The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1910-09-21
FARMERS UNION
9Tbe Recent Meeting in Charlotte Was
a Big Success All Round.
FUTURE LOOKS BRIGHT

Progress. and the Union Gathers
Strength, Wisdom and Experience
As 1t Grows Older.
President Barrett, Of the National
Farmers Union, says the meeting
Just concluded at Charlotte was the
most successful in the history of the
order. Among other things he said:
Largest in point OF attendance.
most representative from ~geographl-
cal standpoint and most significant
for the serious and determined air
of business methods under which 1t
was conducted, the national conven-
ton of the Farmers union just clos
ed in Charlotte, y. c., is unquestion-
ably the most successful of the ma
tional gatherings in the history Of
our order.
From year to year I have watch
ed the organization develop into
greater proportions as reflected in
these national conventions. 1t has
remained for the n just held to
record new progress in those direc-
tons meaning most Of permanent
good both to the actual membership
and to the farmers generally Of
America.
All organized state were repre-
scented and the personal of the repre-
! sentation was of the highest possible
order. We have had sore heads and
trouble makers in previous conven-
tions. There were few or me in the
convention that has just reached its
conclusion. A spirit of brotherhood
and of unity which p~rophesies splen-
did things for the future governed
the deliberations of the organized far
mers of America.
One of the most significant fea-
lures Of the convention was the alb
sence of fool resolutions that used
to cause me misgivings in previous
conventions. Sometimes members.
with the best of intentions but
lOuSuSouSQlS "Ouio IuIlOuuSO lCS-
olutions looking to ~eXtravagant eX-
penditures, or chimerical scheme or
altruistic and impossible ventures.
The fact that these phases were con-
s%piciously missing from the recent
convention, is conclusive evidence
that the membership is purging itself
or of Improbable dreaming and di-
recting its driving force instead at
practical ends of practical means.
1.-The legislative program framed
by the convention largely parallels
the issues and measures heretofore
advanced by myself and by your
board Of directors and legislative
committees, though amendments and
additions will cause a slight revision
of policies. 1t is our intention to
prosecute this winter at Washington
the most aggressive fight in our his
tory for legislative measures and re-
forms Of interest to the membership
and Of the American farmer without
regard to locator.
promise you that my utmost in
fluence and energies will be employ
ed in giving execution TO the man
date handed down by the convention,
to the end that the national govern
ment shall take more actual cogniz-
ance of the needs and the rights of
the American farmers and it is fight
ing the devil with fire. Only to the
extent we make politicians appreciate
the power Of our ballots, irrespec-
tive of partisan alignment, will we
succeed in securing legislative re-
dress along the lines most helpful TO
our cause.
"A notable feature Of the con-
vention is the fact that your official
family there selected comes from
every part Of the country. He did not
set out by design to have geogra
phical representation as to a basis for
the national officials, but it happened
that the choice of the convention fell
on men drawn from every portion of
the country, bordering on the two
oceans and from the great inland.
It would have been impossible for
the convention to choose a finer body
OF officials and the particular persou-
mel this year indicate the o~rrganiza-
ton has become national in fact as
in name. This departure was given
special emphasis by the fact that
never in the history of the order
has the representation of the dele
gates also been more of a national
character.
"Throughout the deliberations, the
spirit of mutual understanding and
Of mutual tolerance was strong and
dominating. The farmers of this
country are learning each other bet
ter, learning better how to trust each
other, how to waive small personal
rights and pool them for the general
good. That is an important lesson
of the convention.
Business methods and sentiment
ruled strongly. There was little
shouting, little purposeless enthus-
ism, but calm, logical discussion OF
business plans. and of approved and
tried means 10 forward the welfare
Of the organization.
I'm this connection. it will he of