Tensas gazette. [volume] (St. Joseph, La.) 1886-current, 1911-08-18
FARMERS HAVE LEFT UNION
President Barrett Gives Series Of
"oults," Exposing Fool Reasons
Need Of Cure for Folly.

- WCdh-huceu VI ld4ut-hca4 oSos w.
haps as chicken with the pip snd
ready to quit the Farmers union at
the drop of the hat A smaller per-
centage are yielding to these special
reasons than ever before in the or
ganization's history. but the number
needs still to be lessened.
! Just run your eye over few of
these causes for quitting" and II the
temptation ever strikes you to use one
OF them as an excuse. remember that
Barrett urged you to pay some strong
man to take you back OF the barn and
give you what you used to get before
you ceased to fit neatly over your
fathers knee.
You quit because We had stock COM
panies. and you didn't believe in the
principle
You quit because you thought we
didn't have cooperation in its true
sense
You quit because a little of your
money was stolen and you imagined
you couldn't get another honest Of
ticer. at the expense of a little eff
fort.
You quit because somebody told you
you would have better standing II
you didn't run with crowd of lone
gallus" fellows; you've found out since
what lie that was. but perhaps you
haven't the manhood to confess It.
You quit because you thought they
shouldn't have pensioned Mrs. Ores
ham. one of the no5lest acts the or
| ganization has to its credit
You quit because they gave me q
present Of one thousand dollars-and
let me tell you didn't want to take
it. because knew just how you would
feel
You quit because we we're trying to
do too much.
You quit because we we're not doing
enough.
You quit because a few salaries were
raised. and you'd rather give your
money to an outside faker than some
body trying to help you and bold
enough to tell you unpleasant truths.
You quit because some organizer. or
officer. told you lie. forgetting that
the organization. and its principles.
are bigger than any man or set Of
men.
You quit because you did not get
any immediate personal benefit. for
getting that revolutions are not
wrought overnight and that perhaps
the fault was yours for not cooper
ating properly and sacrificing little
OF your fancied independence.
You quit because there were so
many poor. ignorant folks In the Farm
ers' union. forgetting that every man
is his brothers keeper. and that the
son Of that poor devil you turn your
nose up at may be marrying your
daughter tomorrow OF giving you or
ders the day after.
You quit because women were al
lowed to join. yelping that they had
no place In our meetings and Ought
to be at home where they belong
forgetting that the woman makes the
home and that one of the first princi-
piles Of the Farmers union is trying
to better the home.
You quit when cotton reached a good
price. or failed to reach good price.
You quit because we didn't go
enough. or too much. into politics.
You quit because you thought there
were some grand rascals among the
mepbers. especially the leaders. for
getting that there are just as many
in the churches and the secret orders
and that IT'S your business to stay
in and help turn them out.
could multiply these quits" indefi-
nitely. There isn't any use. You'll
recognize good many of them. and
be too stuck up to admit it.
But just let me remind you. brother.
that while in some states we are go
ing to halt for spell. and perhaps
mark time, this organization Is here
to stay. from a national standpoint 1t
is here to transform rural life in
America. to get a square deal for the
farmer. to abolish mortgages on farms.
to eliminate the demagogue. to make
the government to which the farmer
contributes so literally return to the
farmer a little more In taxes.
Take broad view Of the situation!
Get on your own little ant-hill.. Bear
this in mind, as a final test-you
wouldn't kill yourself II everything
went wrong. your crops failed. and
your faith in human nature petered
out. Well--the Farmers union is just
Life. So when you begin to medi-
tate leaving Il for some petty. fool
reason. let 1t soak into your head that
you are hurting yourself worse than
the organization. and that you are los
ing the best chance in history to get
square deal for yourself. your wife.
your sons and your daughters
Union City. Ga.