Page images
PDF
EPUB

the eighteenth century. The plan to provide public organization to foster this educational process appears to have been initiated by England and transmitted to this country through correspondence with George Washington. Efforts were made by him and also by others later to establish a federal department of agriculture, but our political and economic theories would not permit the adoption of the suggestion. Private organization was, therefore, wholly left to itself, and its attention to secure the aid of public organization or in some cases only public funds was soon diverted to the state government. As early as 1820 state boards of agriculture were organized. From this time to past the middle of the nineteenth century we had a kind of semi-public state department, but after the 70's the centralized department made its appearance mainly in the South at first and gradually finding favor in the East, and now in the majority of the states of the Union. The coming of the regulatory function had much to do with centralizing departments, although in some states where there is even considerable industrial activity and where the regulatory function is therefore important the old state board under the control of agricultural societies remains. During the first half of the nineteenth century considerable progress was made in the development of agriculutral societies primarily for educational purposes. These continued to demand the establishment of a federal department, agricultural colleges, and experiment stations. The first two objects were achieved in 1862 at a time when the strongest "states' rights" element had withdrawn from Congress. Just before the Civil War there began. a new movement among the farmers. It was occasioned by industrial changes. The new and improved transportation facilities created new possibilities and greater advantages for the farmers providing, however, they were not asked to pay exorbitant prices to have their products hauled to the eastern markets or were not exploited in any other way. The movement began to show its head before the Civil War, but was quickly cut off by the necessity to concentrate all energies upon the ensuing conflict. Soon after the close of the war the movement was resumed and a series of conventions were held in the West and South, and then the more permanent farmers'

organizations came to the surface. These had altogether a new purpose as their main object of organization. The economic status of the farmers as a class was now to be exalted through organized effort. The old private organization continued and stood in close relation to state public organization. The new organization adopted some of the aims and purposes of the older type of societies, but organically stood entirely separate from public organization.

Thus a brief historical statement discloses at once an exceedingly important content to which the student of economics is rarely introduced, even though special attention is devoted to the more narrow field of agricultural economics. The theory of both private and public agricultural organization has been almost wholly neglected by the economist or political scientist, and yet in public finance it was found necessary long ago in order that the whole field of finance might be surveyed and that problems of reform could be discussed in their entirety to study state tax departments and such parts. of the United States Treasury as perform fiscal functions. The student of political science in a study of structural government finds that to go into all the movements associated with the creation of state departments and other detailed forms of public organization would carry him too far afield, and yet the whole program of rural economic and social betterment everywhere touches public organization and can only be fully comprehended by a complete survey of all modes of improvement. Such facts as pertain to agricultural organization should therefore be gathered up and treated separately. In the field of labor also a detailed study of types of labor organization and their aims and purposes has been forced upon the student of economics by the great struggle between capital and labor. The farmers for a time thought that their interests. were identical with those of labor, and, therefore, during the early history of organized agriculture common cause was made with labor. Organized agriculture is, however, becoming disillusioned, and is rapidly differentiating itself from other economic groups. It is a movement with an interesting history

and a great future, and is worthy of separate and intensive study. Only in this way may a sympathetic attitude toward the great agricultural class be required.

The field of public and private agricultural organization is to be differentiated from a study of cooperative marketing. This subject is only touched insofar as organizational efforts have been put forth to improve marketing conditions. Historically the particular marketing principles advanced by various farmers' organizations are presented. Other historic and current aims and purposes are also chronicled and their respective merits briefly discussed.

wants.

The Ambition of Organization. No social institution can long endure unless it aims to satisfy certain fundamental Thus the family, the state, the church, educational systems, employers' associations, commercial associations, labor and farmers' organizations, all have important functions to perform and exist because of benefits bestowed upon their respective members. The fundamental purpose that brings an institution into being sometimes disappears as was the case with the craft and merchant gilds. When this happens, unless a new large purpose is found, the organization will ultimately die. Society is dividing itself into groups not to wage war but to settle differences through the use of courts of arbitration and conciliation. Farmers' organizations fulfill a great need, and unless we adopt state socialism they will have permanent existence.

The very essence or soul of a farmers' organization is its ambition to grow and render real service to its members. There are, however, sometimes misconceived motives that are responsible for initiating a movement and for developing it into a formidable power. Farmers' organizations have made plenty of mistakes, and this must not be understood as unsympathetic criticism. Commercial organizations, employers' associations, and organized labor have all committed blunders and frequently give evidence that they misunderstand fundamental economic questions. Organization sometimes gropes in the dark, and is led on by leaders of influence who have, however, no thorough understanding of the problems they

wish to solve. One is impressed that this was a feature of the alliance. It sometimes happens that a leader in organized agriculture, as well as elsewhere, accepts a fallacious economic doctrine and through his dominant position at public meetings secures official endorsement by the organization. In this way a group of farmers of the Northwest have committed themselves to the incongruous position of favoring the single tax. An erroneous or fallacious principle if persistently advocated before public bodies and continually incorporated among aims and purposes is sometimes accepted by a large majority, and is actually made to form the basis for extending the movement. This of course is to be expected inasmuch as progress is made only by sifting the wheat from the chaff. Although it does seem that much time is wasted because of ill-advised leadership. The farmers, like other groups, have good leaders in some quarters. In others their cause suffers because of erroneous doctrines propounded which become an obsession and stand as an obstacle in the way of improvement. Motives. of personal prestige and political aggrandizement sometimes. cause leaders and their satellites vigorously to support an organization and simulate sincerity of purpose. But this again is a disagreeable aspect of organization in general and must be kept in mind only for the purpose of ridding the organization of undesirable members.

It appears sometimes in public organization that persons in charge of projects or offices become overzealous in championing the work in which they are engaged. It may easily happen that some officials with no ulterior motives press their particular functions to the extent that appropriations are made for such purpose at the expense of other more worthy objects. Sometimes, and probably quite rarely, motives for increasing their work are the desire for greater prestige or larger salaries. These undesirable motives, however, are shortcomings of public organization. They can be reduced to a minimum but not entirely destroyed by efficient administration.

Social Aspects that Organization Must Foster. In the final analysis agricultural organization must foster a large degree of private property in land, decentralization in farm

ownership, honesty and fairness toward all economic groups, and loyalty to the nation. The farming population is relatively a conservative group, and is, therefore, the mainstay of our institutions. The charge that farmers' organizations have a tendency to be disloyal to the nation cannot be fairly made. But it appears that they sometimes have made unfair charges against other groups for propaganda purposes. This is bad policy, for sooner or later the truth will be clearly recognized by a majority of the people and public opinion will condemn the use of such reprehensible methods. The only organizational methods, aims and purposes that society will ultimately sanction must be characterized as rational and fair with respect to the entire social order.

While a study of farmers' organizations discloses the fact that cooperation is fostered by them and that considerable collective ownership in the form of cooperative enterprise is already under way, there is nowhere a hint that the farm, the basic form of property in agriculture, should be collectively owned. Organized agriculture everywhere favors private property in land, operation of the farm by the proprietor, and decentralization of ownership. These conditions lie at the very root of a satisfactory rural life. Without these conditions no permanent agriculture of a high order can be maintained, and no deep and lasting interest can be evoked among the people in schools, in amusements, or in other rural institutions. Private property in land promotes thrift and rewards effort. It insures ample production. Through it meritorious service is rendered and recompensed. It engenders attachment and love for the home and family. It promotes interest in the community, and results in progress. It prevents

decreased production, misery, and hardship. It prevents also a flagging of interest in the home and the community and a stagnation of thought and activity in general. It is the only means of bringing happiness to the rural people.

« PreviousContinue »