The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1911-05-13
LABoRs or UNION OFF GERS
President Barrett issues Statement
Detailing Work Done and Out
lines Future Prospects.
To the Members OF

To the Members Of the Farmers'
! Union:
four national and state officials
who have been working In Washing
ton this winter In behalf OF the Farm.
ers' Union have found that congress
/ is growing more responsive to the de-
mands Of the American farmer than at
any time In It's history
That we have not written demands
Iof the Farmers, Union into legislation
is due, not to lack OF influence, but
to the congestion Inevitable with q
short session and the Generalization
consequent upon pending political
changes. &,
! So far as parcels post is concerned
/ am convinced that that measure, in
a national and not a rural sense, II
nearer than any OF our members, or
than any OF the politicians imagine.
| The lobby against parcels post has
shot its bolt. It has exhausted its am.
munition
# you will dig up the letters I pub
l1ished last winter from congressman,
YOU will find that In nearly every IN
stance they gave non ommItaI replies
to the question regarding i parcels
post. s#
But the situation has changed.
At any moment, you may expect
q battalion OF statesmen to proclaim
loudly that they have I'll along been
/ in favor Of IA parcel post. Next, you
may expect them to work for 1t With
q vim.
The explanation Of this singular
tabout-faee is an easy one
The congressman has heard from.
the farmer! Representatives and
senators from nearly all Of the states
have been literally bombarded With
letters from their farmer-congtituen
The power Of the farmer, long held.
lin tcold storage" has been brought
FORTH The result was Inevitable.
regard this spectacle as d vindi>
cation Of my often repeated declara-s
ton that the farmer has only to make
himself heard to have his wants sup
plied-in d congressional sense.
It takes the spur to make the con
gresham live up to its campaign
promises. The farmer is finding ont
how to use the spur Z
In this connection, you ought ID
know the strange effect that Office
holding and life in Washington had
upon congressman.
0 We have particularly noticed during
this session, the mild and tame con-
duct OF some OF the representative
who were genuine hre-eaters on the
stump. s#z
While they were appealing for your
votes, they paved dust like q stallion,
promised to reform every thing over
night, and to start something the
moment they were sworn In.
But, 10! the change the moment
they get ID congress! Then, with
many Of them, the principal object III
to panhandle a few little jobs for CON
stituents, sneak up on some little COM
m1ttee assignment, keep free seed 60
ing. g1ut the mails with agricultural
bulletins and free government publica-
tons and have q good time them
selves.
It Is true that semi-oc casiona
they rear up on their hind legs and
below thunder. But investigate close
II, and you will generally find the
subject is trivial one, that it won't
hurt anybody and that all the sand
raising IS to make the folks at home
believe their faithful servant isn't
asleep at the switch
There are some strong, energetic
and loyal congressman, 1t Is true.
believe their numbers are increasing.
But they need to be Increased still
more rapidly, IL the farmer wants to
get the service to which he ii entitled.
The country gets no better or more
active congressman than it deserves.
IT you are not satisfied with the brand
OF craftsmanship being 1adled out from
Washing ton, just search your own soul
as to how far you are personally Re.
sponsible for electing an incompetent
For their ability and loyalty, and
#tireless cooperation. / owe d debt OF
thanks to your national and state ca.
ffcfals and other prominent workers
who have assisted In our dealings
with congress this winter.
CHARLES 81 BARRETT.
Union City, Ga.
RE,n @ r.s4 as88A :. ~. 81, s. q $5s