Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1911-05-16
EPOCH IN HISTORY
WRITTEN IN UNION
Of IT, S. FARMERS
President Barrett Discusses
Results That Have Followed
Organization and Urges
Achievement of Ideals

ment follows:
To the officers and members of the
Farmers Union: A new epoch was writ
ten in American history when the Farm
ers Union became truly national or
ganization. Other associations of farm
ers had preceded it. But they had fall
en- by the sword of partisan politics or
had failed to hitch enthusiasm to the
harvest-so they fell.
I speak advisediy when I say the
Farmers Union is the first organization
In history to successfully join theory
with practice. to begin the movement
OF wedding the politicians from the irt-
nermost councils of the farmer, and 10
impress upon the latter that the improves
ment of his lot rests not in the hands Of
some far-off "upiifter or fIy-by-niglt
reformer, but with himself
STANDS FOR RESULTS.
Today the world asks less for rhetoric
and more for results. This is a very
slight summary of what we have accom-
plished, together with a statement OF
what we yet hope. with the aid of the
Almighty and our own courage, to ac-
complish.
We have LES warehouses, mainly for
storing cotton. Mississippi leads the
warehouse movement. with a.ooooDo
corporation.
We own and operate a large number
of elevators and terminal agencies for
the handling of grain.
We own and operate 243 packing houses.
We own and operate dozens of news
papers.
We own and operate coal mines
We own and operate several banks. flour
mills, creameries, pickle factories, sew
eral hundred stores, an implement fac
tory, phosphate plant, phosphate
mine.
We own and operate tobacco factories
and warehouses. produce exchanges. fer
tilizer factories. peanut warehouses,
peanut recleaner, many cotton grading
schools. cooperative life and fire inssr-
ance companies.
Any number of other general business
agencies are owned or controlled by
members of the Farmers Union.
In this connection it must not be for
gotten that the union does not officially
own these concerns. We are not close
corporation. In every instance owntr-
ship or control rests in individual mem
bers, conserving together for their own
benefit. That is the true spirit Of so
operation.
Before this order was organized stalls
tics showed that 70 per cent Of the farm
ers In the south were blfghted with the
curse of the mortgage we have cut
down the percentage by one-half, ana
our work in that direction has hardly
begun.
ENACTED MANY LAWS.
The influence of the Farmers Union
Is written upon many of the best laws
put in recent years upon state and He-
tional statute books.
In many states we have secured radleai
increases in public school appropriations
In many of the states the Farmers Tn
ion has been instrumental in the esuib-
lishment of agricultural colleges.
Other important legislation, state ftnd
national, now pending, is an indication
of the resistIess influence OF the organ
ization among American farmers we
have made systematic canvasses OF ths
various legislatures and Of several sue
cessive sessions of congresses. There, Is
a new view point in Washington toward
the, American farmer-and the might OF
the farmers Union, demonstrated In
elections. is responsible for IT.
These achievements are the outward
sign of a great new movement In An err
lean agriculture But they are not ce'M-
narabIv Important to the spirit OF fra
ternitv which we havee wrought among
the farmers Of this nation 1t Is ira
ternitv which we have wrought among
wrought this progress. An the same
force win develop in q thousand u1ex-
nected directions to solve the problems
of the American farmer
Notable among the triumpns OF tne
Organization is that one which has
brought a social awakening among the
farmers. In many states it has brought
thousands of white women and cn1loxen
ont of the cotton fields into the schools
and the homes-where they belong fiad
il done nothing else, the existence thus
far of the Farmers Union would have
been justified by this transformauons
that is merely in its beginning.
- n
argument that now is the time for ev-
cry American farmer to affiliate with
this organization.
PERMANENT INSTITUTION
IT has passed the stage of experiment.
IF is an assured, achieving. permanent
institution. Every farmer, however
small, who joins it, increases his own
power by the ORGANIZED might OF his
three million brethren
If we have saved many millions for
our members by corporation and leg
islation: If we have defeated several
congressman who were unworthy OF Of
flee several senators who were untrue
To hedges: if we have gradually instill-
ed into our people, by gruelling, per
sistent labor, the doctrine of business
methods in farming, if we have weeded
out of the organization some or the most
unprincipled scoundrels in the land, and
thereby strengthened it
Have we not the right to go before
the American farmer and, on the record
of things done, bid him in his own i'm
terest and our interest to join with us?
we are entering upon a tremendously
important era in our national history.
ORGANIZATION is its keynote; conservation
of energy and effort its slogan.
whether hard times or good times are
ahead, the farmer will not be able to
minimize the effect of the first or reap
his legitimate share of the last, unless
he is organized
Do you object to the order because
YOU know some crooked customers in
it? There are many such in every re-
ligfous denomination. in many secret or
ders, one or two black sheep in your
own family.
Does that fact keep you out of the
church, the secret order. or cause you
to desert your family? Hardly 1t
makes you more anxious to go in and
cure these evils. If you are worth be-
ing called a man. and not beast.
That same influence should bring you
into the Farmers Union, with the d.
vine determination to help your brother
man-and If you help your brother man.
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