Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1911-09-12
EFFECTUAL LEADERSHIP
That Is the Greatest Need Of the
American Farmer
SO SAYS President C. S. BARRETT
Thoughtful Address Delivered During
the Opening Session Of the National
Farmers Union Last Tuesday.


Farmers Union Last Tuesday.
Charles S. Barrett of Georgia, was
reelected president of the National
Farmers Union, at the annual meeting
last week. His annual address was
as follows:
Brethren of the Farmers Union:
AT a day when the Farmers Educa-
tional and Cooperative Union is more
powerful than at any time in its exist
ence, it gives me pleasure and profound
pride to greet its representatives in
annual convention assembled. You are
the authorized spokesman for the most
important farmers organization in all
history. You gather at a time when
we can view battles won, and battles
yet to be won, in degree that is new
in the annals of the producers Of any
nation. l am sure you share with me
q mighty thrill as we look backward
upon the long and hard road we have
travelled and the obstacles we have
overcome, and that, with me, you feel
no less a call to action when we con-
slider the problems yet unsolved by the
American farmer.
Union Is Stronger.
During the past year, and especially
during the past summer, have visited
personally all the important state or
ganizations and all the state conven-
tions. And l come to you with the
message that the Farmers Union is
stronger, better drilled in discipline, in
finer financial condition and more in
spired with the stern enthusiasm Of
sacrifice, of brotherly love and CO.
operation than since that never-to- be-
forgotten day, when Newt Gresham
launched its first great principles.
States that were previously Indifferent
or laggard are going forward by great
strides. State treasures that once suf-
fered lack of funds are being placed
upon a solid basis. Everywhere
north, south, east and west-the far
mer is waking to the opportunity and
the duty of affiliating with his brethren
and is learning the true meaning of the
creed to which he subscribes when he
takes the obligation of membership.
I'VE have accomplished all, thus far,
that the reasonable man could expect,
and much more than our secret enc
mics and the pessimists hoped. We
stand upon a record that no similar
organization has remotely approached.
And l bring to you the further import
ant message that America is so wax
ened to the significance Of our move
ment that limitless financial assistance
will be at our disposal, the moment we
bring this organization to the high
state Of perfection 1t is now rapidly
approaching. The day may come this
year, or next year, when the member
of this order will find himself backed
by such large capital and so many re-
sources as to remove his last wavering
doubt as to the country's appreciation
of the role of the producer, so long
neglected.
"As an instance Of the national atti-
tude toward our cause, 1t is a pleasure
to report that more than 5000 papers
print regularly the statements issued
from national headquarters. Each mail
brings requests from more publications
to be placed upon our mailing list.
And l am in receipt Of inquiries re-
garding our work and its progress from
practically every country in civiliza-
ton. l tell you this, that you may
realize the momentum this movement
has attained and the grave responsible
ity resting upon all Of us to see that in
no wise do we betray or disappoint the
trust the nation and the world begin to
repose in our mission.
Need Effectual Leadership.
1.-The greatest need of the American
farmer today, whether within or with
out this organization, Is effectual lead
ership know that for the so-called
rural problem there are a thousand
and one remedies, and solutions sug-
gested, some of them good, some alb
surd and some absolutely vicious in in
tent and principle. None of them touch
the core of the situation. We need not
but leaders. Give us proper
leaders in every state, and we shall
soon find the remedies, and apply them.
The machinery for reform, for progress
anC prosperity, the greatest plans out
lined by the brains of the most accom-
plished experts, capital in unmeasured
proportion, are all at our disposal. All
that is lacking is leaders 10 administer
and keep administering the great and
the little details that underlie the well
fare of so mighty an organization.
Some of us think we need more en-.
thusiasm, more plans, higher or lower
dues, constitutional amendments, to g.
into politics, to let politics severely
alone. All these considerations are
more or less vain. We do not need
prescriptions. We need doctors to see
that the patients take the prescriptions
and keep on taking them.
Fault of the Leaders.
IF you ask me the proof of these
statements, / point you to the history
of every farmers organization that has
been born, risen to a dizzy height IN
some instances, and then fallen to an
inglorious death. Whose was the fault
in every case? That Of the leaders.
The Wheel, the Farmers Alliance, are
the mighty powers that once made the
nation tremble. You know they are
not Selfish leadership, cowardly lead
ership, inefficient leadership, is reSpOn-
sble. l know as we'll as any one else
that the Alliance had some splendid,
enough of them to save the organiza-
tion.
You ask me my definition of lead
er, and | will tell you a little story. A
few weeks ago l had occasion to ask
leader in a certain state why an enter
prise, for which he was supposed to be
had failed. He answered:
We'll, l worked like fire for the darn
fools, and stood a lot from them, but,
by George, l reached the point where
l wasn't going to let them rub it in
That's the point. The successful
leader of the farmer has got to make
up his mind in the first place, that the
farmer is sometimes going to disap-
point him. Then he must be willing
to keep on serving the farmer, wheth-
er as leader or as mere member, in the
face of any and every disappointment.
Then he must let the farmer rub 1t in
as hard as he wants to, grind his face
in the dust, swipe the everlasting life
out of him-but he must always con-
sole himself with the reflection, 1 eX-
pected this would happen some time;
these poor devils need me, and sooner
or later they're going to see | meant
well by them and call on me for help.
Just Go on Fighting.
IF l had believed every promise
made to me by a bowling, shouting
convention of farmers, | would have
been in the cemetery or the asylum
long ago. You've got to discount what
they promise-and discount it liberal
ly. You can never afford to he sur
prised If they lose their temper, don't
lose yours. If they are suspicious and
critical, and believe gossip and slander
about yOu-and the farmer is still CIV
en- a little that way-just go on fight