104

Mr. GreEnnNaN. No.

Mr. Fort. I thought you told me—— }

Mr. GrRENNAN (interposing). Oh, I don’t want to go into that.
[t was first put before the organization. Since you ask the question,
[ am going to answer it. I am a Farm Bureau member and have been
all my life. I was one of the charter members. I put this before the
meeting one night, and there were 61 men there, and every one of
them indorsed the idea; gave me a written indorsement.

Mr. PurnELL. Was that a Farm Bureau meeting?

Mr. GRENNAN. Yes, sir; and after the next meeting they had the
board of directors change their mind. That is, six of them changed
their minds. :

Mr. Fort. Did the rest change their minds?

Mr. GRENNAN. No, sir.

Mr. Fort. The farmers did not, but the board of directors did?

Mr. KincueLoi. Did you find anybody who differed with you on
the cooperative marketing proposition on the basis that you could
get 100 per cent of that commodity in?

Mr. GRENNAN. No, sir; because this kind of proposition was never
put to the farmer. That is the reason they are not organizing, and
the only reason, too.

Mr. KincaeLos. If you could get 100 per cent on any proposition
there would not be any trouble about it.

Mr. GrReNNaN. There is only one way to go about it, and that is
with something to go to them with. I heard the gentleman here the
other day say the farmers are not all fools, and I don’t believe they
are either. I am in thorough sympathy with his idea. I sayuntil
you give the farmers something sound, that he knows where he can
maintain his price, we will never have organization.

Mr. KincaELOE. We have given them something sound when the
cooperating marketing bill was passed, to which you referred. Why
have they not taken advantage of it 100 per cent?

Mr. GRENNAN. Supposing this proposition was put up to the farmer

that the Government was doing it, without going out and continually
asking him for $5, $10, and $15. He has been bled to death. Sup-
posing this Congress would provide enough money to put this before
them, and if they do come in it will cost the Government maybe
around $20,000,000, and if they don’t come in you lose it. If they
do come in you get your money back. I ask you.if that is not a
pretty cheap way to get an expression from the farmer. If it is not,
I do not know what is. This thing is left in the hands of you gentle-
men to decide,
. Mr. Kercram. Is the relationship of the individual farmer such
In this contract that he would agree, for instance, if he produced
3,000 bushels and 2,400 bushels is all that could be sold, that is all he
could market?

Mr. GRENNAN. Yes, sir.

Mr. Kercuam. That would be the basis of his contract?

_ Mr. GRENNAN. Yes, sir; and I think he would readily do it, and
1t 13 the only way you can stop this overproduction. If you are not
20ing to have any limit on him and you get a stabilized price, you
will have the same trouble you have to-day. and you can not get
awav from it

AGRICULTURAL RELIEF