The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1906-08-23
Over Three Hundred Delegates
from Over Alabama
Are in BeSSemer
KNOWN FARMERS
SPEAK ABOUT UNION
President Morley Presides-Mayor
Sullivan Delivers an Address of
Observation-Disclosures Trav-
elerp Makes a Hit.

Bessemer. Ala. August 22.--(special.)-
The first session of the Farmers Bdu-
cational and Cooperative Union of Ala
bama was called together this morning in
Beavers hall at about 1926 by President
]. A. Worley of Pell city Present in
the hall were estimated to be something
like 300 people. who seemed to follow
with interest the discourses of the va
rious speaker.
President Worley spoke briefly of the
union in America and introduced Mayor
j. ]. Sullivan.
In his address of welcome, Mayor Sui
Ivan spoke OF the pleasure 1t gave him
as the representative of the city of Bes-
semer, to welcome the union. He stated
that 1t was in Gods providence that the
union was met on this occasion in one
of the most prominent towns of Alabama.
He told the farmers that they are the
producers of all the wealth and congrat-
ulated himself that he had lived to see
the farmers Of the country cooperate
for the benefit of one another. He drew
a parallel between the union and this
district, declaring that both are just in
their infancy, with untold possibilities of
development.
In conclusion he assured the delegates
that, as the representative of the city
he gave all q hearty welcome and the
freedom of all places in the city with the
exception of the jail, which he facetiously
declared is locked against them
At the conclusion of the address of well
come. President Morley stated that o.
P. West of Texas, ex-national president,
was absent, and consequently could not
make the response as scheduled. But re-
viewing briefly the history of the union,
he stated that he was of the opinion that
it is equal to any occasion. He introduced
the Rev. j. H. Thomas, president of
the Chiffon county union, as substitute.
The Rev. Thomas Responds.
The Rev. Thomas began by referring
felicitously to the Mayors statement about
the city jail, stating that ne was proud
that that dreaded institution was barred;
but he declared: This sort of folks hard
ly ever go to jail" He assured the audi
ence that he believed that he was look
ing into the faces of honest, open-heart-
ed men. s-t-
I'VE have come to the place where we
are going to talk business for ourselves"
was among the statements of the Chiffon
county president, "and we are organized
for the benefit of the agricultural people
of this land of ours" He strove to inn
press especially the statement that in
gaining its own advancement. it is not the
purpose of the union to tear down any
mercantile institutions but to build up
the wealth of the producing class, with
out hurt to others. He told the farmers
that they must look upon the foundry men
and miners as their equals as the ag-
rlcultural and mineral districts control
the wealth of the world. and the workers
of the latter furnish the market for the
commodities of the former. His idea
seemed to be to show the mutual depend
ence of these two great classes of So
ciety upon each other. He declared that
1t is in the power of the farmers to con-
troll the price of cotton.
other Speakers.
President worley next introduced II. T.
Nations of Walker county, who made a
short speech in which he contended that
Alabama is the garden spot of the world.
His claim was that the ultimate interest
of all good men is the same, and with this
in view, we should be governed by faith
in city. state, country, humanity and
God.
CHI. Bean of Jefferson county made
short speech, in which he outlined the
use and scope of the organization. He
is one of the oldest members Of the union.
In touching on warehouses he declared
that the best warehouse is a good shelter
at home.
At the conclusion of Mr. Beans speech