The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1910-03-30
WATCHING LEGISLATION.
Representatives of Farmers Union
Keep Close Tab on Congress.

Any lingering doubt as to the won
derful national power of the Farm
ers Union, says a Washington dis
patch to the Atlanta Georgian, has
been dramatically dissipated. In
shoals and battalions, from represen-
tatives and senators, Republicans,
Democrats and insurgents, letters in
reply to the congressional poll insti-
tuted by President Barrett Of the
Farmers Union are rolling in. His
secretaries and assistants here are
literally swamped by the inundation.
Old politicians, veteran campaign
ers Go not remember anything in re-
cent history approaching the signifi-
canoe of the spectacle which repre-
sents the congress of the United
States eagerly anxious to get on the
band wagon Of an agricultural or
ganization boasting in the neighbor-
hood of 100000 members.
Today President Barrett sent out
to Farmers Union papers 100 letters
from every shade Of congressman.
including reactionaries and progress
sives. Accompanying these copies is
an introduction, in which he states
that this is merely the first INSTALL
ment and that others are to follow
until every congressman has either
been heard from in public or definite
ly located as refusing to commit him
self.
1t Will be remembered that Presi-
dent Barrett's original letter put six
leading questions to congress, in
curing it's attitude toward the fol-
lowing issues:
1. Abolishing gambling in farm
products.
2. Securing, without delay
parcels post.
8. Securing. without delay. postal
savings banks.
4. Securing, without delay, more
stringent legislation along the line
of restricting foreign immigration.
S. Securing the defeat of the pro-
posed central bank
6. More liberality in national an
preparations toward agricultural pro.
jects.
Manifestly, it is impossible % ruote
the letters going out today to the
FARMERS Union papers. President
Barrett, however, estimates that 90
pes cent favor abolishing gambling
In farm products; that 95 per cent
favor a parcels post, the preference
being that such a system should ra
first confined to rural free Cnliyery
routes; than an overwhelmiae ma.
)ority favor postal savings baoks ,1
some form, provided provision i
made to keep the deposits in the
home localities; that practically all
congressman heard from favor rigid
restriction Of foreign Immigration:
that 80 per cent are opposed to
central bank; that virtually all favor
greater liberality in congressional an
preparations toward the farmer.
In the statement preceding the
copies of the congressional letters.
President Barrett, while encouraged
by the splendid showing made thus
far, "refrains from celebrating" the
passage of the masures because Of
the possibility that all of these
promising congressman are NOT in
earnest, and because of the ability
or "a few powerful men controlling
the house and senate" to "emascu.
late" or entirely annihilate" legis-
lation at will.
PRESIDENT Barrett concludes bv
announcing that at the end of the
session the entire proceedings of Tho
"atch upon congress- including the
lholVldual records of the members.
VIII be published in a sort of
Doomsday Book" form, and supply
not only every member Of the Far
mers' Union, but as we'll every farmer
IN America, declaring that millions
or American farmers not formally
AFFILIATED with the organization are in
sympathy with it's purposes and cam
paigns.