The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1911-01-24
IMPROVING THE FARMERS CON
DITION.

President Barrett Urges Ihat CrsaHA
zation is the Surest Mctho0 1Or LII
proving the Farmers COndtloh. anu
Shows some Reasons Why Ii Is IN
at the disposal OF the American
Farmer. 80
To the Officers and Members OF 'i'e
Farmers Union:
ORGANIZATION is today the greatest
weapon and the most achieving tool
ar the disposal of hte American
farmer.
7 have stressed, in previous Appeals
the almost magical value OF orsaiiH :,
ton, as shown in great ana si,ai'
business State aand Federal Govern
ment. accom- plishment generally tHe
world over
But one could write volumes ana
vet leave many features Of the subJect
unhandled
l am. moreover. extremely anxious
that every American farmer not
member Of the Farmers Union id enti-
fly himself for this organization TOT
his own sake, first, and necessarily
for the good Of the organization.
There is not one American state
in which the Farmers Union IS Well
organized. but the lot Of the farmers
of that State generally has been I'M
proved
Why?
For the simple reason that instead
of working singly, or in pairs, for the
local. the county or the state I'M
provements and reforms they needed,
they have worked as a unit.
That is the secret Of organization
AID 1t wonderful efficacy every
where.
For instance:
If It were to the interests of the
farmers of certain State to secure
larger educational appropriation
that there might be more little red
schoolhouses what would be the
plan under the old system?
A farmer or two would write his
Representative in the State Legisla-
ture, the latter would languidly read
the letter and there the matter would
rest
It would continue to rest for months
and years, until gradually the feeble,
made such an impression upon the
law-making body that action was
forthcoming.
Had organization existed. the result
would have been fastened by as many
years as there was numerical power
and wise leadership to the organiza>
ton.
That is what organization does
haStenS results. reduces scattered pub
lie sentiment to a focus, and makes it
beat lard, lound and persistently upon
the ear-drums Of a sleepy legislature.
We have proved it in SO many States
that I cannot undertake to enumerate
them.
Politics is just one feature.
If organization is efTectual in that
field, it is no less effectual in creating
conditions that will lessen the farm
ers debt, make his living conditions
more pleasant, give him good roads.
put him into more friendly relations
with his neighbors and, finally solve
what the wise men call the '.ruraI
problem
Organization is the weapon OF the
many. put into the hands Of few
Responsible "'''e and devoted men.
That is why I am prca ats
value.
But organization can be most eff
fectiro if you insist that your leaders
be chosen for fitness and for ability tn
suffer and sacrifice rather than for
Jo1lying and handshaking ability.
So it will be an excellent plan for
YOU to spend much Of your time this
year IN looking for men who answer
TINS qualification. then oiving them a
square deal. If they fail and yo1, still
believe them honest and capable. give
them another trial 1t doesn't matter
= they turn out dishonest or grafters
DROP that special kind and @ Al II
again with another set