Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1908-01-18
FARMERS CONVENTION
GREAT GATHERING OF COTTON
GROWERS AT MEMPHIS.
Big Bond Issue Is Asked to Aid in
Marketing Cotton Crop-Deal-
ing in Futures Condemned.
Good Roads Favored.

Memphis, Tenn--The first days session
of the convention of .he Farmers Ed
ucational and COOPERATIVE. Union OF
America were held yesterday. During
the morning session, which was open
to the public, the 1900 seats in the
Goodwin Institute together with stand
ing room, was inadequate to aecommo-
date the vast throng that gathered to
he r the mayor make the address OF
welcome. the address of Homer i. Higgs,
in behalf of the Tennessee union, anu
the response of j. Y. Callahan, of Okla
homa, in behalf of the national organi-
cation.
The formal opening of the big meeting
took place at the auditorium yesterday
morning at 10 O'Clock. Charles ;. Bar
rett, president of the national organi-
zation, called the meeting to order, and
not less than 1900 people were present
to hear addresses.
The night session was an open one
P. ]. Brooks, of Atwood, Tenn, deliv
cred the principal address of the even
ing, and Ben i. Griffin, of Arkansas, th'
"red headed, freckled-face wit" as be il
generally known, and several othel
prominent members of the order mad
minute talks after Mr. Brooks ha,
completed his oratorical effort.
The Farmers Educational and Go
Operative Union of America at its SEQ
ond days session, adopted resolution
denouncing the socaled money panic a
conspiracy on the part of the none,
power and spectators, and chargin
that it is a threat against the farmer
that they must be content to alloy
Others to control the price OF their pre-
ducts.
The seating capacity of the auditorium
of the Goodwin institute was take
to its capacity, and many of the 1870
delegates in attendance were forced {
remain outside in the hall. The thre
executive sessions were filled with inc
dents, and many important resolution
were adopted. The chief feature of I'll
day was the adoption of the resolutio
, calling for governmental aid and imm
date passage of law authorizing ii
immediate issuance of $500,000,000
legal tender treasury notes and the lent
, ing of the same to the farmers for ma
keting the present cotton crop.
Following is the legislation that Il
: Farmers Educational and Co-Operati'
l Union of America desires enacted |
! the national congress
, A law by which all money shall
issued by and under the direct contr
of the government, and all citizens wi
land collateral shall at all times ha'
the privilege of borrowing money
: not to exceed per cent per annum.
: The immediate issuance of not le
: than $500,000,00 of legal tender trea
. ury notes, and the lending of the san
: together with any surplus that may
=. in the United States treasury, direct
II the people, to aid them in marketi
IS the present cotton crop.
The passage of a law by congress pl
hibiting the buying and selling of cott
futures and all other farm products,
;. gambling in agricultural products
:. any manner.
= The immediate abolition by congrt
- of the federal bureau of distribution a
), the speedy enactment of laws substa
5, tally including the present alien
n fuX by means of an increased he
tax, money requirement, the illltera
test and other measures, in order to p
vent the agricultural sections of
United States from becoming the dun
~ ing ground for foreign immigration.
N That congress extend the parcels po
at increasing the number of pounds to
q carried in the mails from four to elev
H. and reduction in postage from
N cents to II cents per pound; also
establishment of parcels post syst
on the mail delivery routes, carrying
special rate to be charged on paekai
originating or rural routes, the rate
CT be 5 cents for the first pound, t
ed cents for each additional pound up
,e eleven pounds.
The establishment of postal s
ings bank system as Il means of Ike
ing money at home, aiding circulat
and guaranteeing for the farmers a S
ro depository.
~ A number of other resolutions
great Importance were considered
eu unanimously adopted. The three {
en- sions were very harmonious, and W
, a the exception of the vociferous ent
w. siasm which some of the delegates
nd played, the resolutions were discus
- ~ and unanimously passed without I
ii' ton or heated argument.
IN The following resolution submit
DO by the committee on ginnery and c
preston, also received the unqualified
dorsement of the body;
''We, your committee on the comp
sion of lint cotton produced by m
lly bcrs of the Farmers Educational
Tas Cooperative Union of America, We
IN. respectfully make the following rept
nm "Educationally, we have become
-. WINGED that, as business proposit
aOo we should at this session recomm
Ire that as soon as practicable all of
lint cotton should be compressed at
ginneries, ginning it from the seed.
ferent systems Of doing this are nov
be operation here and there, yet we are
SIS proposing to adopt any of them. s
,is. kind of machinery may in the near
20 ure be invented which will better n
oo' all requirements and be accepted
APP finally adopted.
ce. 'Tt is, in our opinion, useless to 81
roMxyrMryoN NnrEc