United labor bulletin., 1910-11-24
GROWTH OF FARMERS UNION
President Barrett Issues Statement
Setting Forth Rapid Strides
Made by Orqanlxati n.


President Charles 8. Barrett of the
Farmers Union. issued the following
statement from Union City. Ca. the
other day:
Today the Farmers union is nation
al In the largest sense. 1t has state
organizations on the Pacific coast.
state organizations on the Atlantic
coast. state organizations on the gulf
coast and Oh the great lakes. In
seven years 1t has grown from a
handful Of energetic and hopeful men,
captained by Newt Gresham at Point.
Tex. to an American army varying
from 100000 to 2.500.000 members.
covering men engaged in every spe-
cies Of agriculture in the United
States.
think / can detach myself sum-
ciently from my love for and interest
in this work to realize that this ex-
pansion represents achievement, and
phenomenal achievement at that.
cheerfully venture the assertion
that no agricultural organization in
the civilized world has ever recorded
SO marvellous a growth. The best
feature is 1t stability.
We have organized the American
farmer for keeps"
Yet In the face of this notable
achievement. and the shadow Of great
er things to come. we find here and
there carping critics questioning as to
why we have not made vaster strides.
The perfection of national or inter
national organization is the most
arduous and gradual task in the range
Of humanity's endeavors. might cite
two overshadowing organizations from
the Industrial world as Illustrations:
The Standard OIL company and the
United States Steel corporation. In
their way and in their peculiar
spheres they are models Of organiza-
tion-at least the average citizen who
feels the effect of their force. will not
deny the fact.
Now the Farmers union has no de-
sire or intention to rival these over
reaching monopolies. but their match
less triumph Of Organization can teach
US something beneficial. We can
profit from the constructive lesson
they have to offer and reject the prac-
tises that have placed some OF their
promoters upon an evil eminence In
this country.
Now. then-it took decades and de-
cades to perfect these two great or
ganixations-they begun FIRST with
struggling and struggling groups. At
various stages In their history they
were dealt blows that would have been
deadly had not the men behind been
actuated by fxed purpose and un-
wavering courage
Another thing-these two concerns
have always. or nearly always. had At
their disposal all the advantages af-
forded by unlimited capital and the
best order of trained brains In the
country.
Yet they have grown piecemeai. so
TO speak. BY q process Of evolution.
through infinite backsets and dis
couragements and panics. until today
they itand as the supreme embodi-
ments OF organization
The Farmers union has made prog
ress even more phenomenal than
these two organizations. and without
the advantage conferred by money.
for the reason that our guiding prin-
ciples have been righteous where
theirs have been those rising from
greed.
But on the side OF patience and of
the value and efficacy OF organization.
and OF the spirit that Is willing to
wait for results. perfectly confident
OF ultimate success. they abound in
object lessons
want every member of the Farm
ers' union. however obscure. TO re-
member we are building for tomorrow
as well as for-soday: for our child
ren's children ms well as for our
selves; that we are laying a solid
foundation for the solving OF prob
lens that will test American mettle
decades after we are dust.
look forward to the day when
every American farmer belongs to an
agricultural organization as one OF the
brightest days In the history OF this
country. II may not come in my time.
nor in the time OF my children. but
know II is destined. and that at the
rate the Farmers union is growing
We viii not have to wait an indefinite
number OF years for the consumma-
tion.
Let us FIRST concede that the farm
cr is the most important element In
the national life. Let us next concede
that he has been systematically neg
leoted. in the way OF legislation and
social viewpoint. since the founding
OF the republic. Let us next concede
that tho day he IL formed into one
compact. unanimous national orEani-
zation he Will be able to secure his
rights. TO redress his wrongs and to
inject sanity and equity into the ma
tons government in n degree that
has never been approximnted in Amer
lean history.
These are some of the ends to
which we are working. While we Ia
Dor for the farmer. we labor for the
entire country. for the country 10 NO
greater. no more prosperous. no more
moral or safe from canker Of disin-
tegration than is its great rural popu-
intion.
Cost of SilaCe.