Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1910-06-10
Organization for the Farmer.

CARNATIONS of the United States
held in St. Louis during the past
month.
The convention was a joint
meeting of the Farmers Educa-
tional and Cooperative Union Of
the South and the American So
ciety Of Equity Of the North. Dur
ing this successful series of meet
ings the delegates were addressed
by some of the cOuntry'S most
prominent statesmen and farmers.
on topics of interest to the agri-
cultural and industrial classes Of
the country. Among the speak
ers were President Taft, Secretary
Of Agriculture Wilson, Ex-GOver,
nCr Folk of Missouri, Samuel Con
perS Of the American Federation
of Labor, and Hon. W. j. Bryan.
One Of the important results Of
the conference was the proposed
affiliatiOn Of organized farmres
with the American Federation Of
Labor. Before the meeting ad-
jOurned the executive committee
adopted a resolution in favor of
affiliatiOn, pledging the farmers
support to the labor unions, to
the end that their rights and lib
critics with our own shall be pre-
served" The question of the ad-
option Of the proposed plan will
come up later before the respec-
tive bodies. Representatives of
both the farmers organizations an
the labor forces declare that the
cooperative working plan as
reached among the farmers has nj
political tinge.
Another important outcome of
the meeting was the organization
Of the American Cooperative Un-
ion, with Thomas IG. Nelson of
Indianapolis, as president. The
Union is to be incorporated for
81, ,OOO,O00 and branches operated
IN every city in the United States
The plan provides for the abso-
lutte elimination of the middlemar
IN the sale of farm products. An.
other aim of the society is its
educational work among the pro-
ducing classes of the country. II
does not seek to supplant other
farmers organizations, but to
unite them under the banner OF
cooperation for their mutual in.
tereStS and the better marketing
Of their produce. 1t will seek to
interest the working forces of thi
movement in the higher ideals Of
economic development, and to en-.
list the best brains of the nation
IN the solutions of the problems o
the wealth producers of the na.
tiOn. This movement has at its
head one of the brainy men Of
agricultural organization, whose
experience in the American So
clety Of Equity promises much fo
Its future usefulness.
The meeting at st. Louis was
held at a very poor time Of the
year, when farmers are very busy
and find it hard to get away
From the standpoint of enthuSi
aSm and results it was a success
and promises much. Every meet
ing resolved itself into a plea fol
better organization. Every speal
er who touched ON the subjecr
was given the best attention. Tht
farmers were free to admit tha
past efforts for organization anC
cooperation among the farmer
had in a measure failed, but thI
did not deter them from express
ing their hopes that the farmer
of this country can stand tOgeth
er on a platform that will ad
vance their position in the busi
ness world. 4
AS a class the farmers have beel
almost the last to recognize tn
benefits of collective bargaining
Snd agreements. Almost ever,
other branch of business and in
dustry have sought the prOtectiO
Of organization. They were con
PEELED to. The farmer is tn
only business man left who doe
not set a price upon his prOduC
tons who is compelled to tax
the price assigned by the purcha
er. He has been the explOite
class that receives but a small pc
cent OF what the consumer has t
pay for his produce. 7 he farme
will be compelled to organize I
hold his own in the business wOrI
There is no valid reason in tt
world why the farmers Of tn
country can not get together an