St. Landry clarion. (Opelousas, La.) 1890-1921, 1909-07-31

on this occasion, and while I feel in
adequate to the task before me, yet
/ was made to realize that we have
today witnessed fulflment of pro
phecy: *That when Che farmer
makes his demands, in az intelligent
business way, then, and not until
then, will he come into possession Of.
his own"
Our worthy Mayor he's extended us
a welcome ON behalf of the citizens
Of 0gelonsas that surpasses all subse-
quent welcomes. This is but natural
with these people. Since chiEdhood8
have had abundant opportunity to
know the people Of Southwest Louis
lana, ana / have invariably found
them to be generous, chi7alrous and
big hearted.
realize that the Honorable Mayer,
whose address you have just heard,
and, doubtless, which you pronounced
perfect or, better, q masterpiece
failed to put in words the sentiments
that prompted his words.
To gou, sir. and the citizens you
represent, wish to tender our CRATE
ful appreciation for your welcome to-
your beautiful city, and ! assure you.
that we will consider ourselves at
home among you, and we will SO con-.
duet ourselves, and the policies of.
the grand organization we represent.
that you people will stand ever ready.
to assist us in the future, as in the
past, and / only know one word that.
will oonvey the meaning of our ap-s
'preciabion for the ,courtesies shown
us, one for your Invitation to hold
our aanual convention in your city,
and that word is Thank you"
/ shall briefly disoEss the aims, OBJ
jects and purposes of the Farmers
Union. q wish to say in the begin
ming, TIE Farmers Uaion is not an
organization to array one section, or
one profession, against another. ItI
is true, the farmer has his grievances.
He sees his wife and children falling
behind in che great marsh of progress,
while all ether trades and professions
are keeping their place in the line Of
greater and better things, socially,
morally and financially. This naturally
leads the farmer to iBauiring into
the conditions and reasons for this
advantage, o<, as some claim, Unequal
ity, and after careful Investigation
he found all other trades and pro-
fessions organized for mutual bene-
fits, while the farmeas were every
one for themselves, or, to make 1t
palmer. each farmer owned his own
little kingdom, over which be was
king, and as he had come to think
was the ideal of American independ-
ence. The natural result was that il
the farmer was to keep pace with
this Twentieth Centnry progress, be,
too, must organize for bis mutaai
benefits; and while it would be i'm
possible for me to mention all the
accomplishments he has attained,
suffice me to say he has learned that
to succeed he must farm in a more
Systematic, or scientific way, or 10
nut in plain vernaeulaE, ia business
way, and he must also adjust himself
to Twentieth Century society in every
way; he must have better school
facilities for John and Mary if he
would have them cope with their city
cousins. and in order to do this he
must have better facilities, such sa
good roads, etc. Telephones are also
an essential with the farmer, that be
can keep ap with the markets and
then move Bis products with Dispatch
and profit, and, last of ali, Ne must
study the question Of markets and
how to supply them: this he does By
cooperating With bis brother farmers
and the merchants and bankers.
| would feel that / had done an In