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Show Page 2 August 1970 UTAH FARM BUREAU Sumsion fs Tally By Neil D. Sumsion For many years the interest in grazing and other activities on What Party Are You? Every election year we take renewed interest in government. The TV, radio and newspapers extol the virtues ofcandidates who espouse ideas representing (almost) every conceivable social interest. Candidates claim authority on all matters of public concern and more. Outsiders must consider political campaigns as a great carnival act. But insiders, the party workers, recognize the action as necessary to maintain a Republic such as we have. Seldom, if ever, does a candidate win in a significant contest without a party organization. Money is of great importance. Would you believe the cost of campaigning for a senate seat in Utah could run as high as $300,000 - 400,000. The same seat in California or New York could double or triple! In a recent Presidential election a major organization reportedly spent about 62 million dollars for their candidate. "non-politica- l" Who pays the bill for your candidate? You do by contributing. When elected, who does your candidate represent? You can't overlook the possibility that representation goes with the contributions, whether they come from within or without the state Which candidates would people or organizations assist financially if a vote in Washington for their interest were desired? Now ask yourself, "Why should I contributor t Organization required to obtain funds and funds are necessary to organize and campaign. Candidates need to knowwhence their support came. Seldom will a person these days admit to party affiliation. A familiar Bible quote "I would thou wert cold or hot. So then because thou art luke rings in my ears, is warm and neither cold nor hot I will spure thee out of my mouth. Is it easier to be an independent voter than to take a position? Nobody will argue about the right to choose a party - - that's our right. Selection of a party is only the beginning. Decide what you believe, what party represents your views best, which candidates are more likely to win and then go to work soliciting money, organizing, campaigning wherever you can find a place and you'll be greatly appreciated. Too often just giving money seems to be the easiest way to "help". Helping can be personally satisfying and your service is invaluable. Perhaps you remember the thought "I'm only one"- - - but you are "ONE". Recently, a U.S. Senator related that he couldn't explain another Congressman's vote. True enough, butwhat else should we consider. How does a Congressman make up his mind to vote? Maybe not in order of priority but we vote for candidates because they have integrity, an awareness of right and wrong and an understanding of principles and spirit of the constitution. Secondly he votes on issues and presents issue to congress that are in keeping and necessary to run a Republic bearing in mind our system "of the people by the people and for the people." Thirdly a congressman votes the wishes of those citizens he represents. Here is where your influcence counts! Criticize if you will when you see a wrong vote cast but what did you do to influence the vote. Do you correspond, telephone, consult or otherwise express your views and give your congressman the benefit of your knowledge and facts? Many Congressmen even ask for your council by sending questionaires. They want to know - read them and reply. The multitude of bills presented each year makes it almost humanly impossible to be more than remotely familiar with all of the legislation. Be a sport, take the time, be constructive, be brief, you will never know how much you can be appreciated. Congressmen DO listen. And now we ought to ask ourselves some pointed questions: Why bother? What's in it for me? The future is bleak, there's no use! Or, "I have a good job, two cars and a garage, good pay, a boat, things can't get any better. We have a Republic - - thats the best there is - - it runs itself, doesn't it?" I'm ashamed of politics, they are for candidates who want an easy job, besides politics are dirty! Sound familiar? It should. We've all heard the excuses. What is yourexcuse? Finally, what is good government and what can I do to keep it that way? After all, what party are you? NDS public lands has been spreading like a flood of water. In the not too distant past cattle were delivered to the mountains for the summer along with the sheep in a routine way without a thought that maybe this way of ranching would be eliminated or reduced. Public land use was thought to be quite secure. Then all of a sudden changes started taking place. Permit numbers were reduced and ideas of more to come appeared. Although this activity was limited to local areas and not large in number there were stockmen who began to see with foresight that others would soon similarly be affected. Yet few attended to the problem. Were differThat can't happen to us." ent? They only do that on their kind We have connections'. And we heard many more such of lands." comments that contented the soul. Now, after a lot of water has gone under the bridge and much of it clearly beyond reach we take action. And action it is! It was on May 5th of this year that the first meeting was held to plan activities, to obtain funds sufficient for. in depth research exposing economic implications of public land use, particularly for grazing of livestock. A few selected leaders met and the groundwork was laid. Now just a little while and we'll have Utahs share of a cooperative effort to obtain meaningful data on land use. The data being necessary to help Congress enact laws that will be in the best interest of agriculture and the nation. In the past few weeks what some have both said and shown to be impossible has been done. . Like the Bishop we didn't know the job couldn't be done, he did it any way. Many people have worked overtime in the Interest of others in this project and the intent Is not to overlook any, but of particular Interest is what happened in at least two counties -Carbon and Washington. I don't have any idea what story, method or program was used in Carbon County to collect funds but checks came in from everywhere. There were no, what would be called, large donations. Earlier observation may have Indicated little Interest there but the results are At this writing the editor hasn't been told who's self evident but other leaders should take note. responsible And I suppose most exemplary is Washington County. While family illness detracted the county president from his desires to a large extent the organization was nevertheless put together, with followup and almost before any other county the funds were collected almost double what had been assigned. To Wallace Iverson, County President, Henry Crosby, Board member in charge and Llndau Foremaster and members of their committee we take our hats off for showing us how much can be accomplished when everyones does his part. With this kind of cooperation there is little doubt about the success of the Range Research project and its ultimate effect as new laws are developing in congress for 1971 and after. Other counties have done equally as well and a good number have reached or exceeded their quota. Our current figure is approaching the state goal. A few more days and hopefully all counties will report their quota. ... Grapes Are Good But The Grapes Stakes Contest ended July 31. We hope everyone mailed their applications for the drawing. AFBF will receive Utah applications for their drawing at the convention in Houston. The contest was planned to stimulate consumptions ofCallforn-i- a Grapes in opposition to the Boycott the grape growers of California who wouldn't sign union contracts even though about 75 of grape growers are no signed and contracts will probably be signed by most growers soon. Buyers enjoyed their inst purchases non-the-le- ss. Fish Lake particialso enjoyed grapes during their breaks for pants Fish Lake conference enjoys California grapes! UTAH FARM BUREAU (Hi NEWS Published each month by the Utah Farm Bureau Federation at Salt Lake City, Utah. Editorial and Business Office, 629 East Fourth South, Salt Lake cents per year to memCity, Utah, 84102. Subscription price of twenty-fiv- e bers is included in membership fee. Entered as second class matter March 24, 1948 at the Post Office at Salt Lake City, Utah under the act of March 3, 1879. UTAH FARM BUREAU FEDERATION OFFICIALS President Elmo W. Hamilton, Riverton Vice President S. Jay Child, Cleafield Mrs. Willis Whitbeck, Bennion Chairman, Farm Bureau Women Executive Secretary V. Allen Olsen Editor Neil Sumsion ; DIRECTORS District One: A. Alton Hoffman; District Two, William Holmes; District Three: Jack Brown; District Four Ed Boyer, District Five: Ken Brasher; District Six: Jerold Johnson; District Seven: Richard Nelson. |