Woodruff County news. [volume] (McCrory, Ark.) 1901-1910, 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.

CEO FARMERS Educational and Co
operative Union of Arkansas held it's
annual convention in the hall of repre-
sentatives in Little Rock this week,
! with an attendance of two hundred
delegates, representing sixty-fve
| counties. The forenoon of the first
day was devoted almost entirely to
the addresses of welcome and re-
Spouse. One of the chief features
was the address of President D. P
! Ilmsuall, 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
rotary of Agriculture Wilson to at
tend next national meeting of the
Farmers Union at Texarkana in Sep
| tember
!
Lemon and George W. Rogers, presi-
dent of the Board of Trade, welcomed
the farmers to the city, and H.
| Beecher Lewis, lecturer for the
northern district of the state re-
suonded in behalf OF the union Mr.
Lewis declared that the farmers are
the most conservative citizens of the
| md I, L.
fact that. although they comprise rs
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 fer the trust
evil declaring it to be the laying of
the strong arm of the law upon that
menace to 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 bucketshops 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 new state capitol,
and declared the building is being
constructed as to cause a loss of
from $4,000 to $4,000 to the state.
At the second days session j. B.
Lewis, of Craighead county, was
elected president This was the only
real contest before the body, though
of friendly nature President Tim
stall was a candidate for reelection,
and the names of ]. T. M. Holt, of
Hampstead; j. B. Palmer, of Monroe,
and Rev. A. D. Cullom, of White, were
also presented.
Ben. l.. Griffin was reelected Sec
rotary and treasurer by reclamation.
His report showed an increase in
membership for the year of 10000,
with a total cash balance in the
treasury against all dis bursements
treasury against all disbursements
of $3.607,40. Among his recon-
following:
The adoption of an amendment to
the constitution, prohibiting any coun-
ty, local or state officer of the farm
ers' union, while holding Office in the
union, becoming a 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 to the
world the exact relation that the
farmers union bears to the labor or
CARNATIONS.
The full list of officers elected was
as follows:
PRESIDENT. B. Lewis, Craighead
county.
NlCS-I L. llOie, liSAp
stead county.
Secretary and Treasurer-Ben L.
Griffith, Faulkner county
Chaplain. G. Armstrong, White
county.
Conductor-John A. Blackford,
Craighead county.
Executive Committee-R. H. Nc
Cullough, of White county; O. P.
Nixon, of Van Buren, county; A. R.
Austin, of Yell county; j. c. Palmer,
of Monroe county, and H. ]. Craig, of
independence county.
All three sessions of the third day
were executive, and but little of the
business done was made public. 1t
was announced that most of the bust
ness was of nature which demanded
secrecy.
The most important matter taken