The Robesonian. [volume] (Lumberton, N.C.) 1870-current, 1910-03-10

Farmers Dominate the South III
Politics-An Organization that
has Grown Silently and Slow
ly, but Vastly.
Slowly, slyly and silently has
the great organization OF the
farmers, named the Farmers
Cooperative Union, grown with
in recent years throughout the
South and West. The business
and political world was perhaps
ignorant thatit has been becoming
gradually more important in its
dictatiOns and vastly extending
it's ramifications. 1t has as its
president Mr.. Chas. S. Barrett, one
of the most versatile writer's or
farming conditions in the coun.
try, a dynamic leader, one borr
to counsel and command. Pres.
ident Barrett recently made 6
visit to Washington in behalf OF
legislation in the interest of the
great farming masses of the
country, especially the South.
and since that occasion numer-
Gus reports have been sent out
indicating that his reception at
Washington was significant, that
he was granted a ready hearing
and received promises of an en-.
couraging nature both from Sen
ators and Congressman looking
to the regulation of certain evils
under which, it is claimed, the
farmers are now suffering.
JOHN TEMPLE GRAVES WRITES.
The most significant report of
the political bearing which the
organization is now exercising is
from the fluent pen of John Tenn
pie Graves. who recently indited
a somewhat lengthy story to the
Atlanta Georgian, of which he
was formerly editor. He has
sized up the Farmers Union as
one of the most potent political
factors of the day and his writ
ing on this subject is we'll worth
reading. 1t is as follows:
The newest and most poten-
tial forces in politics that this
country knows, or has ever
known, has grown up slowly,
silently and persistently within
the last four years.
Strange to say, the newspapers
of the East know little of it. and
say little about it. But there
isn't a congressman who comes
from the South or West who
does not know it and bow to it
whenever it passes an opinion
across his political way.
At this time it is practically |
omnipotent in legislation. and it !
is an increasing rather than a |
decreasing force.
The Farmers Union is little !
more than 40 years old. It is a
secret organization that succeeds
the old Farmers Alliance and !
the National Grange, which rose
and fell some ten years ago.
The National Grange was the
first organization. 1t was the
first experiment in agricultural
organization and cooperation. |
Its mistakes were many and it's
years were few. It did much
good, but its wisdom was crude
and it fell by it's own experience.
MOVED DOWN MANY CONGRESS-
MEN.
The Farmers Alliance, which
followed, was stronger and bet
ter. 1t cut a deep swath in it's
day, and moved down congress
men like grain in it's triumphant
youth. 1t swept Georgia for in
stance, like a hurricane, and left
only two congressman to the reg
ular Democrats out Of the eleven
in the State.
Inc Farmers Alliance fell by
its dissensions and it's ambitions.
Its first success fired it's follow
ers to political aspirations and it
faded.
Now comes the Farmers I'm
ion, which has learned wisdom
and discretion by the mistakes
of its predecessors. It's mem
bers do not seek office as men,
bers Of the organization, but ap-
pear to avoid it. Only one Uni
ted States Senator (Smith of
South Carolina) has risen from
its ranks to high official state.
The Farmers Union is a prac-
teal, hard-headed body that is
after results in legislation rather
than offices for it's members. Il
has been managed with consum.
mate common sense and self-ab.