The Wenatchee daily world. [volume] (Wenatchee, Wash.) 1905-1971, 1909-02-18

your dLLCuLlOu Has UcCA idICiy
called to an organization at Quincy.
a branch of "The Farmers Educa-
tional and Cooperative Union of
America" You may wonder what
its mysteries are. In order to give
little information and further in
terest the farmers of this community,
have been asked to write these
lines.
AS some of you may already know
this organization had its origin In
Texas. The cotton growers of Texas
used this means of raising the price
of their products, and, finding it
success made it an organization char
tered in the state of Texas under the
name "The Farmers Educational and
Cooperative Union of America, with
the purpose of operating in the state
of Texas and the United States. 1t
shall have no capital stock paid in
and shall not be divided into shares.
It is a well known fact that specu-
lators and distributors of farm prod
ucts have organized and operate to
the detriment of the farmer To en-
able the farmers to meet these cond1-
lions and protect their interests, this
organization has been formed, and
has as it's purpose "to establish JUS
tice. secure equity, to assist it's mem
bers in buying and selling, to educate
the agricultural class in scientific
farming, to systematic methods or
production and distribution. to elimi-
nate gambling in farm products by
boards of trade and other spectators,
to bring farmers up to the standard
of other industries and business en-
terprises."
It's working territory includes the
whole of the United States, and it
numbers at present over 100000
members. The organization is a ma
tional union, which is made up of
state unions, which in turn consists
of county unions, further subdivided
into locals. Our state union has a
membership of 5000, although it is
only eighteen months old. Douglas
county at the beginning Of the year
had 80 local unions. What will in
terest us most is that Quincy shall
also be represented in this body, and
is now known as Quincy local union
No. 10S.
Persons eligible to this union are
farmers, farm laborers, rural me-
chanics, rural school teachers, physi-
clans, ministers and editors of news
papers.
Some have received the impression
that we propose to go into banking
and mercantile business. This is
mistake, and the charter proves 1t so,
when 1t provides that there shall be
no capital stock and no shares Can
you imagine bank or other business
without capital? If so, we might try
railroad building also. No, we have
a good mouthful in Strengthening our
own business without venturing into
new fields.
The question of union in the diff
ferent enterprises of this country
has long ago past the point of debate.
1t is an established fact. Nearly all
occupations and all industries are
united Some are united for econo-
my in transacting business, others
for greater profits; but all for greater
strength and influence. They assert
their rights by speaking through one
body; they are recognized as an ele-
ment of our body politics with a
voice. It Is our purpose to raise our
selves to the standard of other in
dustries that we may be heard and
recognized. Our only means are
through union and cooperation in
the matters which interest us as a
body OF farmers. There are organ
izations who find it an easy matter
to prey upon the farmer and in many
ways hinder his progress, and they
find it easy because the farmer sin
gle-handed is as a straw in their
hands.
.sIn union there is strength" is
true saying proved over and over