The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1909-01-26
PRACTICAL AGREEMENT

In National Convention the Farmers
Union Pledges Support to American
Federation In Its Efforts to Secure
Justice For the ToiIer.
In response TO an invitation Presi-
dent Samuel Gompers made an adj
dress before the Farmers National un-
ion in convention at Fort Worth. Tex.
Mr.. Gompers said in part:
"And whittier thou goest there viii
we also go.
"The ties that now bind the con-
science and heart and intelligence and
purposes and principles Of the agricul-
tural laborers and the Industrial labor
ers are indissoluble for all time to
come.
There was time when men who
worked were 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. re-
member the time when the farmers
first began the movement to protect
their own interests. You who started
out were first ridiculed, but that was
the first tribute OF antagonism paid to
an awakening intelligence.
To-day, thank God, the men Of labor.
the producers of the worlds wealth,
do not have bent backs and receding
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-
markedly within the past few years
and are spreading out stlll more. III
used to be What could we do to the
farmersg Now 1t Is What can we do
for the farmersf
MEN. do not want at this time TO
inject any matter affecting the indus
trial world in particular but there is
measure in my Judgment demanding
your attention.
II take second position to no one In
my confidence and respect for the
courts, but they are made mp of men
liable to err as you and /. 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 avarice
and injustice OF the corporate power.
'sThus 1t is that voluntary organiza-
lions to protect human rights are de-
cIared trusts and looked upon as Grim
inal, with fine of $1,000 or years
Imprisonment or both hanging over the
members heads.
"We sought legislation before con-
gress to get relief. but failed. Some
organizations of farmers were repre-
scented there. We did not forget the
interests Of the farmers. 1t would re-
quirc just another short step to declare
that farmers could not organize SO as
to AK the price Of their product. SO
we tried to protect your interests as
well as ours by having law passed
declaring that organizations Of both
farmers and laboring men should not
be regarded as trusts.
HNow, men of labor and farmers, 1t
Is not for me TO point out what | be-
lieve is your duty in this matter That
IS up to you.
"But let NOT insignificant matters d.
vide us 1t Is the ambition and only
hope Of the tyrants to keep the pro-
ducers and lahorers apart The men
who have ground you down don't care
you are Dutchman. Scandi-
navian, Irishman- or what not.
"Men of the independent movements
Of our country and ] mean the rail-
road brotherhoods as well-we are one
In policy and principle and one In pol.
Ity. 1t is great movement you are
engaged in, and it is great movement
we are engaged In. That We are di-
vided is perhaps due entirely to lack
Of understanding each other well
enough. u
"But we are growing together fast,
md, thank God, as sure as the sun
shines the workingmen Of the factory
md the mill and every industry, on
he railroad and in the field, win soon
mite in bonds of fraternity that will
five this country political liberty and !
Industrial freedom.
q do not mean the destroying Of the ,
iollar, but the performance Of duty :
o mankind.