Club Minutes: Enterprise Farmers Club, 1933

Farmers' Convention......1933

of a farmer as having dwindled from a manor under Wilson to a mortgage under Harding and a memory under Coolidge. Seriously, he delineated the advantages of the allotment plan as living in its low cost of administration its requirement of no government fund, and its crop insurance feature.

At this time the Convention departed from its usual program and, as previously intimated, put on a show which outdid many another one staged as a profitable financial venture. Ostensibly, we were to have a discussion of a subject of increasing importance, and one calculated to interest greatly any body of persons suffering from the indisputably onerous burden of tax requirements for our modern high-powered government. Actually, it marked the start of the 1934 campaign in this county, as Major Lee opined at the beginning of his remarks. For anyone knowing the fiery Barnard Welsh might have suspected that he would use his share of then time alloted to a consideration of " Relief from the Tax Situation", as a springboard for a violent and eagerly anticipated attack on the formidable political machine built in the county since, as Barnard characteristically put it, " Brooke Lee discovered Montgomery County in 1920". Particular relish was added to the attack by the sharing of the platform with Barnard by the last-named worthy, altho it must be admitted that at times Barnard let the evident approval of the nature of his remarks by a large portion of the audience, carry him somewhat beyond the bounds of decorum and parliamentary courtesy. Obviously, then, the temper of the crowd did nothing to ease Major Bee's for once unenviable position as chief fabricator and sole "defender of the faith" of the current brand of "bossism", until recently undisputed but now threatened by serious opposition. Be it said that never wavered in his support of the aims of the organization he has built for the advancement of Montgomery County, albeit skillfully avoiding mention of defalonating officials and padded salaries, which "Barney" had pungently epitomized by a minute delineation of the rather unsuccessful venture in cabbages at the County Almshouse. Keeping to safe grounds, Major Bee no doubt justified the faith of all loyal supporters, but evidence of his inability to instill confidence in the minds of those who have learned to think for themselves was furnished

The Farmers' Convention... 1933.

by the tumultuous passage, at the conclusion of his remarks, of the accompanying resolution opposing the issuance of bonds, without alteration I will not attempt to go into a detailed report of either of the two talks given, not wishing to subsatantiate the probable half-truths uttered by both, nor to detract from their unquestioned sincerity. The article appended hereto faithfully portrays the substance of the remarks. Anyone present needs no reminder of the sulphuric qualities of the occasion, while future readers may gain a slight idea from preceding description.

Far be it from your secretary to essay the role of prophet, but the course of history is marked by currently insignificant occurences, which assume greater importance in the light of subsequent events. The attempt of a ranking member of the county organization, who shall go nameless to save his confusion, to discredit the movement for a popular massmeeting of County citizens at Annapolis the succeedding week, was ill-timed, and unavailing. His puny reason for refusing to sanction the request for the use of the Assembly"room by the minority member of the delegation of Montgomery members appeared ridiculous at the time, while subsequent suuccessful culmination of the affair, with immediate effect, may point to this Cconvention as a trurning-point in the government of Montgomery Countyy.

At the conclusion of his remarks , Major ^Lee referred to the banking crisis in the State. Tterrific runs in Baltimore city, wherein each days run had been one-half larger than that of the preceding day, gave signs of spreading to the counties. The bank holiday was declared to give the legislature time to regulate the rate of withdrawal of money. ^No fear was felt for county banks.

The resolution passed at the end of the meeting follows :

A Wheras, Montgomery County is bonded to such an extent that it finds itself unable to pay off the bonds due in 1933 & 1934, but is asking for authority to refund them for 20 years, and

A Wheras the last issue of bonds could only be marketed at a

discount of about 6 1/2%, and with a higher rate of interest than ever paid

" And Whereas, ther exists no emergency calling for the completion of any project within the next two years,

" Be it resolved, by the Farmer's Convention of Sandy Spring, Montgomery County, Md., this twenty fifth day of February, 1933, that _time no bonds should be issued by the county for any purpose whatever, at this

" Be it Resolved, that a copy of this resolution be sent to the Governor and to our Senators and the County Delegations of Howard and Montgomery Counties in the House. "

R. H. Miller Jr. Secretary

1933 805 1.14.33 Sunnside E.C. Thomas long hand 806 2.11.33 E.C. Thomas O.N. Srable 807 3.11.33 Francis A. Thomas 808 4.8.33 F.L. Thomas 809 5.13.33 geo. a. willser 810 6.16.33 milton Bancropt Norwood 811 7.8.33 G Rust Canley 812 8.12.33 Lacy Shaur 813 9.8.33 C.B. Hurry glenlauder 814 10.14.33 T.L. Jackser 815 11.11.33 P.G. Ligon 816 12.9.33 WM.W.Moure

Sunnyside

Jan 14/33

The 805 ^th meeting of the Enterprise Club met at Sunnyside on Sat, Jan 14 - 1933

The following members were absent Francis Thomas, Maurice Stabler, Lamar Jackson, Milton Bancroft Rust Canby & Lacy Shaw.

The guests included, Mortimer, Herbert & Harry Stabler, Robert Chichester Robt Miller Chas Bond, J.W. Jones, Douglas Farquhar, Tarlton Brooke, Mr Dinwiddie Misses Carmichle & Hunt from the md. Unv. & our county agt. Mr Anderson .

On account of the short days, our walks are cut short at this season; we did, however visit ten nice fat beef cattle and the sheep; more than 50 early lambs were seen-,some ready for market - also inspected 24 black cattle at the [?] farm

After a splendid chicken & ham supper the Club was called to order by Wm Moore. Our regular sec. being one of our hosts, Clifton Thomas was asked to act as sec. for the eve. The old and last minutes were read; those of the sec meeting approved.

The Farmers Convention Com. had not met so no report was forthcomming