The times and democrat. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1881-current, 1909-05-04
RALLY, FARMERS
AND PROTECT YOUR INTERESTS
BY UNITED ACTION.

BY UNITED ACTIONe
Persons Who Are Not Members Of
the Union Are Urged to Give Their
Suppore to the Farmer.
The Farmers Union does not con-
fine its membership nor its activities
and interests to the farmers of the
South, nor to the raising and market
ing of cotton. Originating in little
sandhill town in eastern Texas a
few years ago the movement grew
in that State and finally began to
travel east and north. Today in it's
membership are included large por-
ton of the tillers of the soil in prac-
ticaHy all of the States of the Union.
In the South the problem that con-
fronts the farmer is how to market
his cotton to best advantage. In the
North it is the cereal crops that abb
sorb the same kind Of interest and
attention. In the South a definite
plan has been formulated for hand
ling the cotton crop, and the plan is
being presented to the farmers in
all the States in which cotton grows.
Little or no publicity has been given
so far to the plan or its details un-
til this time. The plan was laid be-
fore the presidents of the unions of
South Carolina in Columbia last
week.
The State says the increase in pro-
duction of grain, the staple crop OF
the North and West, has not kept
pace with the increase of population.
Population has increased in recent
years with about double the rapidl-
ty with which cereal production has
Increased. None need be told that
grain products are costing consum-
ers more than they used to cost.
Today the price of wheat is such that
it ie seriously affecting great inter-
ests and the public is paying a third
more for the bread that Is eaten.
And cotton itself is a grain crop, for
the seed will produce many edibles.
The decreasing amount of grain
product per capita is, however, not
the only factor involved.in the pres
ent reign of high prices. Spectators
have manipulated the markets in
such a way that an abnormal profit
is taken from this staple-grain.
Like the cotton farmer, the grain
farmer is falling to be the benefici-
airy of the prevailing high prices.
The producers of cereal ind them
selves in the same predicameat the
cotton farmers are in.
And now the Northern agricultur-
alists are planning coup along lines
somewhat similar to those that will
probably be adopted by the raisers
OF the Soutehrn staple. To this end
the farmers in the grain growing
States will meet in conclave at
Springfield, Mo-, on the 18th of next
month.
President c. S. Barrett, of the
national organization Of the Farmers
Union, has issued the following ad-
dress:
.To the Officers and Members of
the Farmers Union, and to Grain
and Cattle Growers, Generally in
the Following States, and in All
States Interested in the Cultivation
of Grain, This Call and Invitation
are Issued: Tennessee, Kentucky,
Indiana, Missouri, Oklahoma,
Kansas, Illinois, Washington, Or
egon, California, Texas, and Ida
no:
members of the Farmers Union
engaged in the cultivation of grain
and raising Of cattle are earnestly
urged to attend meeting, to be held
in Springfield, Mo-, on May -, to
consider the grain situation in this
country, and to adopt policies and
strengthen plans to the end that the
supremacy of the grower in the
profitable marketing of grain may be
advanced and maintained.
''We shall also be glad of the
cooperation of non-members who
may be in sympathy with our pur-
poses. The interests of all grain
growers in the maintenance of good
prices, and in the holding Of the
product to that end, are Identical,
whether or not they are organized.
So that we cordially invite atten-
dance from growers who are willing
to sincerely cooperate with US.
1.-THE present sensational condit-
ion in the wheat situation may look
good to the grain grower, but he
should analyze them with view to
their ultimate effect upon himself.
present uncertain conditions do
not make for permanent high prices
for grain. The purpose of this meet
ing is to throw the whole power of
the Farmers Union back Of move
ment for which there has never been
a more timely opportunity to place
prices on a permanently high basis.
Heretofore we have had to focus
our strength on cotton, until organ
ization in the cotton-producing
States was well effected. Now We
are going into the wheat field to build
up our force for the handling Of
,ro;, oo5 oott1a oouo1 in DOwnr tO