Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1910-05-06

tive, Dul anu
will ultimately reach MIN. II you will
appeal to him long and often enough
upon the sentimental, religious, intel
lectual and material side, II you will
bit by bit and line on line, show him
how in his home to make life in the
country more endurable, you will even
tually be rewarded not only with the
encouragement to proceed with your
task. but with gratitude and confidence
fully compensating the terrific effort.
Farmers Union Not linn une.
said earlier in this address that the
Farmers Union was at yet by no means
immune from folly. That is true. Oc-
casionally a fellow, somewhere, joins
tine order, and straightway 1t goes to
his head. You will find him around
town the next day Dragging that ne be-
longs to the Farmers Union and say
ing what he's going to do to that local
merchant, and how the organization Is
to regulate the whole universe of busi-
ness II 1t doesn't be good.
Be forbearing with him. There are
several Of this kind, inevitably in an
organization Of 100000, and you have
got to let MIN blow off steam. Don't
get exasperated with him or stop trying
to help him. He'll never do the dire
things he threatens, and you'll find he's
distinctly in the minority. There are
in every secret order, and in every po-
litical party. You don't condemn the
whole thing in these cases. because Ct
them. Then follow that reasoning with
the Farmers Union.
A distinct part Of the rural problem
Is the cultivation of a better and a
more cooperative spirit between the
city man and the countryman. After
all, they have almost everything in
common.
This means that we must mix inti-
mately and that our children will mix
more intimately. Neither of us can.
then, avoid the mutual obligation of
forbearance and helpfulness. In real
ity, we have few clashing interests. We
are both interested in decent, effective
and equitable government, a square
deal for every man.
We are both interested in the curb
ing and purging, not the destruction.
of great agencies Of civilization. We
are both interested in building up a
more staunch American citizenship.
free Of pollution from damaging alien
strains, bred and brought up to fulfill
the ideal Of pure and militant Ameri
canism. And unless we realize his close
mutual relation, We shall both suffer.
The city man will suffer because in
Withholding his aid he has crippled
the farmer in providing subsistence for
civilization. The farmer will suffer, be-
cause he has denied himself the round
ed mentality, the fair chance for HIM
self and his children that comes from
the realization of the actuality Of the
universal brotherhood.
We have discovered that intelligent
organization succeeds. In the larger
part of the programme undertaken by
the Farmers Union, we have recorded
distinct progress, with the promise OF
complete fulillment in the ultimate fu-
ture.
Congress Heeds the Voice.
We have found also that organized
lappeal counts in achieving political de-
mands. Our campaign last winter at
Washington for a recognition Of cardi-
nal issues desired by the Farmers Un-
ion, brought favorable response from a
great majority Of the congressman, be-
cause in the districts Of these con-
gressmen the Farmers Union was
strongly organized. In the districts
most compactly organized the response
was promptest and most hearty. That
fact carries it's own significance.
Congress in general, and politicians
in general, have paid, and are paying.
more attention to the farmer, and that
Is because the farmer Is paying more
/
the public officer conceive the idea that
he is being watched continually by his
constituent, and that the latter Is care
fully comparing promise with perform
ance and we shall elevate the standard
Of public service in this country. /
have urged upon Farmers Union men,
bers to refuse to let their attitude to-
| ward their congressman be colored by
any little trivial gifts one part Of the
L hA hrth ~ n
| flee for relative or cordial hand
shake from the great man himself.
The test of worthiness Of continued in
dorsement at the polls Is deeds, not
fiattery, and that man Is a traitor to
his country, and to his ideals, who be-
| trays his fellows by considering pub
lie obligation conceled by private ia
| vor.
At many times have expressed the
conviction that farmers organizations
| should steer religiously clear OF parti-
san politics. The latter is not essential
to achieving the needed legislation. The
main thing Is for the individual consti-
tuent to keep his congressman, repre-
| sentative or senator to scrupulous ac-
countability A rule Of this nature will
get results, whether in any party now
formed or to be formed. Failure to OBJ
serve such a rule will mean the down.
fall Of any political crusade however
carefully planned and brilliantly exc
cuted.
The Farmers Obligation.
l want also to send this message to
America, from the organized and mill
tant farmers Of America:
We appreciate the heavy and sacred
obligations upon us. We mean to dis
charge these obligations, by the grace
Of the Almighty, and with the aid OF
the people Of this country. We know
that upon us, and upon our unorganized
brethren, affiliated with US in spirit II
not actually, devolves the burden Of
feeding and clothing the nation, Of
building staunch and firm the founda-
tions upon which are reared our affiu-
ence at home and our prosperity
abroad. We know that in this strange
and shifting epoch, when unrest beck
ons from all sides, when encroaching
capital and embattled labor threaten to
| shake the world with their conflict,
when sanity and strength and ultimate
| salvation must come from that great
reservoir of sanity and patriotism-the
spreading, smiling acres that make the
great out -ofdoors Of the Lord God. We
know our responsibility for the pros
perity that generously expands, for the
panic that may ride the nation like the
storm. We know our role in these
great civic warfares for purity in poll
tics, manhood and efficiency in govern
ment.
The farmer has gained but a small
fraction of his share in the benefits OF
American development, because Of con-
| ditions over which ne deluded himself.
or was deluded, into believing. he had
no control.
Only during the last few years has he
| wakened to his folly. Only during the
last few years has the vague conviction
that somewhere something was wrong.
been transmitted into knowledge, and
knowledge into realization, and realiza-
ton into power to demand and enforce
a remedy.
Today, in the might Of his interest.
and in the strength of his organization.
| irresistible in its increasing numbers.
] ne 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 easy controlled or
easily pacified farmer. He demands to
| be treated as an American citizen, like
every other class of American citizens.