The log cabin Democrat., 1908-10-01
OUR DUTY TO THE ORGANIZATION.


 propounded to us in our sojourn- ing over the state by members of the Union: How IS the Union anyhow? What condition is the State Treasury in? Is the pay ing membership falling off now or not? How does 1t compare with last year or previous years?
 These questions are often pro- pounded and are significant when one stops to give them thought. It is evidence of de- sire on the part of the brother hood to learn just what temper of loyalty there is in other sec tions. In nearly every instance, our inquiry has developed an apathy in the community where i'll the brother lives in union in- terests; and therefore, he wants to know If other communities are affected as his community is. Close investigation reveals the fact that there is lethargy in many quarters on the part of the membership in attendance and payment of dues; and for this reason, we want to stress the i'm portance of the above queries and the necessity for studying ing them closely. The Arkan sas State Onion from a business point of view was never ln better condition than 1t is today, but unless each member makes 1t personal act of his to pay his dues promptly and attend his Union meetings regularly, the interest will gradually wane away and the work will thereby be dull in many communities. Now our newly elected officers are good set of loyal men and with the proper support and en- ergetic work on the part of each member of the Union, a success will meet their loyal efforts, and therefore we expect of each indl- vidual who belongs to the Far mers Union to study carefully what he has obligated himself to do in taking the obligation when he joined the Uuion. If one will only stop and study careful ly this obligation, viewed by the great work undertaken by the Union, he will thus discover that he is honor-bound to get busy and assist in the work, to build and perpetuate the useful ness of the organization. In our observation, gleaned from the experience we have had in the last three years, we have dis covered that many members ot the Farmers Union have never given a candid thought to the importance of the obligation they have taken. Many have joined it because 1t was an or ganization calculated in their es- timation to do somebody, or to reak vengeance upon some spec ial industry. In other words, it has been the opinion of many who joined the Farmers Uuion, in our estimation, that the only thing necessary to be accomplish ed by the Union was, merely the overthrow of some supposed enemy, either commercial or otherwise. And in great meas ure the men who joined the Un- ion with this intent or this thought only, have readily found that the Union had not accom- plished any thing. This is due to their peculiar idea of the pur- pose of the Union. Therefore we repeat again that if every member will study the function of the obligation that he has taken to become a member, he will see at glance that no sell fshness or selfish motive was in- tended, but a universal one of good to grow out of the efforts to be backed up by this obligation, and the questions above referred to, lead us to the conclusion that it is very important to impress upon our membership, that the bac+ u,ox, to ma te the ITniOu a