Okolona messenger. (Okolona, Miss.) 1900-current, 1907-04-24
A NEW ORDER OF THINGS.

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| N@ HERE are conditions in Mississippi
xdl which will enter into the primar
| GaEsN El1 elections this year which the poll
| E3TeyH tician may find fraught with sur
| ENSSXs x prises when the vote is canvassed
gl(la asAIl In the years past the politica
| [zRGh see manipulation has had things abon
| E6s96SR -! his own sweet way. He has on
to organize his forces, think ou
his catchy campaign tactics usually to appeal t
prejudices rather than the judgment of the voters
and II he proved good grand stand artist, success
would likely follow his efforts. But new condition.
have risen. That seemingly careless old farmer
who pays the freight from the fruits of his toll wheI
appealed to in passionate way, was safely to bt
C6uDted on as sure to favor the man who came
nearest to striking the cord most harmonious to hi
ear. But there has come q change with this hardy
son Of toll. He has been organized, or rather hal
organized himself, into composite body, com
nunity Of interest, into what is known as thu
Farmers Union. Most farmers in the state now
awake to their interest, members OF this organ
zaton and enthusiastic meetings are held at stated
intervals in every community, at which meetings
not only farming bat economic questions are dis
cussed and analyzed. The organizations cannot bt
designated as political bodies, yet they naturally
carry with them an investigating system which
brings these producers Of wealth to a point where
they consider dispassionately and carefully every
question which in the least affects the farmers vel
fare and interest.
Draw the lines rs We may, belittle as we choose
imagine il We WILL that the intelligence and saga
cious cunning OF the hour is confined to those who
reside il the towns and Cities the fact remains that
when he organizes for the purpose of studying his
better interests aud puts himself to the task the
farmer is not only the equal Of his city neighbor,
bat by far his superior. He will spend the hours
Of the night posting himself on questions he would
understand, when the city boss or wiseacre is re
yelling in his ficticious luxury or planning with a
view Of misleading his country cousin, wholly dis
regarding his own ignorance Of the countryman'e
ability to protect himself. In his arrogance the
town schemer in politics as well as in business
matters the abilities and the adronit
ness Of that farmer customer or patron in manner
which often comes back to him with shock. The
farmer is by no means the uniform member OF So
ciety. Just now he is passing through course Of
study not only at his Union meetings, but also il
his home researches which will result in qualifying
him to eectually protect himself against the abuses
of willy politicians or others who may seek to de-
fraud or deceive him.
That men in all other walks in life are depen
dent upon the farmer is a fact 20 well established
that it would seem after while all would learn tC
give him first place in the consideration Of common
good.
The wise business man or the honest politician
has ever realized this condition. and has given the
producer Of wealth his full credit for intelligence
well a. for his works. Bnt the difficulty has beer
that many schemers enter the business avocationG
in the cities as well as the role Of politician, and
this class has never seen proper to consider thu
farmer as anything more than coed thing to prey
upon.
These Farmers Unions are manifestly commend
able, and so long as the great membership il ablt
to holc them to the purposes for which they art
organized, that Of protecting the producers from
impositions Of any sort, that long they will advance
In strength and develop In usefulness.
The new conditions referred TO- which will be- il
evidence this year in the primaries to select public
servants are not the inspirations Of political graf
terss Far from it. They are simply the result o
the farmers eyes being opened, through his owl
Investigations, to the deceptions practiced upol
him.
Naturally these farmers coming together 9,
frequently, getting more intimately acquainted will
each other, and realizing their common interests
cauae them to look about In year like the present
when al the officials in their state are to be chose
fora long term Of iOur years. and to consider with
ont individual interest, the real merits 81 thos
asking their suffrage. Mthey have been deCeive
OtdieappOInted IN The past, 4 Il but sane action