The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1907-08-07
FARMERS UNION BUREAU.
Conducted by S, G. Farmers Union

Atthe second annual meeting Of the South
Carolina division of the Farmers Uninn held
al Greenwood 1921 of July, about $50 mem
bers were present In executive session.
These men OF the farms wore upon their
countenantes a determined look that means
much. They feel confident OF their ability
to maintain the position they have taken
in maintaining their own affairs In their
own way and their success verities this
opinion.
National President c. S Barrett Of Atwater,
Ga, addressed the meeting at 8 O'CLOCK lot a
period OF two hours. Among other things, ne
than any other farmers organization had
ever been In the South before. The average
growth of the union Is now over 3.MO mem.
6ers O day, some days 1t reached 5000 and
6 900 new membLrs. The enrolled member-
ship now is over one and a halt million.
None of the State organizations have any
debts and there Is more or less money In Inc
treasury Of every State organization Inc
national treasurer has considerable money 10
bis credit.
One ofthe most important things IN CON
nection with the Farmers union is the tale
now current that the organization is animated
with the American Federation OF Labor.
Much has been said about this matter OF ar.
~fliation with the'general federation and the
attitude OF many good and conservative men
on the outside has been Undecided towarus
the organization pending O statement OF It's
position. President Barrett was asked thls
question:: sis the Farmers Educational ana
Cooperative Union afi lis with the Amer
lean Federation OF Labor" The answer was
n {. "andtn bis address TO the meeting here
he cautioned the members 10 Ego slow about
afiliating with any organizattop." He FUR
Their said: why should we affiliate when the
Farmers union is now strong enough and
powerful enough TO accomplish anything
that II wants to that is just and right?"'
The second session OF the Farmers union
opened at 9'oclock last night. Pres: o..
g ood win called the meeting 10 order and In
troduced Hon. g. M. Davis, Of Atlanta. Ga,
State organizer OF the Georgia division. Mr..
Davis was the sole speaker ofthe evening and
spoke for about two hours. He made a good,
sound. practical talk, and one that the dele.
gates have talked about more than that OF
any other. He spoke OF the harmonious
working OF the Georgia union and told OF the
magnificent appropriation by the state OF
Georgia for agricultural district schools and
urged that South Carolina take steps along
this same line. He said: "You know every
body says the farmer won't stick, but the
farmers Of Georgia who won't stick TO the
union get stuck" In regard TO the high price
of cotton, he said that rs cent cotton would
ruin the farming interests OF the South. 1t
would cause the mill people TO quit spinning
and all go to producing cotton.
question OF politics running the organization
or any organization that allows politics, Mr..
Davis said: "That as the national govern
against cattle ticks. so the Farmers union
had Instituted q strict quarantine against
politics." AT the CLOSE OF his speech the
evening meeting closed.
al 9 O'Clock. The court house was we'll filled.
Hon. T. r. Wakefield Of Anderson, presi-
dent OF the Anderson county union and vice
president Of the State division, introduced
committee on the operation IN cotton baling,
handling and marketing. The resolution ia
I'VE favor a system Of uniform bsllng Of
"a L., @nnIyara ~ % fnnhnu rpthn hv 2R
Inches long; that the cotton be covered neatly
and securely with any serviceable wrapping.
our preference being given to cotton wrapper;
that we approve the cotton union system OF
MARI citing cotton"
At ii a. m, National President c. .. Bar.
! rett made an address to the general public IN
the court house. He stated among other
things that he had talked Farmers union so
much tina he had about forgotten everything
else he ever knew. He said the Farmers
unions of the South now own and operate
!, 900 warehouses OF their own. w do not
own or operate Gnn ., any b st9Iss," 10 ne he said ans wbe
is always saying the other fellow won't stick
The old farmer has got enough OF partizan
politics. The Farmers union stands for
more improvement In rural schools. Only
one of the whole number OF the present
national officials OF the Farmers union has
ever held any political office or been In pol
tics. The following officers were elected al
an executive session this afternoon:
President, O.. P, Goodwin, Laurens.
Vice president. T.. T. Wakefield, Anderson
Secretary-treasurer, B.. F. Earle. Anderson,
Chaplain, A. B. Black, Greenville.
A State organizer ia to be elected by the ex-
ecutive committee at q later date. Quite 9
number of delegates have expressed their de.
sire tor the Georgia organizer, Mr.. Davis. and
1t is probable that an effort will be made to
secure his service in this State. The Other
officers are: H. T. Campbell, doorkeeper; 8
W. Wideman, conductor; ]. Wade Dixon
and w. E. hopkins, sergeants.at-arms; execu
tive committeeman. J. b. Pickett. w. l.
Anderson. J. G. Boggs, W. G: Brown, WI
Kennedy. Delegates to the national meeting
at Little Rock. September 8, J. {. Stribling OF
Pendleton. Delegates to the Cotton Growers
and Spipners' convention, VIC. Moore. T. T
| Wakefield, j. Bolton Watson, M A. Mahat1ey
IJ. B. Pickett, o. F. Goodwin. W.. L Anderson
w. E. Hopkins, c. D. Smith.