Tensas gazette. [volume] (St. Joseph, La.) 1886-current, 1911-05-12
LaBoRs OF UNION OFFICERS
President Barrett Issues Statement
Detailing Work Done and Out
lines Future Prospects.

To the Members Of the Farmers
Union:
Your 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 its history.
That we have not written demands
of the Farmers Union into legislation
is due, not to lack Of influence, but
to the congestion Inevitable with q
short session and the decentralization
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. Is
nearer than any of our members. or
than any of the politicians imagine.
The lobby against parcels post has
shot its bolt. 1t has exhausted Its am
munition.
If you viii dig up the letters pub
lished last winter from congressman.
you will find that in nearly every In
stance they gave non-commital replies
to the question regarding a parcel<
post
But the situation has changed.
At any moment, you may expect
battalion Of statesmen to proclaim
loudly that they have all along been
In favor of a parcel post. Next, you
may expect them to work for 1t with
q vim.
The explanation of this singular
about-face Is an easy one.
The congressman has heard from
the farmeri Representatives and
senators from nearly all of the states
have been literally bombarded with
letters from their farmer-constituents
The power Of the farmer. long held
In cold storage" has been brought
FORTH The result was inevitable.
regard this spectacle as a vindi-
cation of my often repeated declara-
ton that the farmer has only to make
himself heard to have his wants sup
plied--in a congressional sense.
1t takes the spur to make the con-
gresham live up to its campaign
promises. The farmer is finding out
how to use the spur.
In this connection, you ought to
know the strange effect that Office
holding and life in Washington had
upon congressman.
We have particularly noticed during
this session, the mild and tame con-
duct Of some of the representatives
who were genuine fre-eaters on the
stump.
While they were appealing for your
votes, they paved dust like stallion,
promised to reform everything over
night, and to start something the
moment they were sworn In.
But, lol the change the moment
they get In congressl Then, with
many Of them, the principal object is
to panhandle few little Jobs for con.
stituents, sneak up on some little com
mittee assignment, keep free seed go
ing. glut the mails with agricultural
bulletins and free government publica,
lions and have a good time them
selves.
1t Is true that enthusiastically
they rear up on their hind legs and
below thunder. But investigate close
ly. and you viii generally find the
subject is a trivial one, that II won'i
hurt anybody, and that all the sand
raising is to make the folks at home
believe their faithful servant ISM
asleep at the switch.
There are some strong, energetic
and loyal congressman, 1t is true. j
believe their numbers are increasing
But they need to be increased still
more rapidly. II the farmer wants to
get the service to which he is entitled
The country gets no better or more
active congressman than 1t deserves
If you are not satisfied with the brand
OF craftsmanship being ladled out from
Washington, 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, l owe a debt O,
thanks to your national and state Of
ficials and other prominent workers
who have assisted in our dealings
with congress this winter.
CHARLES s. BARRETT.
Union City. Ca