Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1911-06-09
SERVICE GREATER
THAN MERE TITLE.
DECLARES BARRETT
President of Farmers Calls
on Members to Ask Them.
selves if They Have Kept
Faith
Especial Dispatch to The Journal)

Especial Dispatch to The Journal)
UNION CITY, Ga, June SHAT
there Is more honor In service than ia
title. Is the keynote of statement is-
sued by President Charles L. Barretzs
Of the National Farmers union Mr..
Barrett also advises the members OF
the organization to ask themselves II
they have kept the faith His state
ment follows:
DISCUSSES sELFIsHNEss.
To the officers and Members Of the
Farmers Union:
Selfishness is the bane of politics and
Of every organization. the Farmers ur-
ion not excluded. We are gradually
scourging 1t from the Farmers union.
There's less of it among the leaders
than ever before. But the purging must
be complete before the order reaches
the effectiveness destined for Il by the
national needs 1t seeks 20 supply.
Here is an illustration: know polI-
tfcians high in favor and in Office who
could have served the people with twire
the efficiency had they stayed out sf
office The minute man begins to run
for ofhce, ms nobled and broader qualf-
ties are likely to suffer. He finds hin1-
self compromising with his convicti0nsl
when they run counter to his oppor-
tunities. He finds his mouth closed mi
denouncing abuses that work TO the
harm of the people. because those who
him. He makes countless enemies 0fI
powerful and good individuals that
otherwise he could have kept in line
for the public good, had he not inject-l
ed the bitter virus OF partisanship.
The man who would serve the farnssrl
can most often do it best by remainlrtgt
out of politics You will have no diff
Guilty recalling men of powerful mea-i
tally who could have been OF inestimsa-
bic service to the public veal had they
not tied themselves to the wheel Of
politics.
There is such thing as statesmanship
in private life. The leader of the farIn-l
er, in or out of organization. must train
up to that sort of statesmanship, the
first requisite of which is the submerging
of selfish ambitions for the general well
fare.
HAVE YOU KEPT FAITH?"
You leaders among the farmers, have
you kept this faith? Has your every
effort and energy been directed toward
lettering the conditions of the farmer
or yourself? Would you make for the
farmer the sacrifices you have made for
yourselves? If have not, and would
not, it is unlikely you will ever be able
to give the brand of service that win be
truly. effectual and that win write your
name in history.
Are you in the order for glory and s'sl-
\ fish advancement. or to so strengthen 1t
| by your devotion and abilities that 1t
will further the interests OF the farm
ing masses OF this country. You would
not allow yourself to become easily dis
couraged II you were working for your
own ACKNOWLEDGMENT or prosperity. VIII
you allow yourself to become discouraged
when you are working for the aggran-
dizement and prosperity of the farmer?
Here is this man of the acres who has
suffered and been neglected these cen
turtles, and who is just coming into his
own Are you able co point out to him
his frailties, and have you the courage
to do it? Have you the bravery to stick
to his cause when, in misunderstanding
| and temporary pettishness, he srnasfes
you? Are you broad enough to remain
hghting by his side, when you believe
he is in the wrong. but know he needs
you none the less.
We have solved some big problems for
the farmer in the past six years. We
will need to solve still larger ones in the
future. You must strip for the battle.
Unselfishness must be your motto. Self
control must be your guide. Hanging on
! in the face of defeat and KEEPING your
head in the flush of victory must pc
your program. -
/ admit the program is a hard ore.
But when YOU consider the immensity Of
the field you are working in, and that In
this particular vineyard the "laborers
are indeed few you win understand
more thoroughly the necessity OF tne
qualities I have outlined.