The Green Forest tribune., 1910-06-03
PRES. LOUDERMILK ON UNION
From Now on Will Stand for Definite Propositions and Accomplish
 ments-Wants Members.

President W. T. Loudermilk of the Farmers Educational and Cooper atiVe Union of Texas, in a recent ill., terview with Frank P. Holland of Farm and Ranch. said
 T have the hearty cooperation of each and every state official now in of flee and from now on the Farmers Educational and Cooperative Union of Texas will stand for definite proposi- tions and accomplishments"
 He desires every person eligible to become member, and states that he proposes to get rid of a number who are already members and under prop CT construction of the union law, were never eligible, and edged their way in under false pretenses and for selfish purposes only. He insists that the union shall not be a harboring place for secret workers, for trusts, corpor- attons and other designing combina- tions seeking to influence members, or using the union as a whole for pur- poses that would be detrimental to the interests of honest people, and in vio- lation of its code.
 President Loudermilk says that he desires and hopes to have the good will and support of every good citizen, no matter what his occupation, for the organization in its efforts to assist the producer in securing fair prices for products, and a square deal from pub lie service and other corporations.
 He believes that the producer is not receiving such prices for his products as conditions justify, yet says that the consumer Is paying, considering the amount received by the producer, en- tirely too much for what he con- sumes.
 He does not believe in arraying class against class. He claims that members of the union recognize the fact that those engaged in other 1egiti- mate occupations are entitled to req sonable compensation for services performed iii manufacturing and dis tributing natural products, but says that, as a rule, there Is too much "rake-off" between the producer and consumer and demands that the gam blers be suppressed, the railroads reg ulated, trusts curbed, and grafters of every sort and condition be made to earn an honest living out or inside the penitentiary.
 He claims that the worst enemies of the union hold membership cards, and if Thpv or,ar vuara aro ,,o+ nov, "hewers of wood nor drawers of wa ter" but are trying to sell 'fluence" or plying some other method of graft.
 He told the writer that he was plan ming specific, concrete work for the or ganizat1on that would show good re- suits because the "bone and sinewn of the Farmers union are in line with him and other officers, and those who think they have the union where they can use 1t for ultertsr purposes or break it, will find themselves planning with out the backing of the union or the ability to hold membership, after be. ing located.
 President Loudermilk used some strong language and even called names and, if the writer is not very much mistaken, in conclusions shaped up after listening to him, there Is go ing to be something strenuous happen Should he and his co-workers succeed and there is no reason, If backed by the membership, why they should not in accomplishing the results planned for, every good citizen will be bene f1ted, and the membership of the union will rapidly increase.
 If he and others working with him secure the support of the locals, they are certainly going to do much good even though they accomplish only 6 part of the good things they have ir mind.
 If they do not secure the backing oi the members, the Farmers union, will dwindle in membership and finally travel the road that has led to the disintegration of many other organiza tions that have started out with good intentions, and after doing more dl less good, became wreckage on the hard rocks of selfishness.