The Calumet news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 1907-1938, 1910-05-02
FARMERS Will
enter POLITICS
President Taft and Other Promi-
nent Speakers to Address
Convention
WILL URGE new LEGISLATION
p.,r.s.ntatives of 100000 Farmers
20 Assemble in st. Louis This
Week to Discuss Many Meas
ures of Interest.

ca T.ouis Mo-, May 2:-The eyes
81 politicians throughout the country
I'm turn this week toward st. Louis
where representatives of lo'ooo'ooo
e,rmers are TO meet in convention TO
.,,sc,,ss needed State and national
,,.islation and to establish bureaus at
,,norcnt capitals to see that the de-
mands of the farmer are heard and TO
do,ise means of making the farm
moro attractive so that the proposed
solution of the economic problem or
todav-back to the farm'-may be
made possible.
The gathering, which will begin its
session tomorrow, is to be held under
the Joint auspices of the Farmers' Ed
ucational and Cooperative Union OF
America, which comprises twenty
nine compact state organizations with
an aggregate membership of 100000
and the American Society of Equity,
with a membership of 100000. Other
farmers organizations with member
ships amounting to more than $1,000
NNN nave Uteil lilNlltQ W Pe'i NiN'P'NN 80
the deliberations.
If for no other reason, the conven-
ton would attract wide attention be-
cause of the large number of eminent
speakers who are to be heard. The list
is headed by President Taft, who has
accepted an invitation to address the
convention Wednesday. Other men of
national prominence who will be heard
are senator's Gore and Owen of Okla
homa. Governor Hadley OF Missouri,
Secretary of Agriculture Wilson. Col.
John Temple Graves of New York,
Thomas Watson OF Georgia. and Con-
gresham Cantrill. The Commission
crs of agriculture of n number of the
Southern and Western States will also
be included among the speakers.
Make Debut In Politics.
But the real Importance of the con-
vcniion is believed to lie in the fact
that IL will mark the debut of the
American fermer as a politician. Pres
iGent Barrett of the Farmers Union
emphatically denies that his organfza-
ton has any intention of joining in
the formation OF a new political party.
Notwithstanding this denial it is rec
ognized by all that the work Of organ
izing the farmers, especially in the
South and West. has made such
strides i'm tho last few years that the
Farmers Union is certain to be fore
pd 40 nj Ia
even If the union does not carry the
primaries or elections and secure the
offices IL win nevertheless be able to
compel the politicians and officials to
adopt its views on agricultural anc
economic questions.
History If Organization
History does not record more phe-
nomenal growth than that of the
farmers Union. The organization
was first formed in Texas in the early
9OS and started it's career With a
membership OF ten persons. ~rday IL
covers all of the States of the South,
the southwest and large section of
the West and has millions of signed
members. AS an organization II has
80 FAR managed to steer clear of po-
litical entanglements. The leaders
s'ill insist that politics be barred. but
their statements are not reassuring to
the leaders of the old political parties,
who realize that the organization is
similar i'm many respects To the old
Farmers Alliance, which swept Kan
s'F and Nebraska out OF the republic
can column and which was the fore
runner OF tho Populist party. The pol
hlans remember how the leaders Of
The Farmers Alliance twenty years
ago pledged the people that there
would ne no politics I'm the organiza-
uon' Nor have they forgotten how
Jerry Simpson, Senator Pfeffer and
others took advantage of the move
mcnt.
Radical Legislation.
If the Farmers Union goes into pol-
i'cs and wins-and many keen obser-
Ners believe such will be the case-the
country IS likely To see far more radi-
cal legislation In the line of Socialism
'hah over before, for the state credit
VI state money will be pledged to fin
"n'e the cotton and other crops. to
erect warehouses for their storage.
ana to control. II not operate. the mills
anu elevators. Legislation will be
asked not only OF the States but of
oonsress also to aid the farmers. The
"'n, OF the laws that will he asked for
VIZ DC statute closing the cotton ex-
,l"nses and boards of trade and maxi
",s II felony to speculate I'm cotton.
"n'a' and similar products of the soil.
IN addition to legislation abolishlns
apecula'ion in farm products the or
s""'~"'ion Is working for the enact :
","t OF federal laws for the estab-
s",neht Of parcels post and postal
Wings banks, stringent legislation
a'ong the lines of restricting foreign
Immigration, and more liberality In
eonai and State appropriations
"'ru agricultural PROJECTS. The