The Monticellonian., 1906-08-16
FARMERS GATHER
IN UNION AT LITTLE ROCK AND
 TRANSACT MUCH BUSINESS.
They Talk Straight on Pertinent Sub jects and Will Practice What
 They Preach.

annual convention in the hall of repre- 1 sentatiyes in Little Rock this week with all attendance of two hundred delegates. representing sixty-five counties. The forenoon of the first day was devoted almost entirely to hhe addresses of welcome and re- spOnse. One of the chief features was the address of President D. P. i Timstall. of Fulton county. who out lined the principal questions before the Union. and made various recon mendatiOns to be considered by the convention. He advocated the build ing of more warehouses throughout the state, and he also urged the adoption of plan under which the producers may sell their cotton direct to the spinners. He also suggested that an invitation be extended To Sec retary of Agriculture Wilson to at tend next national meeting of the Farmers Union at Texarkana in Sep tember
 At the opening meeting Mayor Lemon and George w Rogers. presi- den: of the Board of Trade, welcomed the farmers To the city, and H. Beecher Lewis, lecturer for the northern disrict of the state, re suonded in behalf of the union. MT Lewis declared that the farmers are the most conservative citizens of the country, and he commented upon the fact that. although they comprise 7S per cent of the entire voting popula- ton. they have never fully asserted their strength at the polls. He con demned gambling in futures and spoke at some length on the ware house question. He advocated the building of warehouses by the local unions in order that they might hold their cotton and sell direct in large quantities to the consumer
 An open session was held on the night of the first day. and addresses were made by Gov Davis and Geo. W. Donaghy. of Conway Gov Davis spoke of the remedy for the trust evil, declaring il to be the laying of the strong arm of the law upon that menace 10 the peoples existence, the same as upon the private citizen. He declared our state has the best antitrust law in the country if hon estly and fearlessly enforced. He attacked bueketshops and dealing in futures, and declared he believed in unions. and urged the farmers to con tinue to organize to help themselves.
 George W. Donaghey spoke on the construction of the nex state capitol, and declared the building is being constructed as to cause loss of from sG0,00 to sS0,000 to the state.
 At the second days session J. B. Lewis, of Graighead county, was elected president This was the only real contest before the body, though os a friendly nature. President Tim. stall was a candidate for reelection. and the names of J. T. NJ. Holt, of Hempstead: ]. B. Palmer, of Monroe, and Rev. A. D Cullom, of White, were also presented
 Ben. L. Griffin was reelected sec retary and treasurer by exclamation. His report showed an increase in membership for the year of 19.000, with a total cash balance in the treasury against all dis bursements treasury against all disbursements of S3607.4 10 Among his recon following:
 The adoption of an amendment to the constitution, prohibiting any eeun- ty, local or state officer of the firm CTS union, while holding office in the union, becoming candidate for any political office.
 That a more perfect system of re- porting by local unions be adopted. to the end that the work of the state office can be more perfectly done.
 That the convention by resolution or other definite action, explain 10 the world the exact relation that the farmers union bears to the labor or ganizations.
 The full list of officers elected was as follows:
 President=-J. B. Lewis. Craighead county
 Nice-President-J. T. Holt Hemp stead county.
 Secretary and Treasurer-Ben L. Griffith, Faulkner county.
 Chaplain-J q. Armstrong. White county
 C, Iuetor-John A. Blackfcrd Craighead county.
 Executive Committee-R H. Nc Cullough, of White county; c P. Nixon. of Van Buren county; A. R. Austin. of Yell county; j. C. Palmer, of Monroe county, and H. J. Craig, of Independence county.
 All three sessions of the third day were executive. and but little of the business done was made public. It was announced that most of the busi- ness was of a nature which demanded secrecy.
 The most important matter taken |