The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-07-01
GOOD ROADS KEYNOTE OF FIRST SESSION OF FARMERS UNION Speakers Say They Have Eye on Official Who Go Back
 on Promises
ATTRIBUTES THE GEORGIA
 RESULT 10 THE FARMERS
National President Barrett Maintains Union Is Not a Political Organza- ton and Advises That Ses-
 sons Be Secret.

| cational union of Alabama convened Tn the city hall armory yesterday morning. | Every part of Alabama was represented l in the array of delegates. The morning session consisted of welcome addresses and responses, this being the only session | to which the public was admitted Ihe | afternoon session was executive, as Will be the sessions today and tomorrow. The subject of good roads proved to be the favorite toplc.A
 The meeting was presided over by J. !, B. Drake of the Trades Council, and was opened with prayer by the Rev. Frank Willis Barnett, editor of the Alabama Bap- list MT Drake made short talk ana 1 introduced Alderman B. H. Cooper, who | made the welcome address for the city In |, place of Mayor George B. Ward. Every l bodv was made at home when MT. Cooper 1 opened his speech with the announcement that he had been born on farm, but had left it for the busy rush of the city and had been longing to go back ever | since.
 Following MT. Cooper was John w. 1 ONelll, who made the addres, of welcome
  i Drennen followed MT. O'Neill, with the ] glad hand of welcome on the part ol the Board of Trade. One remark or MT. Drennen's which seemed to strike deep was to the effect that those who were at- tempting to swell the cotton crop are noth- ing less than enemies to the farmer
 Another part of MT. Drennen's address which touched a responsive chord Tn the farmers heart was his remarks in re- l gard to good roads. "The state or Ala bama will never be what it should be, said he. until it has good roads," He ad- vised the farmers to agitate this q'les- ton and keep it up until every road was put into splendid shape. "A good road means money in the farmers pockets was the keynote of his speech.
 w I. Williams in behalf of the Trades 1 Council told the visitors that they could have anything they could see anything they heard was here and anything they thought should be here.' ra
 George McEiderry made the response for the organization in the place of Pres ident J. F. Duncan. His words in part were:
  ripening is eight billion dollars, but the farmer is not getting his share Of the wealth which he is producing.
 My friend who said that we do not make our wants known is mistaken. We 1 went down to Montgomery, and what do you think we found? These men knew nothing of farming and cared less. There was certain gentleman in Georgia who did not keep his promises and he has taken back seat. It was the farmers who did it.
 q want to say in behalf of the farmers that we do not want any offices, but when we elect you to office we expsct you to keep your promises, and while we are not political organization we still have our eyes on you.
 '"The house of representatives last year appropriated s4O0,0OO for high schools. Be- fore the senate got through with it. how ever, the colleges had received the money and the high schools of the states re- ceived practically nothing. .'The compress trust is another thing which is expressing the farmers. Last 1 year this oppressor squeezed over $400o,- 1 GOO out of the farmers"
 The speaker concluded with a state 1 ment to the effect that the railroads and farmers were becoming friends and that 1 it appeared as if the railroads were fast coming to the point where they would as- sist the farmers in moving their crops
 National President c. s. Barrett was the next speaker, starting his address with "It appears that politics and good l roads are all the go here. If so, I am with 1 you" He then took few raps at tho | politicians who throw bouquets and then go back on their promises. He also re- ferred to the way in which such persons | had been handled in Georgia, his home state, and spoke with pride of the fact that the farmers of Georgia controlled the 1 situation.
 He then stated that the Farmers union was not political organization. He ad- | vised the members to hold their meetings behind closed doors, saying, Most of the world is with us but there are some in- terests which are not
 Attorney Ben M. Davis concluded the morning session. He made an eloquent l plea for the strengthening of all unions. Demand the union label on everything 1 you buy" said he.
 l At the conclusion of Mir. Drake's ad- dress he presented President Duncan a | gavel in behalf of the Carpenters union | of Birmingham.
 The afternoon session was opened at 3 1 o'clock and the evening session at 8 o'clock, both being for members of the union only.
 A number of social features have been arranged for the visitors, many of whom | are accompanied by the feminine mem- | bers of their families
 Two Steamers Collide.