The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1909-09-21
WHAT FARMERS UNION MOVEMENT
MEANS TO SOUTHERN INTERESTS
1t Has Already Produced the Business Farmer-Its
Warehouse Plan Economically Sound
Fixing the Minimum
ATLANTA Constitution.)

That is the one vivid impression sus-
tanned by a careful observer OF the
Farmers Union convention, which has
Just closed its sixth annual session at
this place.
The development is freighted with
epochal significance, both from an in
dustrial and economic standpoint 1t
means that henceforth the old happy
go-lucky. hit-and-miss system of agri-
culture in the South is going to give
way to method and system, as exact
and as truly responsive to b~ook-keep-
ing as any Of h great productive
interests instrumental in the material
status of America today.
Not every farmer, Of course, has
abandoned the ancient methods Of his
father. In fact, a just and unexcited
estimate YOU concede that the bulk
OF HI agriculturists still SOW their
crops and harvest the output by the
procedure of the old days.
A New Day Dawning.
But a great change is impending.
From the Rio Grande to the Atlantic
ocean farmers in every community
have given a to the new gospel Of
scientific agriculture, of strict business
methods, Of watching for and adopting
every modern facility w~herewith pros
perity and development may be expe-
dited.
Conspicuously influential in this
change of front is, of course, Charles
S. Barrett, Of Georgia, national presi-
dent of the order. Closely allied with
him in the unremitting~ preaching Of
business doctrine for the farmer is r.
r. DuckWOrth, former president of the
Georgia division and present chairman
of the National Legislative Committee.
hen there is Dornblaser and Nall
and Loudermilk, of Texas. and JEFF
fords. Of Oklahoma, and Morriss, Of
! n no. n ond A1ovor1or ~ Nyo~th
Carolina. and John Lee, Of Georgia,
and Billiard and Cole, Of Arkansas,
and Louisiana, and Shufort, Of North
Carolina, and a host OF others.
Using Back-Fire Methods.
The farmer has chiefly
coordinate effort, which in conjunc-
ton with the incubus of the credit
system and the mortgage. caused him
to rush his crop on the market as
soon as completed at a great monetary
sacrifice both for himself and for the
South-at-large.
Under the steady and patient teach
ing of Farmers Union leaders, a great
alteration is becoming manifest.
First Of all, the propaganda of the
union discourages Indebtedness. Mem
bers are urged to raise their crops as
nearly on a cash basis as possible.
They are shown that to 60 into debt to
produce cotton, or any other crop,
means that they are inevitably at the
mercy Of the merchant and the specu-
lator.
Raising Home Supplies.
Another factor that is now figuring.
and that Will figure ever more in the
future of the Southern farmer, is that
of Investigation.
Every union leader Of any promi-
hence is always preaching that the
man who fails to raise his own food
Sl1nn1iaS and rrnviGinnc fnr Tho or;-,ol,
on his farm is multiplying his own in
dustry and the prospects Of his fell
low members.
Continuous efforts are made to show
that even if cotton brings a high price,
the profit is pruned away to a great
degree as long as the farmer mustepay
a large sum for his meat n corn
n other daily necessities. and he IS
being taught the common sense of
rising these commodities at home slnd
keeping within the section the tremen-
dOuS sums that annually go now to
other parts Of the country.
They Support Proper Education.
The Farmers Union also believes III
education. In Georgia, it was instru-
mental in the establishment of the
agricultural colleges, IN other States
it's policies have been similarly pro-
gressive, and the climax came at the
recent convention when resolutions
looking to the establishment Of a great
college went through with very little
opposition.
They are sensible aesthetics, too,
these farmers. They believe in beac-
tifying the home, and in keeping clean
and sanitary premises.
Their efforts are not confined to
their 1000, 600 Southern and their half
million Western members. They are
always PROSECUTING.
When a man has become a member,
he is never satisfied until he has
brought in his %neighbor, and so the
thing goes on in endless chain style.
Setting Minimum.
The manner in which a Farmers
Union goes o making a minimum
Is a striking exemplication of the as
sertlon that this great class Of Ameri-
can producers are learning to apply