Hirth, William (1875-1940), Papers, 1925-1934 (C42)

3.5 linear feet

INTRODUCTION

The papers of William Hirth, a farm leader, organizer, and president of the Missouri Farmers Association (MFA), consist of correspondence, newspaper articles, and radio speeches. The material pertains to Missouri Farmers Association business activities, state and national politics, and The Missouri Farmer, official publication of the Missouri Farmers Association.

DONOR INFORMATION

The William Hirth Papers were donated to the University of Missouri by Foster Thurston on 26 October 1944 (Accession No. 160). An addition to the papers was made by Ewing Cockrell on 10 October 1947 (Accession No. 2904).

BIOGRAPHICAL AND ORGANIZATIONAL SKETCH

William Hirth was responsible for the early success of the Missouri Farmers Association. At the age of fifteen Hirth became interested in farming and started lecturing on the benefits of building a cooperative of farm clubs. He continued to advocate this idea by publishing The Missouri Farmer beginning in 1908; a magazine that informed subscribers on legislative issues and farm club news and later became MFA's house organ. Hirth believed that the farm clubs should capitalize not only on the economic advantages of joining together as a cooperative, but on the political and social advantages as well.

The first farm clubs were formed in 1914 and the first state association meeting was held in Sedalia in 1917. Among the MFA's cooperative enterprises were grain elevators and produce exchanges in about 400 communities, sales offices for poultry and dairy products in Chicago and New York, live stock shipping associations, the MFA Oil Company, and the handling of automobile insurance.

SCOPE AND CONTENT NOTE

The Hirth Papers are primarily correspondence of one of the country's important farm leaders and of a both business and personal nature. The correspondence is arranged in chronological order. Political correspondence includes letters to and from Clarence Cannon with regard to farm legislation, R.F.C. loans to cooperatives and suggestions for the Democratic platform. There are also letters to and from Arthur M. Hyde, Secretary of Agriculture, Ruby M. Hulen, attorney for the MFA, Franklin D. Roosevelt, Bennett C. Clark, William Green, Lloyd C. Stark, H.A. Wallace, Peter Norbeck, Ralph Lozier, Francis M. Wilson, H.E. Miles, chairman of the Fair Tariff League, and E.Y. Mitchell.

The correspondence related to the MFA includes all phases of the activities of the organization, as well as material relative to chain stores (to which Hirth was opposed), the Women's Progressive Farmers Association, the Junior Farmers Association, and letters relative to the publication of The Missouri Farmer.

The papers also include newsclippings, radio addresses, speeches, and bulletins.

FOLDER LIST

Correspondence Series

f. 1-18n.d., 1925-1928. Correspondence with farmers, business men, and others from Missouri and surrounding states pertaining to M.F.A. business activities, consolidation of Missouri farm organizations, dispute within National Live Stock Producers organization, Federal Farm Loan Act, McNary-Haugen Bill, The Missouri Farmer contributors, and managers for M.F.A. creameries.
f. 19-281929 January. Arrangements for M.F.A. purchases of oil, salt and twine; condition of creameries; business arrangements with Farmers Live Stock Commission Company; opposition to farm policies of Hoover Administration; McNary-Haugen Bill; description of Indiana Farm Board women's organization by Verna Hatch; correspondence with rural merchants to organize chain store opposition.
f. 29-381929 February. Minutes of Farmers Live Stock Commission Company meeting of February 2, 1929, and correspondence with F.B. Young and other company members; with Clarence Cannon regarding federal farm programs; with C. Eugene Meyer discussing federal financial assistance to farmers; with Charles G. Dawes on farm conditions; with F. Edson White, President of Armour and Company, about withdrawal of Armour from central livestock markets; with Julien N. Friant, A.B. Drescher, and William Green; advertising accounts of The Missouri Farmer and livestock sales.
f. 39-571929 March-April. Correspondence with Paul Bestor, Eugene Meyer, and Peter Norbeck discussing Federal Land Bank and Intermediate Credit Bank Act; with Arthur M. Hyde and others concerning Hyde's appointment as Secretary of Agriculture under Hoover; with William Green of the American Federation of Labor; with Clarence Cannon, Peter Norbeck and George Norris discussing the passage of farm legislation during the special session of Congress called by Hoover (April, 1929); with Governor Henry S. Caulfield and state legislators regarding fair taxation of Missouri farmers; Corn Belt Committee; with H.E. Miles and Fair Tariff League; concerning creamery business and arrangements by M.F.A. for oil contract with Union Oil Company, The Missouri Farmer advertising accounts, livestock sales, and miscellaneous business.
f. 58-651929 May. Business correspondence concerning establishment of M.F.A. Oil company, M.F.A. elevator and exchange, membership in North Missouri, advertising accounts and insurance transactions; with F.B. Young concerning agricultural tariffs, government grading of hogs; with W.C. Conden regarding direct receipts of hogs at Chicago market; with F. Edson White, President of Armour, concerning stockyards at Quincy; with Julien N. Friant, John Napier Dyer, Clarence Cannon and Peter Norbeck discussing events of special Congressional session, Hawley-Smoot Tariff Bill, Federal Farm Board, and prospects for agricultural relief; with Jewell Mayes, including summary of agriculture bills passed by 55th Missouri General Assembly.
f. 66-711929 June. Correspondence with Peter Norbeck on failure of debenture plan in Congress, farm relief; with Clarence Cannon on possibility of loan from Federal Farm Board for creameries, attitudes of Congressional members on farm relief; with Arthur M. Hyde discussing appointees to Federal Farm Board; with F.B. Young on shipping of livestock; with H.E. Miles of Fair Tariff League; advertising accounts, insurance transactions and livestock sales.
f. 72-801929 July. Correspondence with Clarence Cannon discussing Federal Farm Board and Intermediate Credit Bank; with Arthur M. Hyde regarding appointment of C.B. Denman to Farm Board; with Julien N. Friant concerning establishment of M.F.A. in Southeast Missouri; with F.B. Young discussing livestock railroad shipping and stockyard procedures; with F.H. Douthitt concerning creameries in Carthage and Springfield; with miscellaneous others discussing M.F.A. Oil Company and establishment of its stations, advertising accounts, insurance transactions.
f. 81-941929 August-September. Correspondence with A.B. Drescher discussing M.F.A. local organization in North Missouri and anti-Hirth move there; miscellaneous correspondence with M.F.A. Insurance representatives throughout state, The Missouri Farmer advertisers, trucks for creameries, establishment of oil stations and competition with Union Oil Company, coal prices; with Charles Brand concerning reduction in land appraisements in Ohio by Ohio Tax Commission; with Julien N. Friant regarding establishing M.F.A. in Southeast Missouri, attitudes of congressman toward farm relief; with Alexander Legge about obtaining Federal Farm Board loans for M.F.A. creameries.
f. 95-1041929 October. Correspondence with Ruby M. Hulen, M.F.A. attorney, concerning Federal Farm Board Loans; with C.L. Christensen and A. Legge of Federal Farm Board; with F.B. Young discussing stock yard regulation under Federal Farm Board; with Julien N. Friant on business outlook in Cape Girardeau; with Laura Edwards of Women's Progressive Farmers Association; with Jewell Mayes and A.B. Drescher; business correspondence on advertising accounts, insurance, livestock sales.
f. 105-1201929 November-December. Business correspondence with A.D. Miller of M.F.A. Oil Company; minutes of State Board meeting of M.F.A., September 26-27, 1929, and M.F.A. Oil Company, October 31, 1929; report of annual stockholders meeting of M.F.A. in Northwest Missouri and anti-Hirth sentiment in Chillicothe; correspondence with Alex Legge of Federal Farm Board discussing National Livestock Marketing Association, loans for M.F.A., and factionalism of M.F.A.; with F.B. Young on National Marketing Association for live stock activities; with Clarence Cannon and George Norris discussing substitute for debenture plan in farm program and Federal Farm Board members.
f. 121-1261930-1931. Miscellaneous business correspondence including sales of Poland China boars and gilts, testimonials for M.F.A. flours; with A.D. Miller regarding expansion of M.F.A. Oil Company; with Francis M. Wilson discussing Missouri politics and endorsing Russell L. Dearmont; with Wilfred E. Rumble discussing establishment of national marketing associations by Federal Farm Board's unsound loan practices and Agriculture Marketing Act; account of Farmers Union Live Stock Commission, South St. Joseph, December, 1931.
f. 127-1381932 January. Correspondence with Francis M. Wilson, Bennett C. Clark and others discussing gubernatorial election of 1932, Wilson's legislative record, and Missouri politics in general; with Xenophon Caverno on farm relief program and tariff; with C.G. Dawes of Reconstruction Finance Corporation regarding loans; with W.T. Crighton of Producers Creamery Company of Springfield; The Missouri Farmer advertising accounts; livestock sales; Women's Progressive Farmers Association; Farmers Union Livestock Commission statement of business.
f. 139-1671932 February-March. Correspondence on political and governmental matters with E.Y. Mitchell; Clarence Cannon, Francis M. Wilson, Arthur M. Hyde, Charles G. Dawes, and Franklin D. Roosevelt discussing Reconstruction Finance Act and loans available from Reconstruction Finance Corporation, Democratic National Convention delegates, and support for Roosevelt. Business correspondence with F.B. Young discussing Federal Farm Board and livestock conditions in Iowa; with Joseph B. Eastman on livestock rates and Interstate Commerce Commission; with A.B. Drescher. Farmers Union Live Stock Commission Company statement of business, February, 1932.
f. 168-1791932 April. Correspondence with presidents and directors of U.S. Railroads supporting Interstate Commerce Commission power to regulate interstate truck and bus carriers; with F.B. Young, Farmers Live Stock Commission; with H.E. Miles of Fair Tariff League; Thad Snow article on economics; advertising accounts; Farmer's Union Live Stock Commission returns, April, 1932; with Arthur M. Hyde regarding loans by Reconstruction Finance Corporation, and rates for livestock sales at National Stockyards. Political correspondence with Clarence Cannon, Francis M. Wilson, Franklin D. Roosevelt, E.Y. Mitchell, Joseph B. Shannon and Arthur M. Hyde discussing gubernatorial and presidential elections of 1932, and farm legislation.
f. 180-1911932 May. Correspondence with Clarence Cannon, Arthur M. Hyde and Ralph Lozier, discussing Reconstruction Finance Corporation legislation, cooperative loan provisions; with Francis M. Wilson, E. Y. Mitchell, Clyde Williams, Derwood E. Williams supporting Franklin D. Roosevelt, Francis M. Wilson and others in 1932 elections; with U.S. Senators and Congressmen from Missouri opposing check tax; correspondence concerning powers of Interstate Commerce Commission and development of trucking; Committee on Taxation and Governmental Reform; with F.B. Young discussing adjusted commission rates for livestock sales, National Stockyards.
f. 192-2021932 June. Women's Progressive Farmers Association Annual bulletin, 1931-1932, and officer lists; correspondence with E.Y. Mitchell on 1932 political campaigns, juice processing plant in Springfield; with Clarence Cannon and Ralph Lozier on progress of farm relief legislation in Congress and Reconstruction Finance Corporation; with James A. Farley and Franklin D. Roosevelt discussion campaign strategy, Democratic platform and Roosevelt's support; with farmers, business men and civic leaders throughout Missouri asking support in initiative campaign to reduce taxes; with F.B. Young; advertising copy for The Missouri Farmer; insurance correspondence.
f. 203-2121932 July. Political correspondence regarding candidates for state and local offices; with Ralph Lozier, E.Y. Mitchell, Franklin D. Roosevelt, and James A. Farley discussing Roosevelt's campaign plans and farm program; with Clarence Cannon discussing Garner-Wagner Bill, Hoover's opposition to certain farm programs and plans to obtain legislation authorizing facility loans; with Arthur M. Hyde discussing loans for M.F.A.; with Ruby M. Hulen evaluating candidates for U.S. Congressmen; with A.B. Drescher, James F. Fulbright, and H.E. Klinefelter on miscellaneous business, with F.B. Young discussing livestock shipping; egg marketing.
f. 213-2241932 August. Correspondence with Francis M. Wilson on 1932 Democratic primary issues and candidates; with Bennett C. Clark on primary victory, choice of state committeeman; with E.Y. Mitchell regarding Democratic National Convention, state committeeman, disposal of surplus produce; and J.A. Farley and Franklin D. Roosevelt regarding speaking at M.F.A. annual meeting and employment of Mitchell in campaign publicity department; with F.B. Young on loans, National Livestock Marketing Association; with H.E. Klinefelter of Franklin County M.F.A. discussing trucking of eggs, cream, etc., by M.F.A.; with A.B. Drescher regarding creamery in Kirksville.
f. 225-2331932 September. Correspondence with Clarence Cannon and Arthur M. Hyde regarding bank failures and Reconstruction Finance Corporation Loans; with National Progressive League; Gifford Pinchot and William Green on alliance of agriculture and William Green on alliance of agriculture and labor; with candidates in 1932 elections on reduced taxes and committee on Taxation and Governmental Reform; with Franklin D. Roosevelt and his staff; with H.E. Miles on tariff questions; with H.E. Klinefelter on M.F.A. egg and cream trucking lines in Franklin County; with F.B. Young on livestock trucking, freight tariffs on livestock by Wabash Railroad; with Elmer Donnell; list of loans needed by M.F.A. mills, creameries, exchanges, produce companies and associations throughout Missouri.
f. 234-2421932 October. Campaign plans and correspondence for national and statewide elections and Franklin D. Roosevelt, Democratic National Campaign Committee, Ruby M. Hulen, E.Y. Mitchell, and others. Hirth campaigned on the radio for Roosevelt, Guy B. Park, Donnelly and tax reducing constitutional amendments; also business correspondence with H.E. Klinefelter and F.B. Young discussing Franklin County M.F.A., livestock exchange; insurance transactions, miscellaneous.
f. 243-2511932 November. Correspondence urging Franklin D. Roosevelt's appointment of Hirth as Secretary of Agriculture by Hirth's supporters; with Roosevelt, H.A. Wallace, John Simpson, E.Y. Mitchell, Julien N. Friant, Xenophon Caverno and others on New Deal farm program; with Clarence Cannon discussing loans from Reconstruction Finance Corporation, congressional salaries, New Deal farm program; with H.E. Klinefelter; with F.B. Young regarding livestock rates and truckers; organizing Missouri fruit producers into a marketing association; advertisers in The Missouri Farmer; insurance and livestock transactions.
f. 252-2601932 December. Correspondence on patronage with Bennett C. Clark, Dwight H. Brown, Clarence Cannon, Forrest Smith, Herman O. Maxey, Xenophon Caverno; support for Hirth for Secretary of Agriculture, Julien N. Friant and John Stinson as Assistant Secretaries, Thad Snow on Highway Commission, E.Y. Mitchell for Ambassador to Belgium, Judge Armstrong for floor leader in Missouri House, and H.E. Miles on Tariff Commission; with Clarence. Cannon and Bennett C. Clark on amending Reconstruction Finance Corporation Act, obtaining loans for M.F.A., factionalism in Missouri delegation to Congress due to redistricting, Franklin D. Roosevelt's push for farm bill in short session of Congress; with F.B. Young discussing losses of Farmers Live Stock Commission Company; miscellaneous M.F.A. business correspondence.
f. 261-2621933 May-1934 December. Miscellaneous correspondence with James M. Thomson discussing cotton production data and Hirth for Missouri Senator; information on corn-hog and wheat benefit payments by the federal government; with University Agricultural Extension disputing need for emergency county agents; with miscellaneous others discussing Springfield creamery, private utilities interests, Pendergast and Truman.

Miscellaneous Series

f. 263-264Newspaper Articles, 1932. Typewritten copies of newspaper articles by Hirth.
f. 265-266Radio Addresses, 1931-1932. Addresses delivered over KFRU, Columbia, Missouri, and WHO, Des Moines, Iowa.
f. 267Speeches, 1931-1932
f. 268-276Bulletins. Printed material, mostly written by Hirth, on chain stores, M.F.A. managers, contracts, policies, Women's Progressive Farmers' Association and Junior Farmers' Association, and the farm situation.

INDEX TERMS

These index terms are the subjects, people, places, etc. under which this collection is listed in all available indexes at the Western Historical Manuscript Collection-Columbia. If you are interested in a specific index term, please contact the reference staff.

  • Agriculture
  • Agriculture, Cooperative
  • Agriculture--Law and legislation, 1930s
  • Agriculture--Law and legislation, Missouri
  • Agriculture--Missouri, Franklin County
  • Agriculture--Societies
  • Almstedt, Hermann Benjamin (1872-1954)
  • Anti-Catholicism
  • Bales, D. L.
  • Ball, Ned J.
  • Beaman, Roy M.
  • Bestor, H. Paul (1882- )
  • Betts, Amos A.
  • Blair, James T.
  • Blanton, H. J. "Jack" (1869-1955)
  • Borah, William E. (1865-1940)
  • Brand, Charles
  • Brooks, Stratton Duluth (1869-1949)
  • Brown, Dwight Huber (1887-1944)
  • Burch, Walter
  • Camphor, William
  • Cannon, Clarence (1879-1964)
  • Caraway, Thaddeus Horatius (1871-1931)
  • Caulfield, Henry Stewart (1873-1966)
  • Caverno, Xenophon (1865-1941)
  • Census--Missouri, 1919
  • Census--Missouri--Agriculture, 1919
  • Chain stores
  • Chicago Union Stock Yards
  • Clark, Bennett Champ (1890-1954)
  • Cockrell, Francis Marion (1834-1915)
  • Conden, W. C.
  • Cooperative Warehouse Association, Columbia, Missouri
  • Corn Belt Committee
  • Cowden, Howard H.
  • Creason, Ola F.
  • Cross, Guernsey T.
  • Cuno, F. L.
  • Current River
  • Dairy products
  • Darrow, Clarence (1857-1938)
  • Davis, Chester C. (1887-1975)
  • Dawes, Charles G. (1865-1951)
  • Dearmont, Russell L. (1891-1967)
  • Decker, Frank N.
  • Democratic National Convention, 1932
  • Denman, C. B. (1882-1958)
  • DeWitt, T. H.
  • Doane, D. Howard (1883-1984)
  • Donnell, Elmer
  • Douthitt, F. H.
  • Dres'her, A. B.
  • Dunlap, Frederick
  • Dyer, John Napier
  • Edwards, Laura S.
  • Eggs--Marketing
  • Egley, Charles A.
  • Election, 1932
  • Election, 1932--Missouri Gubernatorial
  • Emmert, C. F.
  • Fair Tariff League
  • Farley, James A.
  • Farmers Educational and Cooperative Union of America
  • Farmers Live Stock Commission Company
  • Farmers National Grain Corporation
  • Farmers Union Service Association
  • Farm-to-Market Roads
  • Federal Farm Loan Act
  • Franklin, Leonard
  • Franklin, Walter S.
  • Friant, Julien N. (1888-1939)
  • Fuis, Frank
  • Fulbright, James F. (1877-1948)
  • Gasoline Tax
  • Gods'y, Townsend
  • Goeke, Joseph G.
  • Goodson, John V.
  • Gore, Thomas P.
  • Green, William
  • Greenwade, C. W.
  • Grimes, I. C.
  • Grimes, J. Frank
  • Hall, Clarence
  • Harvey, Marie Turner
  • Hatch, Verna L.
  • Hawes, Harry Bartow (1869-1947)
  • Hawley-Smoot Tariff
  • Hay, Charles Martin (1879-1945)
  • Haymes, Lon S.
  • Henderson, Sam
  • Hirth, William (1875-1940)
  • Hobb, George
  • Hoffman, R. W.
  • Holliday, T. E., Mrs.
  • Hoover, Herbert (1874-1964)
  • Howe, Louis McHenry (1871-1936)
  • Hubbell, George H. (1878-1959)
  • Hudson, Ruby
  • Hulen, Rubey M. (1894-1956)
  • Hyde, Arthur Mastick (1877-1947)
  • Indiana Farm Board
  • Intermediate Credit Bank Act
  • Jackson, Cato
  • Johnson, Robert D. (1883- )
  • Jones, Langdon R. (1887-1963)
  • Jones, Marvin (1886-1976)
  • KFRU Radio, Columbia, Missouri
  • Kile, Orville Martin (1886- )
  • Kirchner, Roger E. (1890- )
  • League of Women Voters
  • Lee, Charles A.
  • Legge, Alexander (1866-1933)
  • Livestock--Marketing
  • Lowden, Frank Orren (1861-1943)
  • Lozier, Ralph F. (1866-1945)
  • Mann, Conrad H. (1871-1943)
  • Maxey, Herman O. (1871-1935)
  • Mayes, Jewell (1873-1944)
  • McAdoo, William Gibbs (1863-1941)
  • McNary-Haugen Bill
  • Meat industry & trade
  • Meyer, Eugene
  • Meyer, Eugene
  • Miles, H. E.
  • Miller, A. D.
  • Missouri Agriculture Association
  • Missouri Cotton Growers Cooperative Association
  • Missouri Farm Bureau Federation
  • Missouri Farmers Association
  • Missouri Farmers Association Oil Company
  • Missouri Pacific Railroad
  • Missouri Truck & Terminal Association
  • Missouri, Cape Girardeau, 1911-1918
  • Missouri, Salem
  • Missouri, Sullivan County
  • Missouri, Texas County
  • Missouri, Windsor
  • Missouri. Bureau of Marketing
  • Mitchell, Ewing Y., Jr. (1873-1954)
  • Morrison, Thomas M.
  • Mortgages
  • Mosby, Thomas Speed
  • Munkres, Klara
  • National Livestock Marketing Association
  • National Livestock Producers
  • National Progressive League
  • Nelson, William L. (1875-1946)
  • Netherland, Wood
  • Norbeck, Peter (1870-1936)
  • Norris, George William (1861-1944)
  • O'Mealey, John
  • Owen, H.N.
  • Park, Guy Brasfield (1872-1946)
  • Peek, George Nelson (1873-1943)
  • Pendergast, Thomas J. (1872-1945)
  • Pershing, John J. (1860-1948)
  • Peteet, Walton (1869- )
  • Peters, Fred G.
  • Petroleum industry & trade
  • Pinchot, Gifford (1865-1946)
  • Politics
  • Producers Creamery Company of Cabool
  • Prohibition
  • Rayburn, Sam (1882-1962)
  • Reavis, George
  • Reed, James A. (1861-1944)
  • Reno, Milo
  • Roads
  • Rogers, Will (1879-1935)
  • Romjue, M.H.
  • Roosevelt, Franklin Delano (1882-1945)
  • Rosier, R.J.
  • Rumble, Wilfred E.
  • Schilling, William Frank
  • Scott, Frank M.
  • Shannon, Joseph B. (1867-1943)
  • Shawhan, John M.
  • Shoemaker, Floyd S.
  • Shouse, W.L.
  • Simpson, John
  • Skelton, Ike
  • Smith, Alfred E. (1873-1944)
  • Smith, Forrest (1886-1962)
  • Snow, Thad
  • Stark, Lloyd Crow (1886-1972)
  • Stark, Paul C. (1891-1974)
  • Stephens College, Columbia, MO
  • Stewart, Charles A.
  • Sutherlin, Ralph
  • Talbert, Thomas J. (1880-1967)
  • Talmadge, Eugene (1884-1946)
  • Tariff
  • The Missouri Farmer
  • Thomson, James M. (1878-1959)
  • Traller, Mae
  • Traylor, Melvin A. (1848-1934)
  • Trucking
  • Tugwell, Rexford G. (1891-1979)
  • U.S. Federal Farm Board
  • U.S. Federal Farm Loan Board
  • U.S. Federal Land & Intermediate Credit Banks
  • U.S. Federal Land Bank
  • U.S. Interstate Commerce Commission
  • U.S. Post Office Department, Rural Service
  • U.S. Reconstruction Finance Corporation
  • Union Oil Co.
  • University of Missouri, Agricultural Extension Service
  • University of Missouri, Department of Horticulture, Appropriations, 1933
  • Wabash Railroad Company
  • Wallace, Henry A.
  • Walsh, Frank P.
  • Watson, Edward M.
  • Weis, Frank J.
  • White, Edward J.
  • White, F. Edson
  • Whitecotton, James H.
  • Whitecotton, W.E.
  • Whitney, Simon Newcomb
  • Williams, Clyde
  • Williams, Derwood E.
  • Williams, George H.
  • Wilson, Francis M.
  • Wilson, M.L.
  • Winter, E.H.
  • Women's Progressive Farmers Assn. of Missouri
  • Women--Societies
  • Woods, Harry
  • Young, Frank B.