Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1906-09-22
though the sessions were secret, one

though the sessions were secret, one
of the bellwethers, in burst of pride,
announced that there are on the rolls
of the association at this time more
than 100000 names, and that this mem
bership is located principally in Geor-
gia. Alabama, Mississippi, Arkansas,
Tennessee, Texas, Louisiana, South
Carolina. Oklahoma, Indian Territory,
North Carolina and southern Kansas.
Object of the New Union.
The object of the association is TO
control prices by limiting acreage, hold
ing produce in case of overproduction,
and to establish a system of reports
SO that the agricultural interests will
get first hand all information relating
to the industry and not have to de-
pend on the newspapers. Mr. Butler
says the southern branch Of the organ
ization in three years has saved its
members 100000 through fixing
prices, and that its standing in the
south is now fixed. This money would
have gone to the iobbers Of the north
had there been no organization" 9th
err more enthusiastic members ascribe
the prosperity Of the cotton farmer en-
tirely to the operations of the union
One OF them asserted that since the
original organization, more than $780,
| 100000 have been saved to the produc-
ers in the twenty-one states where the
union has foothold.
There was no mention of politics at
any of the gatherings of the represen-
tatives of the union, "but, said one of
the leaders, "lf we find fellow play
ing into the hands of the trusts or 9TH
er agencies which control prices, we
can send word down the me that he is
good man to scratch on election day.
The organization does not propose to
60 into politics as an organization, but
the things we desire to accomplish
necessarily have some political bear
ing, and we will all vote the way we
think best. Just now, though, we are
organizing."
Classes Without the Fold.
A lawyer who was one of the origin
al organizers Of the populist party in
Kansas, and it's candidate for chief
justice of the supreme court, tried to
get into the union several months ago
and this is how he tells it: II told
him | represented an agricultural
newspaper, and l did They began tc
ask me all kinds of questions, and
did fairly we'll for man who has only
seen a plow out OF a car window fol
the past three or four years. Their
they asked ME ii was still lawyer
told them yes, and the stuff was of
right there. l was cast into outer
darkness and the doors double-barret
and bolted. Nothing doing for the
lawyers there"
A politician WHO tried it said they
told him they wanted farmers who
farmed the farms, and not people who
farned the farmer That let him out
A merchant who owns farm alst
tried it, but found sign: mo room
for the middleman." So he lost out.
1t is significant that none Of the oil
alliance leaders and middle-or-the-roat
populists are in the new movement
Milton Park Of Texas, 10 Parker o
Kentucky, Thomas Watson Of Georgia
and all the rest of the old guard ar
out of it, Not even the illustrious Cy
clone Jim Davis Is permitted to rails
, his siren voice in behalf Of the nev
crusade. No back numbers need ap
ply. All the men at the head of tn
movement are new hands, and non
of them have their photos in the pic
!, ture gallery Of the newspapers. Blu
they are tremendously in earnest am
tremendously optimistic