United labor bulletin., 1910-11-17
THE FARMERS UNION.
What It Stands For, What It Has Ac-
complished and What Its continu-
ance Means.

The Farmers union had its birth in
Texas in 1902. 1t gave the reason for its
existence as follows:
Spectators and those engaged in the
distribution of farm products have or
ganized and operate to the great detri-
ment of the farming class.
To enable farmers to meet these con-
ditions and protect their interest, we
have organized the Farmers Educational
and Cooperative Union of America, and
declare the following purposes:
To establish Justice.
To secure equity.
To apply the Golden Rule
To discourage the credit and mortgage
system.
To assist our members in buying and
selling
To educate the agricultural class in
scientific farming.
To teach farmers the classification OF
crops. domestic economy and the process
of marketing.
To systematic methods of production
and distribution.
To eliminate gambling in farm prod
ncts by Boards of Trade, Grain Ex
changes and other spectators.
To bring farmers up to the standard
of other Industries and business enter.
prises.
To secure and maintain profitable and
uniform prices for grain, live stock and
other products of the farm.
To strive for harmony and good will
among all mankind and brotherly love
among ourselves.
To garner the tears OF the distressed
the blood of martyrs, the laugh OF inno-
cent childhood the sweat of honest labor
and the virtue of happy home as the
brightest jewels known.
The order is a non-partisan, semi-se-
cret one and has maitaiGed its position
as a business organization.
The power is in the membership, the
order being governed by the initiative,
referendum and recall sir-.---s-Fr-='
The organization as such owns moth
ing, being purely fraternal. The institu-
tions known as Farmers union concerns
being owned by those members who de-
sire to invest in them
The principle that capital and patron
age are equal factors in business and
should therefore share the profits is ad-
hered to, hence the union man who has
no money to invest is benefited by these
institutions by realizing on his patron
age.
The order is organized in 30 states oil
the Union and has membership of g.,
100000
White persons over the age of 1f
years, of good moral character, and are
either farmers, farm laborers, country
mechanics, teachers or ministers, and
those not engaged in business injurious
to agricultural interests and not connect
ed with any trust or combine, are eligi
BILE to membership. Women pay no fees
or dues.
Organizations may be formed with five
male members, but Is charter members
are necessary to perfect an organization
County organizations may be formed
when there are five or more locals ir
the county.
State organizations may be chartered
when the state has 5,00n members.
What It Has Accomplished.
The following resume of the accom-
plishments in the several states is con
servative and authentic:
Alabama has materially reduced the
cost to the members on fertilizers, -four
shoes, dry goods, groceries, stoves
wagons, etc. by purchasing IN large
uuantfties direct from manufacturers.
1t has also successfully handled pro
duce when o..ered in marketable shape
All Of this being done through th'
farmers Union Produce Exchanges a
Birmineham and Mobile with the active
cooperation of the Farmers warehouses
Arkansas has 9S cotton warehouses
about the same number OF gins and cot
ton seed houses, and many stores, som'
OF which are large enough to command IN
fhe greatest commercial. respect; the
most Important one is at Jonesboro
with an actual capital Of 100000, carry
ing every class of goods. which Is Solo
10 members at an actual profit OF ~ pei
cent above all cost
n has large timber interest, selling
extensively to western states, re"
-four mills, the chief one located at wal