The times and democrat. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1881-current, 1910-09-08
FARMERS UNION
Meet in National Convention at Char
loile on Last Tuesday.
new LIFE and new HOPE

NEW LIFE and new HOPE
Says President Barrett in HIS 81.
dress Has Come to the Farmers
OF this Country, Who Are No Long
er Deceived by the Willy Politici.
ans Hunting Office.
The convention of the Farmers
Educational and Cooperative Union
OF America opened in Charlotte, n.
c., on Tuesday morning, with a
thousand delegates, representing al
most every State in the Union, in
attendance.
president c. S. Barrett called the
convention to order and Mr.. e. T.
Preston made the address of wei
come, which was followed by the ad-
dress of welcome on behalf of the
State Farmers union by DR.. J. M.
Templeton of Cary, N. c. Mr.. B. F.
Montgomery of Colorado responded
to the welcoming addresses on be-
half Of the visiting farmers.
Following these talks there were
addresses by different members OF
the union on subjects interesting the
Statesmen of agriculture.
The mornings meeting was the
only one that was not executive as
the rest of the. three days meeting
will be behind closed doors.
There have been arranged numer-
GUS entertainments for the visitors
while in the city and these will be
icarried ont in the leisure hours.
president Barrett delivered his an
nual address today. He said:
Brethren of the Farmers Union:
'It is my privilege to greet and
congratulate you at the threshold OF
the greatest business era in the his
tory of the organized American far
mer.
g It has been an aphorism in Amer
lea that the farmer was not. bust
ness man. l am here to tell you, and
to tell, the nation. that that indtct-
ment no longer holds true. Here and
there the individual farmer has much
to learn concerning business and
business usages,; but the important
point is that the leaven Is at work,
your shackles are unloosed, past ig-
norance is vanishing and the man
who tills the soil in this country. is
absorbing with miraculous rapid
ty the lesson that business principles
must be foremost in the manage
ment of his affairs. This change is
epochial in a revolutionary sense.
"The nature of my eposition has
given me singularly good opportun-
tiles for study and observation In
every State in the Union. And / now
make this statement without reser-
walton. That in each commonwealth
where the farmers are organized,
and in others where organization Is
simmering, there is a new life and
freshly kindled hope. :,
I'm every State I have invaded,
the farmer debates today, not SO
much the everlasting round of poll
tics, or the cruelty selfish ambitions
of politicians, but how to make his
acres return the maximum Of dol
lars; how to make best his own 'op-
portunities; how to furnish the best
opportunities to his sons and daugh-
tiers; how best to. tighten his wifes
toll; how best to make attractive,
clean, healthful and permanent the
home that shall shelter them all.
"We have organized State unions
in three States during the past year
California, Indiana and Virginia.
Catch the significance Of the ma
tional scope shown by these three or
ganizations. One rests on the Pacl'
! fic, the other is midway of the con.
tinent, and the other rests ON the
| Atlantic.
"The year just closed has seen
fixed a principle Of tremendous i:u-
portance to the American farmer
organized or unorganized, to tie
American public IN general.
"This change was unquestinEai.i'
demonstrated II CIR experienc' dur
ing the latest sessions of congress
For the first time II The history OF
an American farmers organization
and l think, for the first time IL
American politics. the lawmakihs
body of our country was waited up
on by bona-fide representatives U!
the producers Of America.
"As an evidence Of the determine
ton of the organized farmer 70 pun
fish Indifferent servants and reward
those who have shown their true
colors and abided by them, 1t is
we'll known fact that the Farmers
union defeated several congressiona
candidates and few senators in var
ious Southern and Western States
That is, moreover, merely the be-
ginning of the organization fight Il
secure attention to it's demands from
men in public life. In every instance