The Montgomery advertiser., 1907-08-29
FARMERS MEET AT TENDALUsIA Stat ty'Union in Annual X Session. FIRST MEETING IS PUBLIC I. ]. Brooks Makes Address of
 Day.
Delegates From All Over the State Present--Afternoon and Night ses- sions Devoted To Business Be-
 hind Closed Doors.
BY ALLEN CRENsHAw.

ably the largest gathering of delegates that Anda usia has ever had in Its en- virons Is now i.ere to attend the second annual session of the Alabama Farmers Union.
 I The delegates have been arriving since last night, when over three hum dred of them came In on the train from Montgomery. Since then every train has brought to Andalusia large crowds of delegates. Tonight there are about 1000 visitors in the city. The hotels and boarding houses are overfowing. but the hospitable homes of the city have been thrown open and the many visitors are receiving a most cordial welcome. The visitors express great pleasure at the attention shown them, and have warm words of praise for An dalusia's hospitality and evidence of progress and prosperity.
 Delegates from all parts of the State are here The first session, a public meeting, was held this morning, begin ming at s:30 o'clock.
 The following officers of the Union were present at the opening of the con- ventfon: I. 4 Morley, of Birmingham, president; ]. A. Rose. of Greenville, vice president; E. J. Cook, of Birmingham, secretary and treasurer; P. F. Parker, OA RAAAtiuE AAh4Al, otdNS puSAueS8 BSuLs w. A. Morris, of Sulligent, organizer.
 The meetings are being held in the beautiful and commodious new opera house of which Andalusia Is justly proud. It Is one of the most perfect theatres in a town of this size in the State. The theatre seats 1.500 persons.
 President Calls order.
 s. o. BeasIey, President of the Gov ingtop County Association, called the convention to order this morning. Rev. E. U. Smith of Highland gave the in- vocation, after which several hymns were sung, all the members joining in. The opening ceremonY was very in- pressive.
 Rev. L. P. Lathran of thls city was inttoduced by Mr. Beas1ey, who. as the representative of the cit, and visitors to Andalusia. MT. Lathran said the people of Andalusia and Cov- ington County were indeed glad that we were allowed to welcome such a gathering of men, whom, in his esti- nation, was the most representative body of Ala abama's citizenship that could be assembled. He told the dele- gates of the marvellous growth of An dalusia and Coyington County; that in 1897 there were only 1000 people in the county and 500 people in Andalusia, while today there are 30,000 people in Covington County and 5000 people in Andalusia. The speaker showed that there was $1,500,000 of taxable proper ty in the county in 1897, as compared with $s.000,000 today. He dealt at length with the timber, turpentine and farm resources of the county. and said there Is 50'0o0 acres in the county. He said that the people of the county will sell to good homeseekers.
 In closing, Mir. Lathram said that if the delegates were half as glad to ba with the people of Covington County as they were at having them, the peo- pie he represented were extremely happy.
 Brooks Makes Address,
 When Mir. Lathram concluded the meeting was turned over to President Morley of the State Union. who intro duced T. J. Brooks of Atwood, Tenn the Secretary and Treasurer of the Union of that State. who made the chief address of the day. MT. Brooks was received with enthusiasm.
 His speech was upon the general principles of the order, and what the organization was striving to accom- plish. He said in part that the growth had been marvellous until today the Farmers Union was one of the strong est orders in existence. The principle of the order is the lowering of the per centaEe or mortgages Oli AatAA AaiAs and the increasing of the ownership or property by the farmers.
 The different methods of fighting the combinations of capital were discussed, they being the chief cause of the farm CTS being unable to set the price Of his own product, as coal. iron and other producers did. He said that trusts could control prices on their products because they were organized and con- tod inc EllnnlW tO the demand.
 Mir. Brooks said the farmers were the last to drop into organized force to help themselves, but that in the Farm ers' Union was the beginning of the fight for organized force, education and co-operation of the farmers looking to the time when the farmer himself and not the speculators of Wall Street would control the prices on the farm products
 At great length Mir. Brooks spoke of the great good that is being accom- nlished by the union and discussed the buying of necessary articles Tor farm use and the selling of farm products. His address was a great effort and he was freouently interrupted by applause.
 After Mir, Brooks had concluded, F. K Parker, State Business Agent, was introduced and delivered splendid address on the proper methods of buy ing. 1,- gia, followed MT. Parker. MT. Davis spoke of the different papers that were the organs of the union and in- cideutally amused the audience with a few anecdotes.
 Afternoon Session secret.
 The afternoon session was held be- hind closed doors. The order of the afternoon was strict business and re- ports of committees. The reports were on routine matters touching the i'm ternal affairs of the order. Nothing important was discussed
 night session. which was public. was held in the opera house. The meeting was in the nature of a re- n. the time being occupied with
 sIsqmsW suoIIBA Gq s9q0ssds
 The chief address was made
 member of the local labor union.
 Idress made a good impression
 he audience.
 rge number of the citizens of
 sia attended the meeting to-