of the America Farm Bureau Federation in attempting to nationalize our own county farm bureaus ? Mr. McSparran. Yes; that is the point. The Chairman. The farm bureaus as they are now operating in pur State you consider are doing good work in supporting the county agent ? Mr. McSparran. Yes; when they keep in that field; but when they set up a membership and make the county agent a servaflt of that membership and not a servant of the whole county, then we object and I think it is necessary for Congress to take steps in that matter and to see to it that there is an absolute cleavage to that. Mr. Burdick. Are you one of the officers of the Grange ? Mr. McSparran. Yes; I am master of the State Grange of Penn- sylvania. Mr. Burdick. Is there much duplication in the membership of the bureau and the Grange ? Mr. McSparran. Oh, yes. Mr. Burdick. There is ? Mr. McSparran. Oh, yes. Mr. Burdick. So that a great many members of the Grange belong to both organizations? Mr. McSparran. Of course, I would have to guess at it, but it is away up. I do not know how far it would go, but the great bulk of them are Grangers, because you see the Grange has operated and the ■Grange has supported the State college and Mr. McFadden is a trustee of the college, and Mr. McFadden himself can tell you the State college has supported, right down through this whole move, the county agent. In many cases, if we had said no, there would have been no county agent. Mr. Burdick. What I am trying to get at is whether the farmers join both organizations — both the Grange and the federation ? Mr. McSparran. Yes; lots of them join other organizations; there are the commodity organizations like the potato growers, the milk producers, and the Grange, and the farm bureaus, and lots of them are members of the farm bureau, the Grange, and the others. Mr. Burdick. You are master of your organization, the Grange. Are you a member of the federation, personally ? Mr. McSparran. What federation ? FARM ORGANIZATIONS. 39 Mr. Burdigk. The American Farm Bureau Federation ? Mr. McSparran. No. Mr. Burdick. How many of your Grange members are ? Mr. McSparran. There is no federation in Pennsylvania yet; they are just now trying to put it there. Mr. Burdick. That is what I was asking you, whether members of the Grange were also members of the American Federation? Mr. McSparran. They are members of the farm bureaus there now. Mr. Burdick. I do not mean that; I mean this national organiza- tion. Mr. McSparran. It is not completed in Pennsylvania yet; they are just in process of organization. They have appointed a com- mittee and that committee is to propose a constitution and by-laws, and so on, and then it has to get the approval of so many counties before they can form the organization. And they are just in that formative process. Mr. Burdick. Do you know how it is in other States ? Mr. McSparran. I am acquainted with it in some States. Mr. Burdick. Do you know whether the same farmers are mem- bers of both organizations — the National Grange Organization and the American Farm Bureau Federation? Mr. McSparran. Oh, they are in Ohio, for instance, very largely, and in Michigan they are very largely. Mr. Burdick. Does the National Grange endeavor to keep them from joining the American Federation? Mr. McSparran. I do not think so. Of course, I do not know; but they did not in Ohio, apparently. I do not know that they did. STATEMENT OF MR. 1. B. JACKSON, DIRECTOR OF THE STATE BUREAU OF MARKETS OF THE GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE, ATLANTA, GA. Mr. Jackson. Mr. Chairman, I understand I am here, called as a witness. I would like to have the record show that. And as such I have a statement I want to make and then submit myself to the gentlemen present for any questions they want to ask. Mr. Brand. You might state who you are. Mr. Jackson. I am director of the State Bureau of Markets of the Georgia Department of Agriculture, Atlanta, Ga. I draw my salary from the State of Georgia. County agents, Federal employees, working under instructions from their chiefs are acting as organizers, collectors, and secretaries for the American Farm Bureau Federation. County agents have told me this. Dr. True, of the United States Department of Agriculture, chief of the county agents, admitted to me in his office January 7, 1921, that the county agents were assisting in the organization of the farm bureau. I hold in my hand a letter on the stationery of the United States Department of Agriculture, dated January 28, 1921, and signed by A. Tabor, the county agent, who puts into the letter both his titles ; that of secretary of the Washington County farm bureau and of local demonstration agent. This letter is only one of many that can be produced, showing the activities of the county agents in organizing the farm bureau. 40 FARM ORGANIZATIONS. The people of Georgia want to know who is behind this farm bureau. They thought at first that the United States Department of Agriculture would acknowledge parentage. But not so. The United States Agricultural officials will tell you very quickly that they have no control over the farm bureau. The farm bureau, in addition to procuring farmers to join, are admitting to membership those who have habitually exploited the farmer. This letter I make reference to, I will be glad to submit to the com- mittee, if you wish it. The Chairman. You might read the letter. Mr. Jackson. It is on the stationery of the United States Depart- ment of Agriculture, the college and the extension work. It is dated Centerville, Ga., January 28, 1921, addressed to the State bureau of Markets, State Capitol, Atlanta, Ga. Dear Sir: Please list on the market bulletin the following products for sale: Wash- ington County Farm Bureau, Centerville, Ga., 200,000 bushels white Spanish peanuts. Write for price on carloads. A. Tabor, Secretary, Centerville, Ga. Very truly, yours, A. Tabor, Local Demonstration Agent. The Chairman. That is, Mr. Tabor is the county agent for that county ? Mr. Jackson. Yes, sir. The Chairman. Under the Smith-Lever law ? Mr. Jackson. Under the Smith-Lever law; and he is also secretary of the farm bureau. The Chairman. And he operates under your State college of agriculture ? Mr. Jackson. Yes, sir. The Chairman. How is his salary paid? Mr. Jackson. It is paid under the Smith-Lever act, matched by the State and, in many instances, then the county puts up a fund and in some instances, where the county does not, I understand they raise it through private means, perhaps. The Chairman. Is that applied towards his salary, too, as an additional amount, or is that used for the expenses of the local farm bureau ? Mr. Jackson. I have no reference to the farm bureau, now, as to how the farm bureau is sustained. The farm bureau is sustained by membership fees, collected in by the farm bureau organization with the aid of the county agent. The Chairman. There is a local subscription that goes to support the county agent, or as a part of his salary ? Mr. Jackson. In most instances in our State that I know of the county commissioners and county put up that money. The Chairman. Do they put up that money for the county farm bureau or the county agent ? Mr. Jackson. For the county agent. The Chairman. For the county agent ? Mr. Jackson. Yes, sir. Mr. Stevenson. Are the county demonstration agents pretty efficient and progressive in their work down there ? Mr* Jackson. Well, they do not confine themselves to the work for which they were intended. FARM ORGANIZATIONS. 41 Mr. Stevenson. Are they doing pretty efficient work? If we are going to try out this thing, I want to know something about what work they are doing. Mr. Jackson. I would not care to comment on the work they are doing down there. Mr. Stevenson. Does not the State college and the county have some supervision of those activities ? Mr. Jackson. They do. And that is where these instructions come from. Mr. Stevenson. If they have and they are putting up half of the money to support these fellows, if they do not do good work, they are going to fire them, aren't they? Mr. Jackson. It is not under the direction of the State, sir; it is under the direction of the United States Department of Agriculture. That is what I want to make clear. Mr. Stevenson. I understand. But if the State does not put up half of the money to pay the salary, then the function stops for the counties in which that failure occurs ? Mr. Jackson. Yes, sir; and that is what is liable to happen just as it stands now. Mr. Stevenson. So that if they keep a man there, it certainly would indicate, in the ordinary run of the work, he is doing pretty f;ood work. Is not that about correct, that he is satisfactory at east to the local community or they would not put up the money ? Mr. Jackson. The great bulk of our people do not know about this part. Mr. Stevenson. I am talking about the work, not the conflict of organizations. I am talking about the work; they know whether or not he is doing the work for which they are paying him ? Mr. Jackson. They know he is not doing the work for which they are paying him. Mr. Stevenson. Do they continue to put up the money after they know he is not doing the work for which they are paying him ? Mr. Jackson. They may not continue to do so. Mr. Stevenson. If they do not continue to do so, he will cease to be an agent there ? Mr. Jackson. He will. The Chairman. Is your State fully organized, and has it a county agent in every county in the State ? Mr. Jackson. Not altogether. The Chairman. How many of them have county farm bureaus ? Mr. Jackson. I have been told they have a semblance of an organ- ization in some 50 counties. The Chairman. In every county where there is a county agent, have they a farm bureau there in process of organization ? Mr. Jackson. Yes, sir. The Chairman. Are those bureaus members of the American Farm Bureau Federation, or has there been a campaign there, to your knowledge, to take them in ? Mr. Jackson. I could not state just how far that federation has gone on. Until I heard otherwise a minute ago, I thought when a thing was named a farm bureau it was a member of the American Farm Bureau Federation. 42 FARM ORGANIZATIONS. The Chairman. You have no knowledge of a campaign having been put on down there by the American Farm Bureau Federation to secure membership ? Mr. Jackson. The secretary, Mr. Coverdale, is in Athens, Ga., to-day trying to get all the citizens and town people in Athens to join. The Chairman. I understood Mr. Coverdale was there in Septem- ber, also. Has he been there continuously since that time ? Mr. Jackson. I do not know, sir. I say he is there now. Mr. Brand. He made a speech there last Thursday or Friday. Mr. Wingo. Who is he ? Mr. Brand. He belongs to this American Farm Bureau Federa- tion, don't he, Mr. Silver ? Mr. Silver. Yes. Mr. Brand. He was in Atlanta or Athens last Friday and made a speech there. I understood he had a drive on for Monday and to-day and to-morrow to get all classes of people to join the American Farm Bureau Federation. Mr. King. What is the idea of that ? Mr. Br\nd. I do not know. Mr. King. Have you any idea it is for propaganda purposes ? Mr. Brand. It is published in the newspapers, inviting everybody, merchants and all classes of people, to join. Mr. Wingo. Where is he from ? Mr. Brand. From Washington. Mr. Silver, don't he belong to your organization ? Mr. Silver. Yes; he is the headquarters secretary. Mr. Brand. Where is he from ? Mr. Silver. From Iowa; that is his home. He is secretary. Mr. Brand. He is a salaried officer ? Mr. Silver. Yes. Mr. Wingo. The county demonstration agents who were employed by the United States Department of Agriculture, and their salary supplemented by State or county funds, constitute the organizing force of these county farm bureau organizations in Georgia; is that your statement ? Mr. Jackson. Yes, sir. Mr. Wingo. What is the character of the farmers he is using to constitute his county farm bureau; are they agriculturists or dirt farmers ? Mr. Jackson. They have some dirt farmers in it, and they get in, as my statement shows, a great many people who have habitually exploited the farmers. Mr. Echols. Just what class of people is that ? Mr. Jackson. Well, dealers and factors. Mr. Echols. Dealers in what? Mr. Jackson. Dealers in farm products. The Chairman. And agricultural implements? Mr. Jackson. Yes, sir; and various things. It is open to all, as I understand it. Mr. Echols. Agricultural machinery ? Mr. Wingo. Do they have lawyers in it ? [Laughter.] Mr. Jackson. I think so. FARM ORGANIZATIONS. 43 The Chairman. It is your impression, then, it is largely a campaign to secure members from which they can get annual dues? Mr. Jackson. Yes, sir. The Chairman. For the support of the national organization ? Mr. Jackson. Yes, sir. Mi-. Echols. What is this man Tabor secretary of? Mr. Jackson. Secretary of the Washington County Farm Bureau. Mr. Echols. Do you know whether he draws a salary as such secretary ? Mr. Jackson. I do not know. Mr. Echols. Do you know whether he draws a salary as local demonstration agent or not ? Mr. Jackson. He is the county agent of the Government and must draw a salary. Mr. Echols. He draws a salary from the Government: you know that? " J Mr. Jackson. Yes, sir. Mr. Wingo. What self-help farm organizations are active in your State ? Mr. Jackson. The Farmers' Union. It has been there for many years and is doing nicely. Mr. King. Who is assisting him down there; is he assisted by the chamber of commerce ? Mr Jackson. Assisting whom ? Mr. King. Mr. Coverdale, to organize those farm bureaus, whereby he gets everybody in town. Mr. Jackson. He is assisted by the county agent. Mr. King. Does he have any other assistance outside ? Mr. Jackson. He has assistance from the college over at Athens. The Chairman. The college at Athens; that is, the State college is cooperating with Mr. Coverdale ? Mr. Jackson. Yes, sir. The Chairman. In the campaign he is putting on there to secure members to the national organization ? Mr. Jackson. They have chosen him State manager and given him headquarters at Athens. The Chairman. The American Farm Bureau Federation has done that? Mr. Jackson. Yes, sir; he is closely intertwined with the whole ■agricultural college there. The Chairman. And his salary is paid by the American Farm Bureau Federation, or out of this fund that is collected ? Mr. Jackson. Yes, sir. The Chairman. And he has his office in the agricultural college ? Mr. Jackson. That is right. The Chairman. They furnish him with "office space there ? Mr. Jackson. I could not say as to whether they furnish him with office space. I know he is at Athens; I could not say whether they furnish him office space. That is the seat of the college at Athens. The Chairman. It is your view then those county bureaus that are being organized and put in this national federation could not exist except for the assistance coming from the Agricultural Depart- ment in the direction of the county agent ? Mr. Jackson. I feel sure of it. 44 FARM ORGANIZATIONS. Mr. Brand. Is it your opinion that this federation, corporation, or association is using the county agents to help increase its mem- bership ? Mr. Jackson. Undoubtedly, sir. Mr. Brand. Do you know what compensation they are receiving or what inducement is being held out to them ? Mr. Jackson. I do not know. I think it is a matter of instructions that they get from higher up. Mr. Brand. Are they doing the work for nothing; is that your information, or are they getting paid for it ? Mr. Jackson. The Government is paying the county agent. Mr. Brand. I am talking about this federation. Mr. Jackson. I do not know what the federation is doing in the way of paying. Mr. Wingo. You have been a farmer? Mr. Jackson. No, sir; I am not a dirt farmer. I have some farming interest, but I do not count myself a farmer. Mr. Wingo. What is your official position? Mr. Jackson. I am director of the State bureau of markets of the Georgia Department of Agriculture, Atlanta, Ga. I have held that position since it was first established, four years ago. Mr. Wingo. What was your occupation before that ? Mr. Jackson. My occupation before that was sales manager. Mr. Wingo. For what? Mr. Jackson. Fertilizer business. Mr. Wingo. You have observed something of farm organizations, I presume, in your life. How long has generally been the life of a farm organization that took in others than farmers ? Mr. Jackson. Very short-lived. Mr. Wingo. Is the farmer in Georgia a very trustful man, or is he natually suspicious? Mr. Jackson. Oh, he is suspicious. Mr. Wingo. He has a right to be; I am not criticizing him. Mr. Jackson. That is right. The Chairman. This letter you have put in here, signed by the county agent and the secretary of the Farm Bureau Federation ; that is on the United States Department of Agriculture letterhead, you say? Mr. Jackson. Yes, sir. The Chairman. How was that mailed; was that mailed in a Government envelope ? Mr. Jackson. I could not say how it came to the office. The mailing clerk opened it. The Chairman. Have you any knowledge whether the franking privilege is extended to him? Mr. Jackson. The county agent uses the franking privilege; yes, sir. I could not state how that came in, because it was opened and put on my desk. The Chairman. As far as the average person knows and under- stands, the county farm bureau and the American Farm Bureau Federation and the county agent are all one and the same person? Mr. Jackson. So far as we know the county farm bureau and the Farm Bureau Federation are one and the same, and we know the FARM ORGANIZATIONS. 45 county agent is a Government employee and we know he is organizing these farm bureaus. Mr. Echols. These men are paid part by the State and part by the Federal Government, are they not ? Mr. Jackson. These county agents ? Mr. Echols. Yes. Mr. Jackson. Yes, sir. Mr. Echols. How are they selected ? Who appoints them ? Mr. Jackson. They are selected by the extension force. Mr. Echols. Of the Federal Government ? Mr. Jackson. Under Dr. True; yes, sir. Mr. Echols. The State has nothing to do with selecting them ? Mr. Jackson. No, sir. Mr. Wingo. I was under the impression — take it in my State — that the quorum court, the county court, made up of the justices — you have a different organization, I suspect — selected the man. Of course they have to make a selection that is acceptable to the Federal Government. Is that true or not ? Mr. Jackson. I never heard of that before. My impression has always been that those in control of the extension force picked out these men and put them in the county. The Chairman. That is, the extension force of your agricultural college make the selection ? Mr. Jackson. Yes, sir. Mr. Stevenson. The agents are selected in South Carolina by the State agricultural college authorities. Mr. Brand. I think that is true in Georgia, is it not ? Mr. Jackson. I said the State agricultural college, which has charge of the extension work. Mr. Stevenson. The Federal authorities do not select him; they merely approve. Mr. Wingo. Who appropriates your county funds in Georgia ? Mr. Jackson. The county commissioners. Mr. Wingo. You have county commissioners ? Mr. Jackson. Yes, sir. Mr. Wingo. They do not select these county agents ? Mr. Jackson. No, sir. Mr. Wingo. They simply pay the one selected for them by your State college ? Mr. Jackson. They pay whatever they appropriate. Mr. Wingo. They determine whether or not they will supplement it? Mr. Jackson. And the director of extension work, you understand, who is a United States Department of Agriculture man, chooses these county agents. I do not think the county agents in my State are to blame in this matter; I think they get their directions to go out and do this work. Mr. King. From where ? Mr. Jackson. From their chief. Mr. Echols. Here in Washington ? Mr. Jackson. Yes, sir. Mr. King. In the Agricultural Department here ? Mr. Jackson. Yes, sir. 48 FARM ORGANIZATIONS. The Chairman. Have you any further statement you would like- to make ? Mr. Jackson. Nothing further. The Chairman. We will hear Mr. Silver. STATEMENT OF MR. GRAY SILVER, WASHINGTON REPRE- SENTATIVE OF THE AMERICAN FARM BUREAU FEDER- ATION, AND MEMBER OF THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE. Mr. Silver. I would say that the very best evidence that we are farmers is in the difference of opinion expressed here. Farmers are individualists and view these things from an individual standpoint. This is not unusual for a farmers' meeting. I feel very much at home, and, aside from one phase, the testimony given here in the main was right, except that the witness has misstated the very thing that the American Farm Bureau Federation is endeavoring to do. What we are endeavoring to do and what these other people claim to do is to assist our farmers along educational and cooperative lines so that the will understand their own problems and will approach these different problems with a common viewpoint. The one thing to which I refer especially is the difference of opinion between Mr. McSparran and myself as to the one happening to which he referred. Mr. Brand. That was a difference in fact and not in opinion. Mr. Silver. I do not consider that it was a difference in fact; it might be approached from a different view point. I did say, as I will say to any eligible person in the room, that I would be glad to have Mr. McSparran working with us, glad to have him as a member of the farm bureau federation and any other of his calling from Penn- sylvania, providing they see fit to come in and affiliate with us as members. I would sa; , in addition, that it never crossed my mind that Mr. McSparran's influence with his members was to be con- sidered; I never thought for one moment that he was able to deliver the Grange of Pennsylvania; nor did I think when I talked with him that it was anything in the nature of an approach, nor is there any compensation as a director of our organization. And if you are so fortunate as to be chosen a director or member of the executive committee it still does not carry any compensation, except a per diem when you attend the meetings. So my thoughts and Mr. McSparran's are at variance on that point. The Chairman. Mr. Silver, may I interrupt you right there and read my question? My question was, "Have members or officers of other organizations been offered or given positions in your organ- ization with the idea of absorbing these other organizations," your answer was "no." Mr. Silver. I would say the same thing now and would go furthci and say that there is no thought or belief on our part that the organ- ization in Pennsylvania — the farm bureau federation — -is expected to absorb or do away with the Grange any more than it did in Ohio or New York. We have both the farm bureau and the Grange in Ohio and other States ; the membership is overlapping, but the Grange is strong and functioning and also the farm bureau is strong and func- tioning, but that does not mean that we should consolidate, however. There are not many members in Pennsylvania who believe that it would be injurious to the Grange of that section. We do not for one FARM ORGANIZATIONS. 47 minute think of or desire to build a great organization at the expense of other organizations, but rather to supplement them. I want to say in that connection, as I said before, that I am not an organization man; I do not have the facts that would have to do with the organiza- tion in the different places. Mr. McSparran and myself attended meetings of the National Board and we have on different occasions discussed the question and have agreed that agriculture would never have proper consideration until the farmers of the country as a whole spoke with one voice. Mr. Brand. Will they ever do that ? Mr. Silver. They have not been doing that but we hope the time will come and that is what brought us together. We discussed how we best could bring about a national voice for agriculture, for I be- lieve the farmer who helps his neighbors thresh or butcher has in him the elements of cooperation. The Chairman. When was this meeting, Mr. Silver ? Mr. Silver. I can not give you the exact date, but it was some months since. The Chairman. Was it after the meeting of the Pennsylvania State Grange at Allento wn ? Mr. Silver. It was before. Following that discussion we had lunch together, and during the luncheon we were still discussing it, how American agriculture could get together and speak with one voiee, and the question came up about his State organization and, if I remember correctly, he pictured the fact that the Pennsylvania State Grange was not affiliated with the National Grange. He meant that they were connected with the National Board rather than the National Grange ; also the Washington Grange, which had not been actively operating. That comes around to the place where we dis- cussed the different forms of organization — thatis, whether theGrange, National Union, or Farmers' Union affiliated with the farm bureau federation could not work more effectively. I did not wholly agree with him and illustrated by saying that in our constitution we pro- vided for cooperation of the State organizations of farm bureaus and other similar organizations and explained to him that here was a service organization that did not interfere with other things that they wanted to do and that we could in one way get nearer to what we wanted to have. I desire to say that Mr. McSparran is an active man, and I should be glad to have him with the farm bureau of the State, and I did think so then and say it now, and it was not in the nature of approaching him and attempting to proselyte him and take over his Grange, nor did I give him any impression that could be interpreted as such. That was the thought that I discussed with him, and it came up, not from any viewpoint of selfishness or want- ing to do harm to his organization, but rather to serve farmers generally. Mr. Wingo. Who is handling the work of your organization in Pennsylvania ? Mr. Silver. Mr. Heaton is there at this time, or was recently. Mr. Wingo. Have you any local man up there ? Mr. Silver. I am not posted on the organization end, yet I would gladly give you any information I have or can secure for you. Mr. Wingo. Are you pretty well acquainted with farm conditions of that State, and the farm leaders ? 48 FARM ORGANIZATIONS. Mr. Silver. I have spent considerable time in Pennsylvania. I have been in the live-stock business and have spent considerable time in Pennsylvania and know farmers there, but I am not qualified to pass on just who the'leaders up there may be. Mr. Wingo. But you know them generally; there is Mr. McSparran, whom you would be glad to get as a member of your organization ? Mr. Silver. There are many in addition to Mr. McSparran whom we would like to get as members. Mr. Wingo. Here is the point I want to get. The thought that comes to my mind is that Mr. McSparran is a capable man; I have been in Pennsylvania and I have the idea that he is simply typical of a good many men connected with agriculture in Pennsylvania and I should not think that he alone of the men connected with agricultural movements in Pennsylvania would be available. Mr. Silver. There are many others whom we would like to have. Mr. Wingo. Do you know of any, other than Mr. McSparran, whom you can name ? Mr. Silver. No, sir; I do not. Mr. Wingo. Did you, or did you not, try to get Mr. McSaprran to take the Pennsylvania grange organization, body, boots, and breeches, into your organization? Mr. Silver. Not in that way, because it would be necessary for the individual farmers to join with us by signing on the dotted line. Our organization is based on the individuals becoming members of the American Farm Bureau Federation, so that every individual would have to acquire membership and come in as an individual, so that if Mr. McSparran's organization wanted to come in it would be a question of the individuals becoming members. Mr. Wingo. I am wondering, Mr. Silver, if Mr. McSparran, with all his high character and ability is the type of man whose star if it rose in one constellation would not fade in another. Now, suppose that he took an active interest in your organization would he not gradually lose his activity in the other organization? Mr. Silver. 1 do not know about that. Mr. Brand. Would you not be apt to be affected a great deal more if Mr. McSparran would not come in ? Mr. Silver. I want to say very frankly in that connection that we try to secure membership of the proper kind anywhere we can. Mr. Brand. Your idea was that if you could get him you would get those behind him ? Mr. Silver. Mr. McSparran is a leader of men and would have a following; he is interested in this work and I do not see that it would at all lessen his activity with the grange. Mr. Brand. I am not criticizing what you said but was not your main purpose to secure an added membership ? Mr. Silver. Let me say again that in securing an added mem- bership we have no thought of what seems to be in your mind when you say absorbing these other organizations. We can get along and work in harmony with them even though our membership is over- lapping. The Chairman. In your discussion with Mr. McSparran were you under instructions from any one connected with the Federation as to having this interview with him ? Mr. Silver. No, sir. FAEM ORGANIZATIONS. 49* The Chairman. It had not been discussed with your officers ? Mr. Silver. No, sir; and from the viewpoint which Mr. McSparran seems to put it I will say that I would have no authority to do any such thing. I might recommend or assist but I have no authority of that kind. The Chairman. You were aware that Mr. McSparran was long identified with agricultural matters and the Grange and has had more or less connection with the Grange organization and is a dominant man in agriculture in Pennsylvania, one of the outstanding figures in agricultural and Grange matters, and in regard to things agricultural there is hardly a meeting anywhere at which Mr. McSparran is not prominent. Is it not a fact that your object in going to Mr. McSparran was to get his influence to aid in building up your organization '« Mr. Silver. Certainly I want to help build up our organization. The Chairman. But is it not a fact that if you had succeeded in getting Mr. McSparran he would have been on a salary? Mr. Silver. Mo, sir. The Chairman. And you say this was not discussed with any members of your organization ? Mr. Silver. I would have no reason to discuss with the organiza- tion anything except as it comes up officially. I do not have anything to do with the organization work. I am located here. The Chairman. It was stated here also this morning that this Wisconsin organization was given a proposition that they were to be taken over bodily and that their officers were to be given positions. Have you any knowledge of that ? Mr. Silver. None at all. The Chairman. Who would carry on such negotiations ? Mr. Silver. Mr. McSparran referred to a letter from Mr. Howard. He would have authority to speak in regard to that; also Mr. Cover- dale would have authority to speak; either of these two men. I do know that what was said this morning was the first intimation that came to me of the taking over of any organization, body, boots, and breeches. The Chairman. It was rather an ambitious program as propounded. Mr. Silver. I would like to know how any farm orgamzation of our type could do it; certainly they must take them in as individuals or in local groups. The Chairman. To get this matter cleared up I will read on page 16 of the stenographer's notes, where I asked you this question: "Have not the county agents, as such, been responsible to a considerable extent for the promotion of State farm bureau federations and of the national federation?" Your answer was, "No." Do you care to say anything further in regard to that ? Mr. Silver. I would like to repeat just what I said then but I will go further and make a fuller explanation, which will also be in the statement which ycu said I might file with you. We must go back a little bit and think of the farm bureau, the local organization, or whatever other name it might have acknowledged when the county agent, endeavoring to serve in a capacity which would help the farmers, would call in the local community group of active people who wanted, in addition to serving themselves in a selfish way on their own farms, a little participation in other things. He would get 32428—21 4 50 FARM ORGANIZATIONS. these groups together and those farmers would see other what he had to bring in in the way of results of researches or other activities of the Department of Agriculture and he would submit this to them. Now, farmers are not, as a rule, great readers of scientific stuff; it is rather dry reading and the tables of figures which usually go with it make it rather difficult for the farmers to grasp and apply, and as a better method the county agent sits in at their meetings and explains things; he brings this information to them in such way as they can handle it; takes these farmers by groups and endeavors to secure pledges to carry out certain experiments at their farms at the farm- ers' expense. These groups are gotten together entirely at the farm- ers' -expense, the use of their land, labor, seed, fertilizer, etc., and under the direction of the county agent they carry out these projects and experiments for the benefit not only of the individual farmer but for all. The Chairman. That is largely all information furnished by the Department of Agriculture, is it not ? Mr. Silver. Yes, and the balance by the Farm Bureau Federation . The Chairman. Does your organization supply direct such infor- mation to the county agent, or does the Department of Agriculture give him instructions for the farmer ? Mr. Silver. No, sir. The Chairman. How does your organization get that information to the farmer ? Mr. Silver. Directly through our organization, step by step. The Chairman. Through tne county farm bureau ? Mr. Silver. Yes, sir. The Chairman. The information you get goes to the local farm bureau and not to the county agent ? Mr. Silver. Yes, sir. Let me go just a little further. Now, if I have made plain the kind of organization the county agent gets together, I am sure that if the people in this room had the same facts to start with they would arrive at just the same conclusion; therefore, I want to say that I wish any one here to interrogate me on anything that is not entirely plain. After they have gotten together these local organizations for the purpose I have just expressed they find that these groups of farmers are interested in matters which are larger than perhaps the local farm organization can handle or the county agent has authority to act and this brought about the development of the organization of a county or farm bureau. There seems to be considerable confusion in the minds of the committee as to these groups, the county agents and the kind of cooperation we get. Mr. Wingo. What is the difference in these groups and organiza- tions ; I am somewhat confused on that ? Mr. Silver. That can all be cleared up if I have made plain that the county agents get these groups together for the purpose of developing interest in agricultural experiments and results of re- search. The Chairman. Are they known as the county farm bureau ? Mr. Silver. Or county councils; it had many names but is the local group of farmers or people interested in it; some would be in- terested in the projects and plans of other farmers whether thej included their own crops or not, and that led up to these organiza- tions among the farmers because there were other things which the- FAKM ORGANIZATIONS. 51 county agent could not participate in, and they made a great farmers' organization, an organization officered by farmers. The Chairman. An entirely different set of officers ? Mr. Silver. That might or might not have been, but they still co- operated with the county agent. They took on a larger and broader field of activities in addition to the county agent work. Mr. Wingo. Does that organization include farmers exclusively, or does it include postmasters, lawyers, bankers, and others ? Mr. Silver. I have never known the farm bureau to take in people other than farmers and farm owners. Mr. Wingo. Understand, I am not speaking in a critical way, but it has been represented to me that they have men whose chief activities may be as cashier in a bank and the ownership of the land was incidental to the banking interest, or there was a lawyer who owned a farm, gotten as a fee, it was unloaded on him. Now, are there not such members in these organizations ? Mr. Silver. I want to emphatically deny that that is the class of people who make up the farm bureau; I do not mean that there may not be such people as you speak of who are members, but the officers are exclusively farmers, as are practically all the members. Mr. Wingo. Men whose chief occupation is farming ? Mr. Silver. Yes, sir. The Chairman. In connection with the State federations, do I understand that your organization is promoting the State federations ? Mr. Silver. I do not know that I understand what you mean. The Chairman. There are county farm bureaus, State federations of county farm bureaus, and the American Farm Bureau Federation; does the American federation of farm bureaus have anything to do with the State farm bureaus? Mr. Silver. Let me take that up right here. I would say that these county farm bureaus, such as I have in mind, federated by associating themselves together in the State federation; that is how the State federation is composed or created; that is the only way to create it. There is no direct membership except the county units. Mr. Wingo. Is it comparable to say, a State lodge, made up of subordinate lodges ? Mr. Silver. That is correct. Mr. Wingo. And it draws its representatives to the State meeting from the local bureaus ? Mr. Silver. Yes; that is correct. The Chairman. What does the American Farm Bureau Federation have to do toward the organization of a State federation? Mr. Silver. It may not have anything at all to do with it, but it may be asked for advice and help. The Chairman. As a matter of fact I have a copy of the by-laws of a State federation here. Is that furnished by the American Farm Bureau Federation; have they a set form of by-laws which they send out ? Mr. Silver. Yes ; they make suggestions whenever they are asked for them. Mr. Wingo. When their State convention gets together and elects officers for the State organization have you no connecting link between your national farm bureau and the State bureau, or do you communicate direct? 52 FARM OKGANIZATIONS. Mr. Silver. It is simply a federation of State bureaus; that is one step, and representatives from the different States met at Chicago and created the National Farm Bureau. Mr. Wingo. You have your national officers; they are elected for how long a term ? Mr. Silver. One year. Mr. Wingo. Do you have a uniform date of meeting for the purpose of transacting business ? Mr. Silver. We meet at our convenience. Mr. Wingo. What is the basis of representation at your national meetings of the different State federations ? Mr. Silver. We have one director for each 20,000. Mr. Wingo. This national meeting, is it made up of the. officers of the State federations, or does each State pick up a couple of farmers whom they elect to represent them ? Mr. Silver. They elect these delegates just the same as to any political convention, lodge or other organization meeting. Mr. Wingo. Do the officers, by virtue of their State office, have a seat in the national meeting ? Mr. Silver. No, sir. Mr. Wingo. Do they generally select their State officers as the delegates to these national meetings ? Mr. Silver. I have no way of answering that. Mr. Brand. Who elects the president of the State federation, or association of county groups? Do they select their own president? Mr. Silver. Yes, sir; they select their own president and other officers. The Chairman. Mr. Silver, the other day you indicated that Mr. Howard would furnish us certain information in regard to certain matters. I addressed a letter to Mr. Howard saying that an oppor- tunity would be given him to be heard before the committee but have had no reply. Can you give us any information in regard to that ? Mr. Silver. I communicated with Mr. Howard and he replied that he would be this way shortly and would be glad to malse a statement. The Chairman. I received the other day this beautiful booklet on the Federation by Clifford Thorne; who is Clifford Thorne? Mr. Silver. Clifford Thorne is an attorney at law in Chicago, a member of our transportation committee; we have a service com- mittee in the bureau of economics dealing with transportation, of which he is the head. The Chairman. I see he is given here as "general counsel for the American Farm Bureau Federation" ? Mr. Silver. Yes, sir. Mr. Wingo. At what salary ? Mr. Silver. I think at a salary of $1,000 per month, but I would want to confirm that. Mr. Brand. Do these county agents act as secretary for the county organizations ? Mr. Silver. I do not know about that; such has never come under my personal observation. My experience has been that where the farm bureau was strong he has merely worked with the farmers' union or federation. FAKM ORGANIZATIONS. S3 Mr. Brand. Suppose that you formed a strong organization in Georgia, would it not supplant the cotton association? Mr. Silver. I know of no reason why it should; there is no reason why they can not function just as well if the farm bureau is there as if it was not. Mr. Brand. Suppose that the farmers' union of Georgia is now doing everything it can in the interest of the farmers, why do you want to go there and supplant them ? Mr. Silver. We think we are furnishing a needed service in addi- tion to what the Union supplies. Mr. Burdick. What service do you render ? Mr. Silver. The results of these researches, the service to which Mr. Thorne referred; we did everything we could in that particular case. When the railroads asked for $20,600,000,000 valuation of the railroad there was just one opposing group in the United States, the American Farm Bureau Federation. We thought it not a right valua- tion and protested and Mr. Thorne represented us and $1,700,000,000 was taken off. The records show only about $12,000,000,000 ever invested in the railroads and less than $13,000,000,000 represents the total market value of all their securities. Mr. Burdick. What objects do you set forth as the basis of your associating together ? Mr. Silver. When I file the copy of the constitution it will give you that information, if you do not mind, and will give then, as now, the purposes of our organization because we encourage any farmer and ever> T farmer to join the organization which best suits his pur- poses. We believe that the farmer, being an individualist, is a bettor farmer when he has joined any farm organization and is a better co- operator than he would be if he had not joined any organization. Mr. King. You have an operating department, an executive department, etc., have you a publicity department? Mr. Silver. Yes, we have. Mr. King. Who is at the head of that department? Mr. Silver. Mr. Guard. Mr. King. Where is he from ? Mr. Silver. Chicago. Mr. King. Have you a division of that publicity department which applies to legislative questions and undertakes the direction of affairs before Congress of interest to your organization ? Mr. Silver. All of our activities in that direction go through the Chicago office except on special occasions. Mr. King. We are continuously bombarded with a number of circulars what we might call propaganda, who are we to understand that comes from, whose thought is it that we should be bombarded with this propaganda; in other words who is the master mind? Mr. Silver. You are right at the point of understanding what I meant when I said the American farmer wanted a national voice so that anv one and every one would know the farmer had tpoken. Mr. King. The original thought came from the American farmer ? Mr. Silver. Yes, sir; that would come by this educational program in effect in our county groups. Mr. King. Now, illustrating that thought, where did the thought originate that the farmers of the Middle West should haul to the 54 FARM ORGANIZATIONS. railroad stations 15,000,000 bushels of corn for the starving people of China? Mr. Silver. The first I knew of that was through President Howard's announcement. Mr. King. Did he do that on his own initiative, or where did the thought originate. Mr. Silver. I can not say ; all I can say is that when corn in Iowa broke to 35 cents and the farmers were buying cattle and turning them into the fields to save the corn, the farmers felt that this was not economic and the idea was advanced by some one that they should send the corn to the starving people of China. Mr. King. That idea really originated with the farmers ? Mr. Silver. I think so. Mr. Wingo. As I get it from your statement, the ambition of your organization is to be a national organization to speak as one voice for the American farmer on public matters, and you are willing to use any agency the farmer himself may set up ? Mr. Silver. We have always tried to cooperate with the farmers. Mr. Wingo. The statement has been made here that the Depart- ment of Agriculture has undertaken to single out your organization and give it aid and comfort. You certainly know whether that is true or not; now, is it true ? Mr. Silver. Mr. Wingo, I want to give you that information as far as I can, or any other information requested by you, but the thought expressed by you is not concurred in by myself or the people. Mr. Wingo. I think you misunderstood me. I asked you if it is a fact that the Department of Agriculture has singled out your organization, of all the farmers' organizations in this country, to give practical aid to and use it as an agency in addition to the official agencies for which appropriations are made by Congress. Mr. Silver. You mean to ask the question if I believe our organiza- tion was singled out to the disadvantage of others ? Mr. Wingo. No; I am asking if it is a fact, to your knowledge, that the Department of Agriculture has selected your organization for the purpose of using it in a practical way for the purpose, of carry- ing on the official work of that department ? Mr. Silver. I think there is more correspondence between our ■organization and the Department of Agriculture than any other organization and there is a great desire on the part of the farm bureau to take up matters at the point where the Department of Agriculture leaves off, but in a smaller way. Mr. Wingo. That is not the question exactly. Is there any work- ing arrangement between and a closer contact with the Department of Agriculture and your organization, whereby you are going to be used practically in ways that they do not use farmers' unions, the Grange, or other farmer organizations. They do not call on farmers' unions and the Grange. I am asking you if there is an arrangement between your organization and the Department of Agriculture to use your organization in the official work of that department ? Mr. Silver. In every county where we have a farm bureau, or a county agent, there is a close working arrangement that comes of hav- ing these projects worked out. There is no other official arrangement, and if you are referring to official arrangements I would say I know of none. FARM ORGANIZATIONS. 55 Mr. Wingo. Have you any arrangement, directly or indirectly, tacit or otherwise, with a responsible official of the Department of Agriculture, whereby the county agent of the Department of Agri- culture is directed, either by suggestion or direct orders, to work with your people in your organization ? Mr. Silver. Oh, yes; we work with them, but if you mean that we direct him, that is another question. Mr. Wingo. The question is, Have you an agreement with the De- partment of Agriculture? Mr. Silver. We have no agreement in violation of the law. Mr. Wingo. I asked you, Have you an agreement by which the Department of Agriculture, head of extension work, will issue direc- tions or instructions to the county agents to aid your county organiza- tion in any way ? Mr. Silver. Not in excess of what I have already testified to. I have testified to their cooperation. Mr. Wingo. I want to know if you have sat down with Mr. True, or some one else, and reached any agreement whereby the Depart- ment of Agriculture will give instructions of any kind to its county agents with reference to your organization and its work in any respect ? Mr. Silver. You make that clear, but The Chairman. I have a letter from the United States Department of Agriculture which goes into very great detail and shows that the United States Department of Agriculture is cooperating with your work. Mr. Silver. We are cooperating with them in our work; yes, sir. Mr. Wingo. What I want to know is do they send out instructions to your organization ? Mr. Silver. Mr. Smith sends instructions to his men. Mr. Wingo. Have you any agreement with him to do that? Mr. Silver. That is his legal duty. Mr. Wingo. You think that the law requires him to communicate with the American Farm Bureau Federation in a different way from the farmers' unions. Have you any agreement with him that when he sends out a statement of that kind he should single out your organization and give it the information ? Mr. Silver. They send out their instructions to their agents and we cooperate in any way that we can. They get from us, I think, a greater measure of cooperation. Mr. Wingo. Going back to what you said about it being his legal duty, what law is there that tells him he must select a farm organi- zation to furnish this information to ? Mr. Silver. I would say his instructions to his agents are part of his duties. The Chairman. Mr. Silver, you are making out here that the county agent and the farm bureau are two separate propositions ? Mr. Silver. Yes, sir. The Chairman. Have you any objection to drawing the line of demarcation between the county agents and the farm bureaus? Mr. Silver. I have endeavored to do that with Mr. McSparran and to show what constituted the county agents and the farm bureaus. If there is anything I can add, I will be glad to do so. Mr. Brand. Now, right in line with this gentleman's remarks, I have a letter from Mr. James W. Morton, president of the American 56 FARM ORGANIZATIONS. Farm Bureau Federation of Georgia, who is one of our best citizens and one of the largest planters in my district in which he quotes Dr. True. He says: In December the extension committee of the American Farm Bureau Federation was in conference with Dr. A. 0. True, director of extension work in the United States. The following was suggested by Dr. True and heartily concurred in by the committee: "Believing that the strength and origin of the American Federation of Farm Bureaus have been achieved through cooperation with the State colleges and Federal Depart- ment of Agriculture upon a sound educational program, we declare it to be our purpose to continue such cooperation in the future and that neither business enterprise nor legislative activity should diminish such cooperative educational activities." That is a declaration of the Department of Agriculture which answers your question, Mr. Wingo, and it means that the Depart- ment of Agriculture is backing this American Farm Bureau Feder- ation. Mr. Silver. To the disadvantage of anybody? Mr. Brand. No; I do not say that, but I do say you have suc- ceeded in capturing tho Department of Agriculture — if not Mr. McSparran. Mr. Burdick. Mr. Silver, whose idea was it to form the American Farm Bureau Federation ? Mr. Silver. I do not know where the first thought came from. Mr. Burdick. Were you the originator of it ? Mr. Silver. No, sir; I was not there. Mr. Burdick. Who were present ? Mr. Silver. I can supply you with that; I have not got it at the present time. There was a group who got together in New York and laid out a program which was carried out the following fall in Chicago. Mr. Burdick. Of what year ? Mr. Silver. 1919. Mr. Burdick. How much does it cost to run a year ? Mr. Silver. I do not know, I would rather the president would give you the figures involved in that question. Mr. Burdick. How much is the salary list ? Mr. Silver. I can not give you that. Mr. Burdick. Do you publish a financial statement ? Mr. Silver. It will be an annual feature. The Chairman. Mr. Silver has promised that Mr. Howard will furnish these financial details. Mr. Wingo. I want to ask Mr. Silver one question. Are you a member, or not, of the extension committee of the American Farm Bureau Federation ? Mr. Silver. We do not have one. Mr. Wingo. Then this statement is an error when it states that at a meeting of the extension committee certain things were agreed upon? Mr. Silver. We do not have an extension committee. My recollection having been refreshed, I desire to correct the above testimony and say we do have an extension committee, but I am not a member of it. Mr. Wingo. I notice it says that it was agreed to continue such cooperation in the future, and that "neither business enterprise nor legislative activity should diminish such cooperative education activities." What does that mean ? FARM ORGANIZATIONS. 57 Mr. Silver. I would suggest that you ask the writer. Mr. Win go. Do you understand what that means ? Mr. Silyer. I do not know that I can readily see what the writer means by it. Mr. Brand. Somebody in Atlanta gave out an interview, relating to this investigation and Mr. Morton noticed it and sent me a reply to it, in which he gives the attitude of the department. Part of it is the quotation I have read, and in justice to Mr. Morton I want to include this letter in the record as presenting his side of it and that taken by the State college of agriculture. Athens, Ga., January 28, 19?1. Hon. C. H. Brand, House of Representatives, Washington, D. C. Dear Judge Brand: I notice in to-day's papers a communication from Atlanta, Ga-., regarding the county agents and so-called market bureaus. In the communica- tion your name appears as though the interv iew came from you. I am therefore tak- ing the liberty of gr\ ing you the information which you probably desire regarding the actr ities of the county agent and the farm bureau. We now have in the United States probably about 3,000 county agents, men and women. In Georgia there are about 200. In most of the States a county farm bureau has been set up as the institution that the county agent serves within the county in order to dev elop agriculture and home economics. The farm bureau is an organiza- tion of farmers, of which there are more than a million and a half individual members throughout the United States, designed for educaticn, social, and economic purposes. The farm bureau is interested primarily in the production and distribution of farm crops and in all matters affecting production and distribution. The farm bureau is not a marketing bureau, but is ready to assist any farmers' organization that under- takes to give better marketing facilities to the farmers for their farm produce. In some instances we find it necessary to set up some sort of marl.et organization to handle surplus crops. These are generally known as commodity organizations, such as sweet potato associations, truck growers' exchanges, live-stock associations, and many others. I am president of the Georgia Federation of Farm Bureaus which has several thou sand individual members and is organizing new counties every week. Your home county of Clarke is to be organized February 1 ; the county of Oconee and other coun- ties in your district have already been organized. When we began the organization of the farm bureau in Georgia we found that the county agents in many counties through- out the State had had a form of organization of people within the county interested in extension work which had been going for several years. This they called the county advisory board. It was an informal organization with no dues or fees and was merely for the purpose of assisting the county agent in developing the agriculture and home economics of the county which enabled him to meet groups of people and to work with larger numbers than was possible by making individual visits. One of our chief difficulties in putting on the farm bureau with a membership fee of $5 per annum in the State of Georgia was the opposition of the county agents and their supervisors. They seemed to prefer to continue with the loosely knit organization already in existance. During the past three months, however, we have had organizers in the field who have made headway with the organization. County agents have not solicited member- ship, but we expect to use the county agent in whatever way is possible to further the interests of the farmers in the State of Georgia. The United States Department of Agriculture and the Georgia State College of A°xiculture have been extremely cautious and have advised the county agents time and a^ain not to engage in any matters for the farm bureau that were outside of their legitimate field of extension service. I think you will agree with me, however, that the production and distribution of farm crops go hand in hand and that marketing must receive attention. Therefore I should like to ask which you deem more practi- cal and the wiser course — to use the machinery already in the field and capable of doin ff the work of distribution or shall we tax the farmers directly or indirectly to empfoy another set of officers for this purpose? It is my opinion that the county agents are thoroughly qualified to handle the marketing problems, or as much qualified as any other set of men would be, and that our tax burdens are already heavy enough. Therefore, if the college and the United State3 Department of Agriculture have not full authority to permit; these people to 58 FARM ORGANIZATIONS. •engage in educating the farmers through the farm bureau and other farm organiza- tions, and otherwise, to better grade, pack, and distribute their farm products, then we shall ask Congress to remove all legislative limitations instead of burdening us -with taxes to set up a separate Bet of officials for this purpose. In addition to being president of the Georgia Farm Bureau Federation, I am one of the 12 executive committeemen of the American Farm Bureau Federation, and am a mem- ber of the extension committee of that organization. As a member of this committee I come in contact with the officials of the United States Department of Agriculture, hav- ing in charge the extension work. I am therefore inclosing a copy of the act of Congress, which I think gives full authority to the county farm bureaus to engage in extension work and to the county agents to cooperate with these farm bureaus and to do every- thing in their power to further the interests of the farmers through this organization. I am also inclosing statement from President J. R. Howard of the American Farm Bureau Federation and Dr. A. C. True of the States Relations Service. Should this not give the information you desire, I shall be glad to be of further service at any time you may call on me. Very truly, yours. Jas. W. Morton, President. P. S.' — For your information, I beg to advise that we employed farmers to organize the farm bureau and paid them a salary and expenses; probably 25 farmers have engaged in organization work. J. W. M. (Statement of Mr. Howard referred to in above letter is herewith attached.) A NEW TEAK MESSAGE TO THE COTJNTY AGENT. [By J. R. Howard, president American Farm Bureau Federation.] The county agent is the keystone of the federation. The architects of a great and enduring farmers' organization builded to the eternal glory of America will never forget the importance of that keystone. The American Farm Bureau Federation is exactly what the individual county farm bureaus make it. And the county farm bureau, I have found again and again and again is just what the county agent makes it. Show me a weak, listless, ineffective ■county farm bureau and I will show you behind it a weak, listless, ineffective county ■agent — one of these harmless, meek, milk-and-water fellows forever reiterating that "this is your bureau, members, and I am your agent; please tell me what to do so that you will continue to pay my salary. ' ' My point is that the county agent is set in positive position of leadership, whether he will or not. He can no more escape the responsibilities of leadership than can a line officer in the army. When the farmers find that they are investing their money in a hired man instead of a leader, they begin to regret that they pay him a leader 's salary instead of a hired man 's wages. I would urge every county agent in America to assume a position of real leadership in his county and to stand or to fall on his record as an organizer of farmers into a strong and effective county farm bureau. With strong county bureaus fired with a burning zeal for agricultural justice our movement will challenge the admiration of the world. The county agent is the strong right arm of the American Farm Bureau Federation. I have found that by use the right arm retains and increases its power. We intend to make increasing use of the county agent. Therefore, we earnestly solicit his constant cooperation. Ask him to continue to help the American Farm Bureau Federation, so that the American Farm Bureau Federation may help him and his people. Mr. Wingo. "That neither business enterprise nor legislative action shall diminish," do you understand that to mean that they are going to go ahead in spite of Congress ? Mr. Brand. I would interpret that to mean that they are going to carry on their work whatever may be the judgment of Congress, and they have the great Department of Agriculture of the United States back of them. Mr. Wingo. Mr. Silver, is there any bill pending before this com- mittee on which you wish to be heard? FARM ORGANIZATIONS. 59 Mr. Silver. This being the banking and currency committee we are greatly interested in both domestic and foreign finance ; financial mat- ters are of great interest to the farmers. I do not know whether or not there is a bill pending before this committee. Mr. Win go. There is a bill before this committee covering every possible aid that can be offered. Have you gone over them and do you desire to make any statement in regard to them ? Mr. Silver. I have submitted to the chairman a copy of a bill covering our views. Mr. King. Have you a system that the farmers of the United States should go through when they ship to foreign countries, or is there anything this organization stands for as represented by you ? Mr. Silver. We have such confidence in our Representatives that we only suggest. Mr. King. Well, have you anything to suggest ? Mr. Silver. We have not seen a bill other than the above men- tioned which we have thought we would like. Mr. King. Would you appear before us at some future time and tell us how the American farmer is going to get paid for his grain ? Mr. Silver. I will tell you that the greatest thing the farmer now needs is a market. (Mr. Gray Silver submitted the following copies of telegrams and statements to be included in his testimony:) American Farm Bureau Federation — What is It? The American Farm Bureau Federation is a league of the farm bureaus of the Nation in which the common interests of all county organizations are united for the advancement of agriculture in the United States of America, economically, educa- tionally, and socially on a constructive basis. The American Farm Bureau Federation was organized March 4, 1920, in Chicago. Twenty-eight State farm bureau federations were represented at the organization meeting. The American Farm Bureau Federation is directed and controlled by farmers through a board of directors, consisting of one official and one additional representative from each State for each 20,000 members or major portion thereof, and by an executive committee consisting of three members of the board of directors from each of the four regional districts of the United States. All of the officers and directors must be actually engaged in farming. The American Farm Bureau Federation is purely representative: 1. It represents 37 States which have been admitted into the national federation. The total membership in the 37 States is more than 1,000,000 — the largest body of organized farmers in America. 2. It represents more than 1,600 county farm bureaus, each of which has an official board of farmers. 3. It represents all communities. Each county farm bureau organization provides for a director from each community or township, a rooperator from each school district, and a well-distributed membership. 4. It represents all agricultural interests. The members, officers, and directors of the various county farm bureaus include individuals engaged in all of the general and specialized lines of farming, and all are united for the advancement of agriculture, economically, educationally, and socially. 5. It represents the various agricultural associations. The farm bureaus do not aim to replace any other organization, but include among their membership representa- tives of all farmers' organizations. The federation encourages community organiza- tion and cooperation. The American Farm Bureau Federation is not a political organization. It believes that the safeguarding and promotion of agricultural interests are vitol to the public welfare, and that these interests can best be protected by the united action of all, regardless of factional or political differences. 60 FARM ORGANIZATIONS. The American Farm Bureau Federation is not a panacea or a cure-all. It depends' for its strength upon the kind of support given to it by the local, county, and State organizations, and the cooperation which it receives from the various agencies interested, in the welfare of agriculture. The American Farm Bureau Federation speaks the true voice of its membership. The referendum is used to obtain the viewpoint of its membership upon all great public questions. The American Farm Bureau is free from political entanglements. Whenever any officer or director becomes a candidate for State or national office he must immediately resign his office in the American Farm Bureau Federation. The American Farm Bureau Federation, the State farm bureau federations, and the various county farm bureaus represent only a nominal investment on the part of any one individual. The entire upkeep of the county farm bureaus and the State federa- tions in the American Farm Bureau Federation, uniformly apportioned, costs the farmer less than 1 centan acre on his land. This includes Federal, State, and county appropriations and membership fees. One-half to two-thirds of the finances neces- sary to support the county agent movement comes from public funds appropriated to maintain the agricultural extension work carried on through farm bureaus, but no public funds go to the support of the States or American Farm Bureau Federations. The American Farm Bureau Federation depends for its support entirely upon the funds provided through the individual farm bureau membership fees, of which it re- ceives not to exceed 50 cents per member. The farmer has been taught by the county farm bureau the great advantages which come to him through organization. He demands that his interests be effectively represented at the council tables of the Nation, and he is willing to make proper financial provision for such repre- sentation. PROGRAM OF WORK. The American Farm Bureau Federation seeks to develop a completely unified national organization to represent and act as spokesman for the farmer on all occasions where hie interests are involved. Its program of work is entirely constructive in nature and wholly free from prejudice of any kind. Organization. — The foundation of the American Farm Bureau Federation is its organization department. At the first annual meeting in March, 1920, there were 28 States affiliated in the federation. At the time of the second annual meeting in December, 1920, there were 37 States affiliated. This department is available to States desiring assistance in the building or strengthening of the State Federation through County Farm Bureau membership drives. Legislative. — The legislative department of the American Farm Bureau Federation is located at Washington, D. C. Its functions are to safeguard the rights and interests of the farmer and to assert his needs whenever occasion requires. It has been working during the past year to establish, without question, the legality of collective bargain- ing ; to secure farmer representation on all boards and commissions appointed by Congress or the President; to defend the farmers' viewpoint on questions relating to tax, tariff, currency, banking, railways, highways, foreign markets, merchant marine, territorial acquisitions, and strengthening the Federal farm loan act; to secure the establishment of a system of personal credits for farmers, and demand regulation and supervision by the Government of all commercial interests whose size and kind of business enables them to establish a monopoly dangerous to the best interests of the Nation. Cooperative marketing. — The department of cooperative marketing was created especially for the purpose of developing a perfected national scheme of marketing farm products, so as to reduce the margin between the producers' and consumers' price. This department works in close touch with the farmers' grain marketing committee of seventeen. The farmers' live stock marketing committee of fifteen, and such other marketing committees as may be appointed by the president of the American Farm Bureau Federation for the puipose of investigating the distribution of various farm commodities, and of working out improved systems of marketing. The establishment of local cooperative enterprises which can obtain assistance and representation through the farm bureau is one of the functions of this department. It will work to unite these various local cooperative enterprises on a national market- ing program for the benefit of both producer and consumer through improved dis- tributing agencies. Organized agriculture stands on the threshold of a great epoch-making accomplish- ment in marketing/ which will work unmeasured benefits to both the producer and the consumer. FARM ORGANIZATIONS. 61 Transportation. — The department of transportation was organized to help improve to the greatest possible extent the service of the railroads, to prevent excessive trans- portation burdens on farm products, to investigate tendencies in rates and regulations affecting agricultural products, to secure an advantageous allocation of cars, etc. In the advanced rate ca=e of 1920, the director of the transportation department repre- sented the interests of the farmers and shippers so effectively that the reductions in freight rates over the original proposal of the railroads is saving the farmers over one hundred million dollars, and several time3 this amount is saved the general public. Economics and statistics. — The principal functions of this bureau will be a careful study of agricultural statistics, improved cost accounting methods for farmers, crop statistics and forecasts, price and credit analyses, crop conditions, weather conditions, tendencies in tariff, merchant marine, internal revenue, ocean freight, costs of pro- duction, etc. This is the farmers' own bureau. It will not duplicate any work now heing done by State or Federal agencies. The question of taxation has been given special study. The National Industrial Conference Board asked the American Farm Bureau Federation to appoint a repre- sentative to sit with it and aid in making exhaustive research and recommendations. This representative has been able to convince the board that no step3 must be taken to transfer tax burdens from powerful and wealthy interests and individuals to those less able to pay. A special committee of the federation has been able to secure new and favorable rulings regarding farmers' income tax reports, and a new farmers' account book was approved by the United States Treasury Department. Finance. — The department of finance has in its charge the details of financing the work of the American Farm Bureau Federation. This requires close contact with the member States. All financial records, receipts, expenditures, etc., are handled by this department. Education and publicity. — This department seeks to keep the general public sym- pathetically informed as to the ideas and accomplishments of organized agriculture. It is also a service department to all the other departments of the federation and to the executive head. It maintains a weekly news letter for farm papers, issues special bulletins to daily papers and press associations, prepares feature stories for farm pub- lications and other magazines or syndicates, and prints and distributes pamphlets and speeches. It uses every means at its disposal, working through the State feder- ations, to create in every farm bureau member an intense consciousness of the responsibilities and privileges of his membership and to create in the urban mind a better conception of the farmers ' relationship to other units in the social and economic structure. CONSTITUTION. Article I. Name. — The name of this organization shall be the American Farm Bureau Federation. Art. II. Objects. — The objects of this organization shall be to correlate and strengthen the State farm bureaus and similar State organizations of the .several States in the national federation, to promote, protect, and represent the business, economic, social, and educational interests of the farmers of the Nation, and to develop agriculture. Art. III. Membership. — Section 1. The membership of this organization shall con- sist of State farm bureau federations and State agricultural associations based on the farm bureau or similar plan when approved by the executive committee of the organization. Sec. 2. All applicants for membership shall submit to the executive committee a copy of their constitution and by-laws. Sec. 3. Any member may withdraw from the American Farm Bureau Federation by presenting to the secretary a written resignation, provided that all dues are paid to date of withdrawal. Art. IV. Board of Directors. — Section 1. The governing body of this organization shall be composed of a board of directors, the members of which shall be elected by each of their respective State federations or similar organizations, which shall meet once a year. Each State organization qualified for membership shall be entitled to one director and an additional director for every 20,000 or major portion thereof, of paid-up members of the county organizations, which are affiliated in the State organizations. Sec. 2. The board of directors shall be composed of actual bona fide farmers, and each director shall have one vote on each question. Sec 3. House of delegates: Each member in the American Farm Bureau Federa- tion shall be entitled to one delegate to a house of delegates and one additional dele- gate for every 10,000 farmers of the State, or major portion thereof. The delegates 62 FARM ORGANIZATION'S. shall sit with the directors and have the same privileges as directors except the right to vote. Art. V. Dues. — Section 1. The annual dues of each member State in the American Farm Bureau Federation shall be 50 cents per capita of the individual county farm bureau membership affiliated with the State organization, provided that in States not having memberships the dues shall be fixed by the executive committee in reasonable proportion to the other States. Sec. 2. The dues shall be payable in advance quarterly on January 1, April 1, July 1, and October 1 each year. The executive committee shall have power to suspend any State organization from the American Farm Bureau Federation for nonpayment of dues when six months in arrears. Sec. 3. Each State organization desiring to become a member of the American Farm Bureau Federation, shall present an application, and if accepted by the execu- tive committee it shall then forward its membership dues for that quarter, and upon receipt of same shall be entitled to full privileges of the organization. Sec 4. A complete annual audit and report of the affairs of the organization shall be furnished each member, such audit to be made by a certified public accountant. Sec 5. The executive committee shall approve and order to be paid such mileage, salaries, and expenses as are in accord with the general plan adopted by the board of directors. The expenses of the board of directors attending the annual meeting shall be paid by the American Farm Bureau Federation. Art. VI. Meetings. — Section 1. The annual meeting of the board of directors shall be held during the month of November or December, the date and place to be decided upon by the executive committee. Sec 2. A majority of the board of directors shall constitute a quorum, and no director shall vote by proxy. Sec 3. Reports of all executive and other committee meetings shall be filed with the secretary and copies furnished to each director of the organization, and to the Director of the States Relations Service of the United States Department of Agri- culture. Sec 4. Special meetings of the board of directors may be called by the president with the approval of the executive committee, and shall be called by him upon the request of 10 member States. Article VII. Officers. — Sec 1. The officers of the American Farm Bureau Federation shall consist of a president, a vice president, a treasurer, and a secretary. Sec. 2. All officers, with the exception of the secretary and the treasurer, shall be elected by the board of directors, at each annual meeting, and shall serve for one year, or until their successors are elected and shall have qualified. Sec 3. The president shall be the executive head of this organization and shall be paid such salary as may be determined upon by the board of directors. He shall pre- side at all meetings of the board of directors and of the executive committee. He shall be a member ex officio of all standing and special committees. Sec 4. The vice president shall perform the duties of the president in his absence or inability to serve. Sec. 5. The treasurer shall be elected by the executive committee and shall receive all money from the secretary and shall disburse the same by check only upon written orders signed by the secretary and countersigned by the president. He shall care- fully account for all money and make a full report to the board of directors annually, or at other times upon request of the president. The treasurer shall furnish a good and sufficient bond satisfactory to the executive committee, and shall serve one year, or until his successor is elected and shall have qualified. Sec 6. The secretary shall be elected by the executive committee and his salary fixed by it. He shall receive all money and pay it to the treasurer, taking his receipt therefor. He shall give a bond satisfactory to the executive committee. His further duties shall be outlined by the executive committee and he shall work under its- direction. Sec 7. The executive committee shall employ such assistant secretaries, assistants, and office help as it may deem necessary. Sec 8. Any officer or director of the American Farm Bureau Federation who shall become a candidate for an elective or appointive State or national office, shall at once resign and be automatically dropped from his official position in the American Farm Bureau Federation. Article VIII. Executive committee. — Sec 1. The board of directors shall elect by majority vote at the annual meeting from among its membership, an executive com- mittee of 12 members, not more than one from any State, the members of which shall serve for one year or until their successors are elected and shall have qualified. The executive committee shall have charge of the administrative affairs of the organization . FARM ORGANIZATIONS. 6S The membership of said committee shall consist of three members from the North- eastern States, three from the middle Western States, three from the Southern States, and three from the far Western States. The president and vice president shall be members ex officio of the committee, and the president shall be the chairman of the executive committee. The committee members from each region shall be nominated by the directors from said region. The Secretary of the United States Department of Agriculture, and the Director of the States Relations Service shall have the privilege of attending all meetings of the committee and the right to take part in discussions, but shall have no vote. Sec 2. The regions for the selection of the members of the executive committee shall be as follows: Northeast Group — Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Vermont, Maine, Connecticut, Rhode Island, New York, New Jersey, Delaware, Pennsylvania. Central Group — Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Michigan, Minnesota, Iowa, North Dakota, South Dakota, Nebraska, Kansas, Missouri, Wisconsin. Southern Group — Maryland, Virginia, West Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Florida, Alabama, Mississippi, Kentucky, Tennessee, Oklahoma, Texas, Arkansas, Louisiana. Far Western Group — Montana, Idaho, Colorado. Utah, New Mexico, Arizona, California, Oregon, Washington, Wyoming, Nevada. Sec. 3. A quorum in all meetings of the executive committee and other standing and special committees shall be a majority of such committees. All vacancies, except in the board of directors, shall be filled by the executive committee until the next annual meeting. Sec. 4. The executive committee shall have power to conduct a referendum vote on any matter of national interest. Article IX. Remuneration. — The vice president, treasurer, and the members of the executive committee shall be paid not to exceed $10 per diem and necessary expenses, which shall be paid from the funds of the American Farm Bureau Federation, while such officers are attending to the business of the organization. Article X. Amendments. — This constitution may be amended by a two-thirds vote at any regular meeting of the board of directors, such amendments to be effective when approved by a majority of the member States. Article XI. By-laws. — The executive committee shall have power to formulate the necessary by-laws for this organization, subject to the approval of the board of directors. THE WAY TO JOIN THE AMERICAN FARM BUREAU FEDERATION IS TO JOIN YOUR OWN COUNTY FARM BUREAU. Every progressive farmer should join the American Farm Bureau Federation 1 IPP I II Si ' It affords membership in a large and strong strictly farmer-controlled organization in your county. It affords membership in a State federation of the county farm bureaus constantly increasing in influence and power for good to the agriculture of your Commonwealth. It affords membership in the national association of the federated bureaus of the States, and thereby gives you a voice in formulating America's agricultural policy and in winning for "the farmer economic and social justice. It affords membership in nonpolitical and nonsectarian associations which have for their prime and only purpose the organization of the farmers of the United States for the advancement of the farming business through a constructive program with refer- ence to existing associated businesses and organizations which are necessary and lawful. They aim to make the business of farming better and surer, fres from uncer- tain and unsteady markets, with selling prices based on a profitable cost of production. It affords real opportunity for effective agricultural leadership. It gives each mem- ber a functioning place in a vast movement conceived for the benefit of America and for the improvement of life in the open country. Join, if you are a farmer, because the American Farm Bureau Federation needs you and you need the American Farm Bureau Federation. The objects of the American Farm Bureau Federation are to develop, strengthen, and correlate the work of the State farm bureau federations of the Nation; to encour- age and promote cooperation of all representative agricultural organizations in every effort to improve facilities and conditions for the economic and efficient production, conservation, marketing, transportation, and distribution of farm products; to further the study and enactment of constructive agricultural legislation; to advise with rep- resentatives of the public agricultural institutions cooperating with farm bureaus in the determination of Nation-wide policies, and to inform farm bureau members reoarding all movements that affect their interests. 64 FARM ORGANIZATIONS. Gray Silver, Care American Farm Bureau Federation, Washington, D. C: Relations Grange and farm bureau, Michigan, mutually cordial and helpful. This relation strengthened by new policy adopted and new administration installed at recent farm bureaus annual meeting. John C. Ketcham. Gray Silver, Washington, D. C: I am hopeful that great good will be accomplished for the farming interests by the farm bureau. Agriculture must have the assistance that can only be commanded through cooperation of farmers and the federation of farm organizations. This is true both as to the political and economic situation. We can not expect to bring about the necessary measure of cooperation and federation without some friction between personalities. I believe that patience and perseverance backed by good sense will enable us to arrive. Ed C. Lasater. MESSAGE BY J. R. HOWARD TO COUNTY AGENTS. The farmers of the United States are coming to have a growing appreciation for the work of county agents representing the State agricultural colleges and the United State3 Department of Agriculture. They recognize the vital necessity of the main- tenance of educational work through the State extension services, which leads to a more economical production and a more economical system of marketing farm produce. The county agricultural agent already has more work to do than any one man can handle to be^t advantage. He should himself guard carefully any tendency on his part to become a business or organization agent for the county farm bureau. The county farm bureau, on the other hand, should never expect or permit a county agent to jeopardize the educational work by becoming absorbed in the other activities of the farm bureau. The active program in marketing and in securing beneficial legislation should be entirely in the hands of farm bureau officers, county, Stale, and Nitiona'. MEM BUREAU MEMBERSHIP CAMPAIGN. [By Wylie M. Giflen ] The Fresno County Farm Bureau is now engaged in a membership campaign which we believe merits the support of every fruit grower in the county. At the present time this organization has but 760 members in this county, whereas the combined number of grape, peach, and fig growers is 15,000. As many of the 760 members are engaged in some other form of farming than fruit growing, it is apparent that the vineyardists and orchardists have not taken this organization seriously and the mem- bership is entirely out of proportion to the importance of the farm bureau movement. It is the one organization in the whole country through which we as farmers can express ourselves in a national way. Locally our own organizations in the main are alert and efficient, and are doing the things for which they were organized and that come within their province, but even these organizations, that mean so much to us and play such a large part in the welfare of the respective communities in which they function, are now being attacked by the Government, and sooner or later, for weal or for woe, their fate will be settled in the Halls of Congress. And in this fight the only thing that counts is votes. While the fruit industry means much to California, it means little to the rest of the country, and as long as we have all told not to exceed 13 votes out of a possible 531, it will be seen at once that it will be necessary to enlist the help of other States if we are to win this fight. Fortunately we do not have to build an organization from the ground up for this purpose, as the farm bureau has units in every State with a federated membership of 1,500,000 farmers, with national head T quarters in Washington, that are alert and efficient and stand ready to render us any honorable service that we may need. Within a day or two after Attorney General Palmer had filed suit against the Cali- fornia Associated Raisin Co. we were in receipt of wires from the Washington office of the farm bureaus offering their services, and that in spite of the fact that not over three or four hundred raisin growers in Fresno County belong to this organization. FARM ORGANIZATIONS. 65 There are undoubtedly many other valid reasons that could be given why farmers should belong to this organization, but we believe this one, so far as the fruit growers are concerned, is sufficient. And this open letter is written for the purpose of urging every reader of the Associated Grower to at once take out a membership in his nearest farm bureau center, if for no other reason than to show our appreciation of the services already rendered. G. HAROLD POWELL URGES AID FOR DRIVE. G. Harold Powell, general manager General Fruit Growers' Exchange, has sent the following letter urging all connected with the various branch exchanges to aid the farm bureau membership drive in all counties of the State, which is now in progress: "It has come to my notice that the various county farm bureaus are at this time engaged in their annual membership campaigns. I desire to urge upon exchange members the importance of affiliation with the farm bureau and participation in the benefits which this organization has to offer. "The farm adviser-farm bureau system, constituting the recognized medium through which the extension work of the United States Department of Agriculture and the various State colleges of agriculture is done, is to-day undoubtedly the greatest educa- tional movement affecting American agriculture. Launched only 10 years ago this coming March, there are to-day more than 2,000 counties in some 43 States in which county farm bureaus have been organized and are at work on the problems conforming their farming interests, in sympathetic cooperation with the United States Depart- ment of Agriculture and the State college of agriculture as represented in the farm adviser, county club leader, and home demonstration agent. The membership in these farm bureaus is estimated to be approximately 1,500,000 farmers. In more than 40 States the county farm bureaus have formed State federations, which are among the most influential farmers' organizati< ns in the various States, and a little more than a year ago 33 State federations met together in convention and organized the American Farm Bureau Federation, generally recognized by the press, by legis- lative bodies, by governmental agencies, and by organized business as the most influential farmers' organization in the history of this country. "The California plan of farm bureau organization resembles the exchange system in many respects. It has for its unit the local farm center, an association of the most representative and progressive farmers of the community for mutual cooperation in the improvement of agriculture of the district. The farm center each year adopts a program of work which is arrived at through community self-analysis. Here lies, perhaps, the greatest element of strength in farm bureau organization — its activities articulate directly back of each community. These farm centers together constitute the county farm bureau, which is governed by a board of directors, made up of the presidents of the local farm centers. The State and National federations are simply enlargements on the same plan of organization. "Many exchange members are already affiliated with the farm bureau, but there is need for a greater membership on the part of citrus growers. I therefore suggest that exchange members give this matter serious consideration and recommend that they join the farm bureau and take an active part in the determination of its activities and the shaping of its policies." RESOLUTION BY THE FRUIT GROWERS OF CALIFORNIA (INC.). Whereas the farm bureaus have demonstrated their extraordinary value to the farming communities by affording local centers for the discussion of farm problems and the inspiration of progressive activities in all farm problems of production and marketing and further in the cultural problems of the farmer; and Whereas the farm bureaus have lately federated into the California Farm Bureau Federation so as to standardize their activities and lend the powerful influence of the farmers of the State to the efforts and needs of each local community therein; and Whereas the State Farm Bureau Federations have lately organized a National Farm Bureau Federation with the result that the farm bureaus, acting through their local groups, then upward through the State federation into the national federation, have become the most effective organization of the agricultural interests of the United States; and 32428—21 5 66 FARM ORGANIZATIONS. Whereas th person e the California Farm Bureau Federation and of the National Farm Bureau Federation represents the highest type of intelligence and character in the agricultural life of America; now therefore, be it Resolved, That the board of directors of the Fruit Growers of California (Inc.) express their approval and indorsement of the farm bureaus and of the great National Farm Bureau Federation and urge all of the members of this association to support the farm bureau movement actively and unreservedly; and be it further Resolved, That this resolution of indorsement be printed in our association periodi- cal, so that it may reach every member of this association; and that it be transmitted to every cooperative marketing organization in this State and to the other cooperative associations of the Pacific coast, so as to encourage other marketing associations of farmers throughout the West to urge support of this movement of the intelligent, thinking farmers of the country. James N. Porter, Secretary. San Jose, Calif. resolution by prune and ar-ricot growers. The trustees of the Prune and Apricot Grower) (Inc.) a cooperative marketing association composed of over 10,000 growers of prunes and apricots in the State of California, in annual meeting assembled on May 12, 1920, at San Jose, Calif., have adopted the following resolution: Whereas the farm bureaus have demonstrated their extraordinary value to the farming communities by affording local centers fo the discussion of farm problems and the inspiration of progressive activities in all farm problems of production and marketing and further in the cultural problems of the farmer; and Whereas the farm bureaus have lately federated into the California Farm Bureau Federation so as to standardize their activities and lend the powerful influence oi the farmers of the State to the efforts and needs of each local community therein; and Whereas the State farm bureau federations have lately organized a National Farm Bureau Federation, with the result that the farm bureaus acting through their local groups, then upward through the State federation into the national federa- tion, have become the most effective organization of the agricultural interests in the United States; and Whereas the pe sonnel of the California Farm Bureau Federation and of the National Farm Bureau Federation represents the highest type of intelligence and characte in the agricultural life of America; now, therefore, be it Reso<,ved That th : trustees of the California Prune and Apricot Growers (Inc.) express their approval and indorsement of the farm bureaus and of the great National Farm Bureau Federation and urge all of the members of this association to support the farm bureau movement actively and unreservedly; and be it further Resolred, That this resolution of indorsement be printed in the Sunsweet Standard, so that it may reach every member of this association, and that it be transmitted to every cooperative marketing association in this State and to the other cooperative associations of the Pacific coast, so as to encourage other marketing associations of farmers throughout the West to urge support of this movement of the intelligent, thinking farmers of the country. RESOLUTIONS FROM OTHER ORGANIZATIONS, The farm bureau movement throughout the country has been of invaluable assist- ance to agriculturists everywhere, and in our opinion the organization is destined to become a great factor in rural, civic, and national affairs. We urge every farmer to become affiliated with this great movement. California Peach Growers (Inc.), J. F. Niswander, Vice President and General Manager. We feel that the farm bureau is the greatest single agency in existence to-day for the direct benefit of its members and that great things are going to come to the farmers through its efforts. San Joaquin Valley Milk Producers Association, Ed. H. Webster, General Manager and Secretary. Cooperation is the financial life of the farmers. We gladly approve the farm bureau movement. Alfalfa Growers of California (Inc.), S. S. Crutcher, District Representative. FARM ORGANIZATIONS. 67 We urge every raisin grower to at once take out a membership in the farm bureau . It is the one organization in the whole country through which we as farmers can express ourselves in a national way. The farm bureau has units in every State, with a fed- erated membership of 1,500,000 farmers, with national headquarters in Washington that are alert and efficient and stand ready to render us any honorable service that we may need. California Associated Raisin Co., Wylie M. Giffen, President. The Chairman. Before we leave Mr. McSparren has asked that he be permitted to make a brief statement. STATEMENT OF ME. JOHN A. McSPARRAN, MASTER OF PESK- SYLVANIA GRANGE. Mr. McSparran. Mr. Chairman and gentlemen, I was very much surprised that Mr. Silver should attempt to pull off such a statement as He has just made. He has talked with me time after time in regard to this matter, and this meeting that he and I had was a previously arranged one; it was not a casual affair, it was arranged for and he took me out to dinner and in just so many words explained the matter, and I am surprised at hearing this man make a statement which is absolutely false. I know when men are talking casually and I know when they are making a proposal. What is the use of anybody getting up here and telling something that is not true. I did not come here to tell lies. I resent that. I always plajed the game square, and then to be made a proposal like this one is going too far. I know Clifford Thome; I gave testimony before the Interstate Com- merce Commission with Clifford Thome before the farm bureau was ever thought of. They have not introduced anything except obstruc- tions. Secretary Houston in 1919 appealed to the farmers to join or or form farm bureaus to stop what he considered to be radicalism or bolshevism; they appealed to these people, and then they get up here and say that they did not know these things. It is ridiculous, gentlemen. They have had solicitors all o\er this country trying to get membership in their organization, and by advertising in all kinds of ways; they have gone after members whenever they could get them, and he said they could take them in, admitting that his own constitution has an arrangement for doing that thing; could take in a State organization, and then when their Washington representative is asked about it, he says "he does not know." The Chairman. We will hear Mr. Harrison. STATEMENT OF MR. E. L. HARRISON, STATE REPRESENTA- TIVE OF THE FARMERS' UNION, KENTUCKY DIVISION. Mr. Harrison. Mr. Chairman, and gentlemen, it has been rather interesting to listen to the discussion this afternoon and I. will try to be as brief as possible. My only experience with the county agent in Kentucky was this: when I began work with the Farmers' Inion of Kentucky in 1915, the director of extension came to me and asked if I would help with the extension and like others I assured him I would do so and proceeded to help. He said if I would do that he would help me in the Farmers' 1 nion work. I have helped county agents in many counties of Kentucky and we expected that we would at least get cooperation from them in the farming districts of Ken- 68 FARM ORGANIZATIONS. tucky, but much to my surprise the director of extension, at that time Mr. Muchler, stated that the county agents must not do anything to interfere with any organization or do anything to help the farmer and after a little while they gave some little assistance in cases of hog cholera, black leg, and a few little things like that. I thought we had a right to expect just a little more. I was rather surprised to notice that the county agents in Ken- tucky had been boosting the farm bureau work, acting as chairmen, having officers elected and in addition to that circulating papers of the farm bureau. The Chairman. Has your State a federation? Mr. Harrison. There is a State organization in Kentucky. The Cn airman. Are they members of the national organization? Mr. Harrison. Yes, sir, they are. The Chairman. Is their work antagonistic to your work? Mr. Harrison. In Kentucky it is, yes, sir. They will tell you to your face that they will do anything but I have yet to find one single time when they would cooperate with us. They are antagonistic. It seems that the important thought here is as to whether or not the county agents, agents of the Government, are boosting the farm bureau work. They are doing so in Kentucky. In addition to that, two weeks ago they went out and addressed" farmers and asked members of our organization to come into their organization. Now the question that comes to me, is it for the ( overnment to send out men to boost the farm bureau organization or can they not send one to boost and encourage work. It has caused quite a lot of dis- turbance in Kentucky; and so far as this gentleman talking about cooperation Mr. King. Which gentleman? Mr. Harrison. Mr. Silver. He was talking about cooperation, and I want to say that I have repeatedly asked them to give me help on different things, but have never had any cooperation from them. Mr. Wingo. Did you ever ask them to give you a position in their organization? Mr. Harrison. No, sir; I never did; but I have noticed that instead of protecting their farmers they will take some speculator or man who has been exploiting the farmer to act as chief officer in their organization. The Chairman. Do you refer to the national organization or the local organization? Mr. Harrison. I refer to the county farm bureau, which is part of the State farm bureau, which is part of the national farm bureau. I am told by the director of the university that we must not use the college of agriculture for extension work, but I notice they do that just the same. They will emphasize the point that they "have the sanction of the United States Department of Agriculture." They have that right on this poster. Mr. King. This is an order stating they must do that? Mr. Harrison. The farm bureau is notified that it has the sanction of the Department of Agriculture? Mr. Wingo. That is the thing of which you complain? Mr. Harrison. Yes, sir- they come out with that plea that their work is indorsed by the Government? FARM ORGANIZATIONS. 69 The Chairman. Was that put out by the local farm bureau ? Mr. Harrison. Yes, sir. I happen to know that in the State of Kentucky, in Washington County, where there are bankers, lawyers, merchants, and other lines of industry represented in the farm bureau. Mr. Burdick. How long since that notice was promulgated? Mr. Harrison. Last fall. Mr. Burdick. Then the Department of Agriculture has had ample opportunity to have had notice of it. I have heard nothing to that effect. Mr. Harrison. May I read part of it to you? The Chairman. Put the entire thing in the record. Farmers: Do you favor a prosperous and permanent system of agriculture? Do you believe the price of manufactured articles, labor, etc., should be cut to fit the prices of farm products? . Do you believe that the farmer should have an opportunity to ask for such things as are needed to make farming business more prosperous and rural life more enjoyable. If you do, join the farm bureau. Because: It is the best agency thus far devised to get the above results; it is a farmers' organization, nonsecret, nonpolitical : its officers must be either farm owners or farm operators; it has the sanction of the United States Department of Agriculture. We need you to make the organization effective and efficient. If you believe in such an organization sign the first membership card that is pre- sented to you by your brother farmer. John Shipp, President Temporary Organization. A. P. Phoctor, Vice President Temporary/ Organization. David P. Morms, Secretary Temporary Organization. W. C. Cull, Treasurer Temporary Organization. Mr. Harrison. Now, I want to emphasize the fact that the farm bureau could not have grown so fast, nor could it stand by itself, without the supporting assistance of the county agents. The farm bureau has its origin in the county agents. I wish to quote you just a few words from President Howard s address : We must not forget — The Chairman. What paper is that ? Mr. Harrison. Wallace's Farmer, published at Des Moines, Iowa; this is the issue of Friday, December 17, 1920. President Howard said in part : We must not forget that the unit of our work is the county bureau and the key man is the county agent. Tie your work around him. Don't forget the home demontra- tion agents for they help in the home. Women are on equal basis with men. Now, what I am trying to bring out is that they must be tied up with the county agent and that county agent is an official of the Department of Agriculture. Mr. Wingo. Have they not a right to do that if the Department of Agriculture will permit it ? Mr. Harrison. I hardly think so. Mr. Burdick. What do they say about the county agent ? Mr. Harrison. "The county agent is the key man, tie your work around him." Why should the county agent work in this way in organizing committees, clubs and things of that kind? What I am trying to bring out is that the county agents are going out and organizing among the farmers. Mr. Stevenson. What is that in Wallace's Farmer; is that an address by Mr. Wallace ? 70 FARM ORGANIZATIONS. Mr. Harrison. No, sir; an address by Mr. Howard. Mr. Wingo. Do those who oppose the American Farm Bureau Federation take the position that the American Farm Bureau have grabbed the county agents, or that the county agents control them ? Mr. Harrison. It is true of both in Kentucky; the present secre- tary of the farm bureau was formerly a State leader in farm demon- stration work and has since resigned and naturally he had some influ- ence over these agents. Mr. Wingo. Have you any other ground for criticism except that the Department of Agriculture undertakes to give to one organization what it withholds from another ? Mr. Harrison. That is it exactly. Mr. Brand. Do they get any pay? Mr. Harrison. If they do, I do not know it. I might add, gentle- men, that this organization gets a great deal of financial help from outside sources. In coming up here to-day a man handed me an article in which the coalition committee has made an offer of 115,000 to help support the farm bureau in Michigan. Mr. Burdick. What is the coalition committee ? Mr. Harrison. It seems to be a kind of corporation in Michigan. Mr. Buhdick. For what purpose ? Mr. Harrison. I have not been able to find that out. Mr. Burdick. Then why criticise it ? The Chairman. Is the information contained in that article as to what this campaign cost the farm bureau in Michigan ? Mr. Harrison. I do not know; there is a list of names, such as Mark T. McKee, secretary of the coalition committee of Michigan; Henry M. Leland, president of the Lincoln Motors Co. and L. M. Robertson, attorney for General Motors Co. Mr. King. Is not the General Motors Co. handled by the Morgan people ? Mr. Harrison. I have been told they are. When reference was made to taking it over in the State of Nebraska, Mr. Gustafson, I believe was head of the marketing department of the Farm Bureau of the United States and was State president of the farm bureau. Mr. Gustafson, I believe, receives a very nice salary. The Chairman. Do you know the amount of the salary? Mr. Harrison. No, sir; I do not. Mr. Brand. What is the amount of the dues ? Mr. Harrison. In Kentucky it runs around $10 for landlord or land owner, $5 for renter and $2.50 for laboring man. In Bourbon County they charge $15 because the farmers in that section are more wealthy than the others. The Chairman. Have you any further statement ? Mr. Harrison. No, sir. The Chairman. We will hear Mr. Milo B. Campbell. STATEMENT OF MR. MILO D. CAMPBELI, PRESIDENT OF THE NATIONAL MILK PRODUCERS' FEDERATION. Mr. Campbell. I did not come here as a witness in this hearing, but merely came to witness the proceedings. The National Milk Producers' Federation is the organization referred to by Mr. Lyman this morning as being second in size of those belonging to the National Board of Farm Organizations. We have a membership of between FARM ORGANIZATIONS. 71 250,000 and 300,000 members and our membership is largely made up of the members of other farm organizations all over the country, largely in the North; members of farm bureaus, members of the Grange, farmers' unions, and other farmers' organizations. The chief reason why I want to say a word here is that we want to absolve ourselves as members of the National Milk Producers' Federation from any connection whatever with this hearing. I, personally, believe it to be a very regrettable thing and want to express myself in that way, to make of this committee a laundry to wash out childish differences and questions of this character; it is not getting anything for the farmers of this country. The farmers of this country belong to all of these organizations and outside of perhaps 100 men in the United States, I do not believe there are 100 farmers in the United States who will be at all pleased with this hearing here to-day. Mr. Lyman this morning expressed in his statement exactly the position of the National Board of Farm Organizations. It was upon their invitation that the milk producers joined and I think every other organization. It is not a partisan body, but it represents all the various farm organizations, and unless they agree unitedly upon a policy affecting the farmers of this country, each organization speaks for itself and that is why I am speaking now for the milk producers. I also think it due to say one other word ; I want to come to the defense, if I can, of the county farm agent in this country. I am not going to discuss all the differences that have come up, but I think the county farm agent one of the greatest helps in the advancement of agriculture in this country that we have ever had. Our organization, the milk producers, has no rival; we are the only organization of the kind in the country; but with us these county agents help to a wonder- ful extent. I have been through the State of New York on many occasions and have seen where they encourage the dairymen, working in splendid harmony with the Grange, with the Dairyman's League, and other organizations in joint picnics and great meetings. This coalition committee that has been mentioned here in the State of Michigan, was a committee organized during the war to fight bol- shevism and promote Americanism. The $15,000 fund that was mentioned was loaned to the farm bureau at the time it was organiz- ing in the State because of the American purposes of the farm bureau. That loan was afterward all returned to the committee from the bureau. Now, in the State of Michigan three-quarters of the members of the Grange; yes, I believe nine out of every ten members of the Grange belong to the farm bureau. The farm bureau has 97,000 members in the State. A new Member of Congress from Michigan, Mr. John C. Ketcham, has been for years and until a few weeks ago, master of the State Grange and lecturer of the National Grange, while his wife is a member of the executive committee of the Michigan Farm Bureau. In our State we do not have this childishness. The farm bureau came in to supplement the Grange and other farm organiza- tions, not to supplant them as we construe them. During the won- derful growth of the bureau in my State, the Grange, Gleaners, and other farm organizations have also grown rapidly. I have been a member of the Grange for 35 years and am also a member of the farm 72 FARM ORGANIZATIONS. bureau, which is doing a work that the grange did not do or attempt. They have started cooperative enterprises for farmers all over the State, donating their funds to assist these enterprises in various lines. I can see why they say that the Federal Government should not pay from the National Treasury county agricultural agents to serve some particular farm organization. I know of some of these things that have been done and do not want to lend my approval of the same. Now, gentlemen, farm organizations and their membership ar$ unlike church memberships. A farmer can profitably belong to several farm organizations if they serve his several demands. We believe, however, that there should be a clearing house or con- ference table for them. Not for the purpose of merging one organiza- tion into another, but for conference upon questions of common purpose. We believe that the National Board of Farm Organizations has a plan that is ideal, and I fully believe that out of this hearing will grow a feeling that will cause all these various organizations to sit around that or some other table and wash out their dirty linen at home. The farmers of this country want some such organization or confer- ence. (On motion of Mr. Brand, the committee adjourned.) L1THOMOUNT PAMPHLET BINDER Manufactured by GAYLORD BROS. Inc. Syracuse, N. Y. Stockton, Calif. bl. ffm fflNsJ .:' sa m - v ^1 US 81 SHI sir *m s^SsEiri 16?.; ^! ■ . :■■>-■, V'... .. $ m §|$fc»§|i %, i!fii*s