The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1910-12-14

are appreciatlVe, they afterWard cleo
| ted that man to the legislature and
then to the senate and they recently
elected him unanimously to one Of
the most important offices in his
State. If he had followed the ex-
himself, he would have denounced
that convention and quit work for
the farmer for good He was not
that sort Of man, and you know the
rest.
Another incident: One summer not
long ago a young man who was go
ing from his fathers home to a town
In another county, stopped for a
While at a protracted meeting near
my home. When this young man
(who was high roller) went into
the church, the brethren were having
| an experiment meeting and, as usu-
al, the talks were very tender and
| touching, there was brotherly love,
good fellowship, some tears, etc. Fin
ally that young man, just to pass
off little time and to see how much
feeling he could put on the breth-
rem, arose with TIE most serious and
sanctified look you ever saw. and his
voice trembling with emotion. ex-
ported the brethren for a while, un-
Of
When the me ting adjourned and
the brethren had assembled on the
outside, as is the custom, for a part
ing word, they spoke Of the young
stranger and unanimously agreed that
ne was good man. They declared it
would be impossible for anyone to
have such a serious look and talk
with such earnestness and not be a
good man.
] had known that young man since
he was baby and a bigger liar never
lived. So much for not being carried
away by honeyed words and serious
faces, in church or in your conven-
tions.
One more incident: In the days Of
the Alliance the brethren bought a
warehouse in my county and they
elected the cleverest fellow 1 ever saw
as manager. He knew just how to
shake hands right. He knew. how to
"sot 'em up" to soda water, lemonade
or anything else that suited your taste.
He was the kind Of fellow that gave
you one or two claps on the back, in
quired after the folks and you walked
right into his trap. After he got in
office, he stole everything he could
get his hands on and left the State.
or course, his bondsmen had several
thousand dollars to pay. They were
to blame. too, for there was not a sin
gle one of them who had fair intelli-
gence, but knew to start with that.
that fellow was a grand rascal. But
they just couldn't resist him as
hand-shaker and a jollier.
cite these incidents simply to illus
trate the vital necessity Of carefulness
and self-control in selecting the Of
ficers you are going to choose in De-
cember.
These men are TO have in their
keeping the power for advancement or
retrogression Of the Farmers Union
in your community. Don't elect the
handshaker; select those who are able
and faithful. After you do it, give
them a fair and square deal Forgive
them small mistakes. If they are not
serious injuries to the organization.
When you balance up, don't forget to
watch the debit as we'll as the credit
side Of their ledgers Of character and
accomplishment. Don't believe every
nasty or malicious story you hear
about them, but investigate to see If
Its true. and If it is not, pay no more
attention to the man who started 1t.
Your officials must live in comfort to
give you good service. Don't grudge
rev pennies on their salaries.
1t Is by the observation Of these
principles that we are entering upon
the greatest era in the history of any
farmers organization. Only as they
are increasingly enforced, will the
Farmers Union accomplish its mis-
sion.
Watch out who you elect in Decem-
Der! Give him a fair showing after
you elect him!
Charles s. Barrett,
Portland. Oregon, Nov. 21, 1910.