The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1910-05-02
FARMER IS MASTER
OF SITUATION
Continued on Page Six.

perfected organizations in several OF
the western and Pacific slope states,
and we shall soon invade New Eng
land.
"In the south, we have succeeded in
obtaining for the farmer, a reason
able price for his backbone staple, cot
ton. That means we have ministered
to every phase of southern commerce,
that we have laid every southerner
under obligation to us, for cotton is
the financial barometer of the southern
states. In the middle west, we are re-
cording Roadway in handling In sci
entific and equitable manner, wheat
and corn. In the far west, we are ac-
comprising results in the systematic
ing of the fruit industry, and of gener-
al agricultural products.
"The financial success of our pro-
gramme Is important, but it is exceed
ed by our moral and intellectual pro-
gress and evolution. Through our ma
tional, state and local organizations,
we have been persistently preaching
scientific agriculture, diversified agri-
culture, conservation of soil resources
and rotation of crops.
Our WAREHOUSE SYSTEM III the SOUTH,
our warehouse and cooperative BUSH
ness enterprises throughout the mid
die and far west, are revolutionizing
the viewpoint of the farmer.
pleading for sincere, constructive
leadership among the farmers, Presi-
dent Barrett said in the degree that
this prevails, now and in the days to
come, eve shall solve the agricultural
problems perplexing the best and most
consecrated thought of this country"
He said the selfish leadership is in
evitably incendiary and destructive.
For its almost criminaAy selfish aims.
it is willing to turn the farmer against
his neighbor, against the merchant,
against the banker against the resi-
dent of the city. 1t is leadership-for-
revenue only, without one redeeming
aspiration.
"A distinct part of the rural prob
lem is the cultivation of a better ana
more cooperative spirit between the
city man and the country man. After
ALL they have almost everything in
common. We are both interested in
the curbing and purging, not the des-
truction, of great agencies of civiliza-
ton. We are both interested in build
ing up more staunch American citi-
zenship, free of pollution from damag-
ing alien strains, bred and brought up
to fulfill the idea of pure and militant
Americanism. And unless we realize
this close mutual relation, we shall
both suffer"
Speaking of the campaign of the
Farmers union for the enactment of
certain national legislation, Mr.. Bar
rett said: Politicians in general have
paid and are paying more attention to
the farmer, and that is because the
farmer is paying more attention to the
politician. Once let the public officer
conceive the idea that he is being
watched continually by his constituent.
and that the latter is carefully com
pairing promise with performance.
and we shall elevate the standard of
public service in this country. I have
urged upon Farmers union members
to refuse to let their attitude toward
their congressman be colored by any
trivial gifts on the part Of the con-
gresham, the bribery of a petty Office
for a relative, or cordial handshake
from the great man himself The fest
of worthiness of continued endorse
ment at the polls is deeds, not fiattery,
and that man is traitor to his conn
try, and to his ideals, who betrays his
fellows by considering public obliga-
ton cancelled by private favor"
Continuing, he said: "The farmer
has gained but small fraction of his
share in the benefits of American de-
velopment, because he deIuded himself
or was deluded into believing he had
no control. Today in the midst Of his
interest, and in the strength Of his or
ganization. Irresistible in its Increasing
numbers, he is master of the situation.
The farmer is no longer asleep! IN his
waking, he Is invincible! He demands
TO be treated, not as the easily deluded
the easily controlled or easily pacIfed
farmer. He demands to be treated AZ
an American citizen, like ever other
class Of American citizens. He Il no
longer pleading, He is commanding.
AS an American citizen, the most inn
portant division of American citizens.
ne knows his rights! And knowing.
the Lord God Almighty has given him
me courage to maintain them!"