Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1910-03-18
WATCHING LEGISLATION.
Representatives of Farmers Union
Keep Close Tab on Congress.

Representatives Of Farmers Union
Keep Close Tab on Congress.
Any lingering doubt as to the Won
derful national power Of the Farmers
Union. says a Washington dispatch to
the Atlanta Georgian. has been drama
tically dissipated. In shoals and bat
talions, from representatives and SEN
ators, Republicans, Democrats and in
surgents, letters in reply to the con-
gressional poll instituted by President
Barrett of the Farmers Union are roll
ing in. His secretaries and assistants
here are literally swamped by the in
undatiOn.
Old politicians, veteran campaigners,
do not remember anything In recent
the spectacle which represents the con-
gress of the United States eagerly anx-
ious to get on the band wagon Of an
agricultural organization boasting In
the neighborhood Of 100000 members.
Today President Barrett sent out to
Farmers Union papers 100 letters from
every shade Of congressman, including
reactionaries and progressives. Ac-
companying these copies is an intro
duction, in which he states that this
is merely the first instalment and that
others are to follow until every con-
gressman has either been heard from
in public, or definitely located as refus-
ing to commit himself.
II will be remembered that President
Barrett's original letter put six leading
questions to congress, inquiring it's at
titude toward the following issues:
l. Abolishing gambling in farm pro-
ducts.
2. Securing, without delay, a parcels
post.
3. Securing, without delay, postal
savings banks.
4. Securing, without delay, more
stringent legislation along the line Of
restricting foreign immigration.
5. Securing the defeat Of the propos-
ed central bank.
G. More liberalty in national appro-
priations toward agricultural projects.
Manifestly, it is impossible to quote
the letters going out today to the Far
mers' Union papers. President Barrett
however, estimates that 80 per cent ia
vor abolishing gambling in farm pro-
ducts; that 95 per cent favor a parcels
post, the preference being that such q
system should be first confined to rural
free delivery routes; that an over
whelming majority favor postal saw
ings banks in some form, provided pro-
vision is made to keep the deposits in
the home localities; that practically all
congressman heard from favor rigid re-
Striction of foreign immigration; that
S5 per cent are opposed to central
bank: that virtually all favor greater
liberality in congressional appropria-
tions toward the farmer.
In tine statement preceding the copies
Of the congressional letters, President
Barrett, while encouraged by the
splendid showing made thus far, re
frains from celebrating" the passage Of
these measures, because of the poSSi-
bility that all of these promising con-
gressmen are not in earnest, and be-
cause of the ability of "a few powerful
men controlling the house and senate"
to "emaSculate" or entirely annihilate"
legislation at Will.
President Barrett concludes by an
nouncng that at the end of the session
the entire proceedings Of the watch
upon congress, including the individual
records of the members, will be pub
lished in a sort of "Doomsday Book"
form, and supply not only every men,
Der of the Farmers Union, but as well
every farmer in America, declaring
that millions Of American farmers not
formally affiliated with the Orsaniza-
tion are in sympathy with its purposes
and campaignS