The log cabin Democrat. [volume] (Conway, Ark.) 1901-1982, 1908-10-15
Farners' Union
,... ...... .... ,.... ..... A.. Department

tlOn we COulQ not carry these
purposes into execution.
Education leads us to know
the constituents of the soil, the
element of plant-food, and hence
what the soil needs to get the
best results from it. 1t teaches
us the futility of over-croping,
and the advantages of intensive
farming, and how to make the
most with the least outlay. 1t
enables us to know something of
the condition of commercial af-
fairs, what crops are in demand
and will bring the best price; and
education helps us in co-opera-
ting for the purpose of obtaining
a better price-not to undermine
any other legitimate business.
No, this is not our design; but
to enable US to exact and obtain
Just and fair price for our pro-
ducts. Just here is where many
misjudge us, and hence breed
prejudices against the organiza-
tons. The discussion Of these
as we'll as other questions that l
shall notice constitute the major
portion of the proceedings in our
meetings, and are secret, not be-
cause we are conniving to Grip
pie or destroy other legitimate
interests, not because we wish to
do Injustice to men in other avo-
cations. No, not that nor for
any other unrighteous cause. We
are willing for the world to know
our motives and purposes; but
our meeting are secret that we
may formulate and execute our
plans in our own way, without
the interference of those who
might be antagonistic, just as
business men in other callin9s
keep their plans to themselves
that they may succeed. Ours is
a business as we'll as a fraternal
organization, and just here we
wish to say we are learning fast
along this line. We have made
some agregious mistakes in the
past by being too liberal with the
other fellow, in revealing to him
our plans before they are ex-
ecuted. But we are learning,
and propose to profit by past
errors.
Again, we must educate to
know the bane of the mortgage
and credit system, and that we
may practice economy SO as to
avoid it. This is very important,
for we must first extricate our
selves from this commercial bond
age before we can consummate
our other purposes. Get in an
attitude to control what we raise,
then we may have some say
about what it is worth, and hold
until we get it.
And yet again, we must edu-
cate to know our duties and
rights as citizens. Through ed
ucation we are enabled to COM
prehend the duties and response
bility of citizenship. 1t teaches
us our relations to our govern
ment, and points out the way for
us to aid in the execution of the
civil laws. 1t reveals to us our
rights and power as citizens, and
by intelligence we are enabled to
demand and obtain our rights at
the bar of justice, through the
power we possess, and that is the
ballot. The ballot is the instru-
ment of power in all republican
governments such as ours, and
no people is capable of self-gov-
eminent through the ballot un-
less they are educated.
Ignorance and vice are the twin
elements that contribute to the
prostitution of the ballot that
leads to decay and the downfall
of governments. In the ballot is
power, and power implies re-
sponsibility. Then how impor-
tant that we educate, that we
may meet this responsibility.
Weld this power so as to bring
the best results in government,
not only to ourselves, but to the
whole nation-the greatest good