The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1911-09-12
President Barrett To
The Farmers Union

Shawnee, Okla, Sept. 5-The ad
dress Of Pres. Charles S. Barrett at
the annual session of the Farmers
Union, now being held here, was
heard with interest by the large dele
CATION present from all parts Of the
country His address in full follows:
President Barrett's Address.
At day when the Farmers Edu-
more powerful than at any time in
it's existence, it gives me pleasure
and profound pride to greet it's rep
resentatives in annual convention as
sem bIed. You are the authorized
spokesmen for the most important
farmers organization in all history.
You gather at time when we can
view battles Won, and battles yet
to be won. in a degree that is new
III the annals OF. the producers Of
any nation. / am sure you share
with me q mighty thrill as we look
backward upon the long and hard
road We hay travelled and the OBJ
stacles we have overcome; and that
with me, you feel no less call to
action when we consider the prob
lens yet unsolved by the American
farmer.
During the past year. and especial
ly during the past summer. l have
visited personally all the important
State organizations and all the State
conventions. And / come to YOU with
the message that the Farmers Union
is stronger better drilled in dis
cipline. in finer financial condition
and more inspired with the stern en-
thusiaSm of sacrifice, of brOtheriy
love and Of cooperation than since
that never-to- -be-fOrgOtten day when
Newt Gresham launched its first great
principles. States that were pre-
viously Indifferent or laggard are go
ing forward by great strides. State
treasures that once suffered lack Of
funds are bein~ placed upon a solid
basis. observation-disclosures South,
East and West-the farmer is walk
ing to the opportunity and the duty
Of attiliating with his brethren and
is learning the true meaning of the
creed to which he subscribes when
he takes the obligation of member
ship.
We have accomplished all, thus
far, that the reasonable man could
expect, and much more than our Sc
cret enemies and the pessimists
hoped. We stand upon record that
no similar organization has remotely
approached. And / bring to you the
further important message that Ame-
rica is so Wakened to the significance
Of our movement that limitless finan-
cial assistance will be at our disposal
the moment we bring this organ1za-
ton to the high state Of perfection
it is now rapidly approaching. The
day may come this year, OF next
year, when the member Of this order
will find himself backed by sucn
large capital and so many resources
as to remove his last wavering doubt
as to the country's appreciation Of
the role of the producer. SO lone
neglected.
AS an instance of the National at
titude toward our cause. 1t is a pleas
ure to report that more than 5000
papers print regularly the statements
issued from National headquarters
Each mail brings request from more
publications to be placed upon oul
mailing list And I am in receipt
of inquiries regarding our work ano
its progress from practically every
that You may realize the momentum
this movement has attained. ant
the grave responsibility resting upor
all of us to see that In nOWlSe do WI
betray or disappoint the trust the Ma
ton and the world begin to repost
In our mission.
The greatest need of the Amerivar
farmer today. whether within o.
without this organization, is efectua
leadership. I know that for the so
called rural problem" there are
thousand and one remedies. and so
lutions suggested, some Of them eood
some absurd and some abso1utel!
vicious in intent and principle. None
of them touch the core Of the situa
ton. We need not remedies bu
leaders. Give us proper leaders II
every State and we shall soon fine
the remedies and apply them. The
machinery for reform. for progress
and nfOSnaritv. proqtaSt nlln