Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1909-11-05
DUCKWORTH GIVEN
TOKEN BY FARMERS
FOR HIS FINE WORK
National Committeeman of Far
mers' Union Presented With
Handsome Presents by Georgia
Convention at Macon.

MACON, Ca, Nov. 3.-Witn cheers
ringing to the beams Of the court room
and every member expressing his graf
lfcation by a unanimous rising vote,
the Georgia Division of the Farmers
Educational and Cooperative Union of
America today acknowledged its appre-
citation 70 former President r. +.
Duckworth, who secured the loan OF
$4,000, 900 by which the farmers of the
state can meet their outstanding finan-
cial obligations.
AS a token of their gratitude and
esteem, the former chief executive who
secured the loan was presented with
handsome gold-headed cane and
handsome gold watch chain. The pre-
sentation came as a distinct surprise
to Mr.. 'Duckworth. He had a short
time before presented his report, which
informed the farmers Of the plan by
which they are now able to beat down
all barriers that formerly menaced
ther holdings in cotton. The report
stated that the fund already secured
was but the forerunner of a fund OF
100000 or 100000 which would
later be available
Mr.. Duckworth was quietly talking
to a friend when the presentation
speech was begun. He heard his name
mentioned, heard the cheers and saw
every member spring to his feet. Then
he was escorted to the stand and the
cane and chain presented to HIM. He
made a happy response to the speech
OF presentation, thanking each tnjl-
vidual and telling them that 1t was one
Of the nappiest moments of his life.
REPORT OF DUGKWORTH
The following is the report % Mr..
Duckworth in regard to the securing
Of the loan:
president ]. L. Lee, Union City, Ga.
Dear Mr.. Lee: During the summer
Of 1908 began negotiations for money
in large sums to be loaned on Georgia
cotton.
when resigned the once OF state
president you remember you asked me
to continue these negotiations. 1
have done so, working earnestly IN my
effort to perform the duties involved
in these negotiations.
There was no money appropriated
by the convention or any of the union en-
terprises, and I did not feel like ASKING
the state executive committee to take the
responsibility of advancing funds until
something tangible had been accomplish
ed. This very much hampered me, and
possibly would have rendered my efforts
ftile IL it had not been for the valuable
assistance I received from you and other
state officials, receiving free all the legal
advice necessary from j. A. Drake and
G T. Ladson. These men gave me many
hours Of their valuable time without
charge; they Investigated legal compIica-
lions, compiled forms of receipts, drafted
papers for which they made no charge
My expenses consisted in paying railroad
fare to and from Atlanta, and paying
hotel bills while in Atlanta, with a few
dollars for postage and stationery.
- a 4aId
in these negotiations.
b BIG FINANCIAL DEAL.
ct considered 1t the greatest financial
deal ever contaminated in the interest of
the farmer. The few million dollars
involved in the transaction, being only a
small part OF what has been accom-
plished, the major part being that which
has opened up a channel and broken
through the walls, which have been built
UP by the speculative interest of the
east
IT earnestly believe that this deal
places us in a position where it will be
impossible for the speculative interest to
so surround the southern farmer with
manipulation as to force him to sell his
cotton for less than the cost of pro-
duction.
ut means an alignment with the south
ern farmers with the southern monied
interest so far as the price of cotton is
concerned.
'I do not desire, however, to leave
the impression that believe the war is
over. We must take other advancing
steps. believe in the very near future
that we will find it necessary to have an
addition to our warehousing proposition,
some kind of a financial clearing sys-
tenn.
at believe that Friday. October 20 should
be considered a day of rejoicing by the
Georgia farmers in honor Of the day on
which the plans of their independence
was signed.
IT render no bill for my expense and
make no charges for my time during
the course of the negotiations.
please allow me to say in closing this
report that when I had the negotiations
ccnsummated IL was one of the happiest
moments Of my life. If / should never do
another thing for the farmers while
live, 1 would feel that I have not served
them in vain.
(signed ''R. F. DUCFKWORTH."