National Farm School Decides to Launch a Campaign for $15,000,000

A nation-wide campaign for $15,000,000 was decided on at the closing session of The National Farm School Conference, Monday, as a result of the spontaneous demand on the part of the 200 delegates that they be permitted to return to their cities and assist in the expansion of the School. An organization will immediately be formed with quotas assigned different states and cities.

The conference was called to discuss the agricultural future of the United States and to devise means of taking boys and girls from cities and giving them a free, three-year education in the elements of scientific agriculture. Delegates from thirty-five Governors and from fifty Mayors of the largest cities in the country were present, as were educational and agricultural commissioners of every State, and leading educators of various universities.

The $15,000,000 to be raised will represent a ten year budget, to be raised at once, with payments to be made within five years. The campaign will be carried on, on the plan that everybody benefits directly or indirectly through prosperity, and that prosperity can only be assured by having an army of trained farmers, imbued with a love of the soil, and able to till the ground with the resources of modern science and advanced methods, it was pointed out.

Louis Piztiz of Birmingham, Ala., offered the conference 200 or more acres within five miles of Birmingham, which, he said, were valued at $1,000 an acre. if the school would establish a branch near Birmingham. A committee will consider the offer with Mr. Piztiz.

Dr. Abraham Schechter of Austin, Texas, on behalf of citizens of his community, offered the school 40,000 acres in Texas to be used for experimental purposes, it was announced. Dr. Joseph Hagedorn announced a contribution of $10,000 to the school from Joseph Schonthal who also offered $600 a year for the upkeep of one student in the school.

Edward Davis and Maurice Jacobs, on behalf of Phi Epsilon Pi, a college fraternity, announced a contribution of $600 a year from the organization to pay the expenses of one scholar a year. They said the fraternity would support the drive for funds.

Harry B. Hirsh, Chairman of the Board of Trustees, explained to the delegates that the interest of the school in its pupils did not cease when the students concluded their three years’ course. The farmers were encouraged and assisted to become independent in the ownership and management of their own farms. he said. He explained that graduates of the school were located in South America, the Philippines and Palestine.

Resolutions were adopled thanking Abraham Erlanger, National Chairman of the conference, for his labors. He was presented with a silver cup at a dinner in the Biltmore, Monday, which closed the convention.

Speakers at the dinner were Dr. Frank Crane, Rabbi Nathan Krass. Rabbi Slephen S. Wise and Health Commissioner Dr. Louis I. Harris. The toastmaster was Miss Sophie Irene Loeb.