The Montgomery advertiser., 1908-07-01
FARMERS IN SESSION
MANY DELEGATES ARE GATHERED
 IN BIRMINGHAM.
Mir. McEfderry Makes Signincant Speech Responding te Addresses of Weicome--The Union Label
 Arcuses Cheers.

Birmingham. June 30--(SpeciaI.) )- The third annual convention Of the Farmers Cooperative and Educational Union of Alabama began here today with a large attendance, moro than 500 delegates being present.
 Dr. J. F. Duncan, of McSwan, the president. was in the chair. and T. F. Johnston. of Birmingham. secretary treasurer. was at the desk.
 The morning session was given over to public functions. J. B. Drake, of the Birmingham Trades Council. was master of ceremonies and he introduc- cd Rev. Frank Willis Barnett, of The Alabama Baptist, who gave the opening prayer.
 Mir. Drake in his opening remarks said that the farmer is the foundation of the country and that organized la Dor wants to get acquainted with him. He asked the delegates to feel perfect ly at home during their stay here. Alderman B. H. Cooper delivered an address of welcome in behalf of Birm- ingham
 Said Mir. Cooper: "The reason iagis- lators do not give the farmer what Ire should have is because they do not know what he needs. It Is your duty to see that he knows"
 John W. OsNeilI delivered an address of welcome in behalf of the Board of Trade, W. M. Drennen in behalf of the Commercial Club. and W. J. Williams in behalf of the Birmingham Trades Council
 The response wss delivered by George McElderry.
 He said in part:
 eThe value of the crops which arc now ripening is sS.000. .00O.O GOO but the farmer is not getting his share of the wealth he Is producing. My friend wno said that we do not make our wants known Is mistaken. We went down to Montgomery and what do you think we found7 There was none on the Com mittee of Agriculture but lawyers who knew nothing about farming and cared less. There Is certain gentleman over fin Georgia who did not keep his prom ises and he has taken a back seat. If was the farmers who did it."
 He spoke of the vast wealth of the country and said the farmer did not get his share. He spoke of the billion dollar appropriations by Congress ana only s11.500.0o0 for the farmers. He touched on the location of high schools in towns instead of in the country dis tricts and called attention to the an. propriations for the universities against the sums given to country schools.
 "As for the railroads" said he. eve have kissed and made up. They are friendly because they are carrying oDr crop to market
 c. S. Barrett, National President of the union, Is here, and he spoke on the farmer and politics He said that poli- tics will never destroy this orRanixa. ton and that the farmers would never go into politics. Every day tn ough. he said. the farmers were taking more in terest in politics.
 Ben Davis. a lawyer of the American Federation of 7bor, frankly confessed he announced that he owned a farm.
 The tenor of Mir. Davis's remarks were. "quit making laws in favor of the classes and we will quit our aEi- tating."
 His request that the farmers buy nothing but that which bears the union label aroused the greatest enthu- stasm.
 gayel bearing the union label of the Carpenters and Joiners was tn en presented by Mir. Drake on behalf of the Trades Council to President Dun can.
 An invitation was extended to visit the overall factories of the city, "where only United Garment Workers are employed"
 Tho ladies will be entertained by the Ladies Labe, League.
 The convention adjourned until o'clock. when the delegates met in ex- ecutive session.
 The farmers were photographed in . group on Fourth Avenue
 The convention will continue in ex- ecuttve session until D. m. Thursday. The afternoon will be devoted to a trolley ride and barbecue at East Lake. Addresses on technical subjects will be heard Thursday night