Washington telegraph. (Washington, Ark.) 18??-1940, 1909-07-02

studied trsiness conditions and no
longer gropes around in the dark.
knowledge of how the worlds bust
ness is done, and how to do business
iof themselves is changing the old
order OF things and establishing more
perfectly the new The discussion of
business questions has made the farm
er familiar with many very complex
questions, and the intelligence engen-
dered by reason of research has made
the Farmers union a power in the
south. The only hope for the farmer
is to become an intelligent business
man. The Farmers union is a great
business school and offers greater ad-
vantages and has greater facilities for
teaching the farmers business than
any other organization among them.
The farmer makes the worlds bust
ness. Why not understand it? Why
not control the price of his own pro-
duce, and he will, if the same intelli-
gent principle is applied.
The union began its great fight in
1904 for business reform and won
great victory for the whole people. At
hrst we started upon the principle of
the holding movement. This was done
to check the sale of cotton, prevent it's
sacrifice and stop the violent fluctua-
lions of markets. This led to the
making of minimum price, and upon
these issues the first great battle was
fought The market was sustained,
the price of cotton was stabilized, and
the victory gave the south $200,000000
more for her cotton than she would
otherwise have received for the cotton
crop of 1904-5.
The next great battle was fought out
over the holding movement. Mini
mum price, warehouses, reduction of
freight and the war on cotton ex-
changes. The conflict was the most
severe in the history of our great or
ganization. The result was most sat
isfaetory to the union membership.
The minimum was sustained and at
least $200.000,000 was again saved to
the south. Warehouse building took
deep hold upon the hearts of our peo-
pie, and some 800 were built since that
time. The 25-cent reduction per bale
on cotton has saved to Texas alone
s., 100000. The fight ON bucket shops
resulted in the passage of an anti
bucket shop law that has given the
farmers from one-eighth to one-half
more for his cotton than states that
have no laws. See reports of the New
Orleans cotton exchange.
The battle of 1906-07 demonstrated
the great power of our organization
and the great endurance of our peo-
pie. The situation was carried and
the effect was marvellous upon the
business of the south.
The battle royal was fought in
l907S. 1t was indeed a contest of
giants. The woTld,~Eas struck with
Took. from cen.
t5i 60 flTcnmference. 1he(
stood the onslaught of the enemy
without flinching. The battle lasted
for weeks. A money panic was in
voked to break the farmers ranks, but
failed. His marvellous faith and en-
durancc won the admiration of the
world. The minimum price of Is
cents was not gained, but the battle
was not lost. The farmer carried his
produce through this most strenuous
time and in the face of adverse condi-
lions saved the day and his country
from bankruptcy.
Our legislative committeeman, Hon.
F. |. Townsend, did a great work for
the farmer. Many good laws were
placed upon the statute books through
his efforts and many mischieyous
were defeated. Much credit
is due Brother Townsend for his eff
cient services and l am sure a CRATE
full people will not forget to give him
his reward.
My mission to Washington was not
fulfilled but enough was done to dem
onstrate what can be done. A wider
cotton consumption was laid before
the president, congress and the heads
of departments with the hope that ere
long jute will be abolished and cotton
used in it's stead. Express companies,
sugar refineries, wholesale grocery
companies and Armour & Co. have all
agreed to use cotton instead of jute.
If this is done cotton consumption will
be so great that 20,O00,0OO bale crop
will produce no surplus.
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tO choose men of hOnaStV and inta0-
rity, but men whose ability to cope