The labor argus. [volume] (Charleston, W. Va.) 1906-1915, 1909-01-07
IN FRlTERNAL BOND,
Alliance Between Union Labor
and Farmers.
PRACTICAL AGREEMENT.
In National Convention the Farmers
Union Pledges Support to American
Federation In Its Efforts to Secure
Justice For the ToiIer.

Justice For the ToiIer.
In response to an invitation Presi.
dent Samuel Gompers made an nd.
dress before the Farmers National un-
ion In convention at Fort Worth, Tex.
Mr.. Gompers said in part:
"And whittier thou goest there Will
we also go.
THE ties that now bind the con-
science and heart and intelligence and
purposes and principles of the aSricul
tural laborers and the industrial labor
ers are indissoluble for all time TO
come.
"There was time when men who
worked We're drudges Of human soci.
ETY.. The condition of the farmer tied
to the hoe and the earth, docile and
weak, was typical of this status I re-
member the time when the farmers
first began the movement to protect
their own interests. You who started
out We're first ridiculed. but that was
the first tribute of antaSonism paid to
an awakening intelligence.
"Today, thank God, the men Of labor.
the producers of the worlds wealth.
foreheads, but stand erect and look the
whole world in the face, demanding
and insisting upon absolute justice and
fair dealing and equality Of opportu-
nifty before the law.
you farmers have organized re-
markahly within the past few years
and are spreading out still more 1t
used to be What could we do 10 the
farmers?' Now it is What can We do
for the farmersT
"N1en, I do not want Mt this time to
inject any matter affecting the Indus
trial world in particular but there is n
measure in my judgment demanding
your attention.
Il take second position to no one In
my confidence and respect for the
courts, but they are made up of men
liable to err as you and I. When they
decided that an organization of work
ing people IS Illegal and in restraint of
trade they knocked out all chance for
the laboring people to protect them
selves against the greed and ararcc
and injustice of the corporate power.
''Thus it is that voluntary organiza-
lions to protect human rights are de-
clared trusts and looked upon as GRIM
fnal, with q fine of $4,000 or Il years
Imprisonment or both hanging over the
members heads
eve sought legislation before con-
gress to get relief, but failed. Some
organizations Of farmers We're repre-
scented there. We did not forget the
interests Of the farmers. 1t would re-
quire just another short step to declare
that farmers could not organize so rs
to fix the price of their product. So
we tried to protect your interests as
well rs ours by having q law passed
declaring that organizations of both
farmers and laboring men should not
be regarded as trusts.
'Now. men of labor and farmers it
Is not for me to point out what I be-
lieve is your duty in this matter. That
is up to you.
''But let not insignificant matters d.
vice us. 1t is the ambition and only
hope Of the tyrants to keep the pro-
ducers and laborers apart. The men
who have ground you down don't care
whether you are Dutchman, Scandl-
navtan, 1rishman or what not.
"Afen Of the independent movements
OF our country-and I mean the rail
road brotherhoods rs well-we are one
In policy and principle and one in pol
ity. 1t is a great movement you are
engaged in, and it is great movement
we are engaged in. That we arc di-
vided is perhaps due entirely to lack
of understanding each other well
enough.
but we are growing together fast.
and, thank God, rs sure as the sun
shines the worllingmen of the factory
and the mill and every industry. on
the railroad and in the field, will soon
unite in bonds Of fraternity that will
give this country political liberty and
Industrial freedom.
'tI do not mean the destroying of tho
dollar. but the performance of a duty
to mankind
81 bring you greetings from over
100000 labor people and wish you
godspeed. 1 hope even more strenn-
Gus activity will mark your future
propaganda work and that your meu-
bers will be cementcd more thorough
ly than ever.
You have legislative and political
duties; not party politics. however
but the politics of manhood of Amerl-
canism above the party.
MAY we aid in our reciprocal well
fare to make for our social and COM
mon human uplift"
At the conclusion of the address the
following resolution was unanimouSF
adopted by the convention:
I'VE express our appreciation of the
eisit Of President Gompers and pledge
our loyal support in his efforts 10 get