The Elbert County tribune., 1908-04-09
Proaress of Farmers, Union.

Progress OF Faruers' Union.
Organized in Colorado just few
months ago, but now claiming a mem
bership Of 5000 in this state alone. the
Farmers Educational and Cooperative
union is now preparing to broaden its
field OF activity. The annual meeting
has been called for April 18th at Pu-
eblo
Following are the claims OF the or
ganization as set forth by George b.
Lang Of Langdon, Colorado, state pres
ident:
The union came into existence in
Colorado last December. In that brief
space of time its progress has been re-
markable, and while it has gone along
without biare of trumpets, the fact OF
the organization has become well
known and 1t has attracted widespread
attention.
1t has over 100000 members in the
United States. and is growing steadily
every day. The entire southern tier
of states is well organized and the
work Is now extending into the Mid
die West, the West and to the Pacific
coast
The Farmers union Is designed
along lines similar to the old grange
and the Farmers alliance, but IL is a
vast Improvement over these organiza-
tions in many ways. The old amalga-
nations sought to distribute products
of others. while the union aims at the
ultimate ownership of factories and TO
handle its own products.
1t was organized as national insti-
tuition in 1902 in Raines county, Texas.
C. 5. Barrett of Union City, Georgia,
is national president at the present
time and II. H. Mccullough OF Beebee,
Arkansas. is national secretary.
Lang Is one of the chief organizers of
the Colorado branch. Horace Meloy Of
Calhan Is vice president; II. S. Stovall
of Langdon, secretary; Arthur Man
ming of Rocky Ford. treasurer; c. p.
Larson of New Castle, conductor; j.
w. Vandeventer of Sterling. statisti-
clan: C. V. James of Ramah, chaplain;
w. b. Coston of Wray. doorkeeper.
This is the state organization. Many
county unions have been formed and
they have their own officers.
Elbert, Ell Paso, Pueblo. Garfield.
Delta. Otero, Bent and Prowers coun-
ties are organized and have thriving
county unions and the organization is
rapidly spreading all over the state.
Fs.-mers. laborers and rural me
chanics are eligible to membership.
and some of the most prominent men
in the state engaged in agricultural
pursuits are enrolled. The organiza-
tion is non-political In fact. politics
is tabooed in the union under penalty
OF expulsion. The economic principle
is direct legislation and the initiative
and referendum governs the organiza-
tion itself.
The union already owns coal mine
in Colorado 1t Is the famous Peerless,
located 1T Aguilar. Colorado, and 1t has
been turning out 100 tons day. This
coal is supplied to the members at
saving of So a ton. and in addition the
mine paid a profit of 100 per cent. on
the investment. Preparations are now
being made to add improved equip
ment and increase the output to 400
tons a day.
1t also owns a woolen mill at Albu-
querque. New Mexico. in which 5000
members are stockholders, and many
of them. are wearing clothing made
from goods turned out by the mill.
The organization is behind the move
ment to establish a beet sugar factory
at Manzanola, contracts for which have
already been signed. and which will
handle the beets of the farmers of the
Arkansas valley, who decline to accept
the reduction declared by the trust con
Germs.
One of the most important matters
to come before the meeting at Pueblo
is the establishment of general pur-
chasing agency to handle farming i'm
plements and other merchandise. Only
carload lots are handled by the union.
This agency has already been decided
upon.