The Tupelo journal., 1911-07-21
BARRETT ON FARMERS UNION
president Points to Part Of What
Powerful Agricultural Oreanixa-
tion Has Accomplished.

0ther associations of farmers had
preceded 1t. But they had fallen by
he sword of partisan politics or had
#ailed to hitch enthusiasm to the har-
yest-so they fell.
81 | speak advisedly when / say that
She Farmers union Is the first or
Plantation in history to successfully
Join theory with practice, to begin
@tne movement of wedding the politf-
ians from the innermost councils OF
S&he farmer, and to impress upon the
after that the improvement OF his
ot rests not In the hands of some
aroff "uplifter" or ~ny-by-night reform
u, 8ut with himself.
@ Today the world asks less for
&tetoric and more for results. This
a very slight summary of what we
ave accomplished; together with a
atement of what we yet hope, with
she aid Of the Almighty and our own
ourage, to accomplish.
nm We have 1.62S warehouses, mainly
or storing cotton. Mississippi leads
ie warehouse movement, with a mil
on-dollar corporation.
We own end operate a large num-
Ser of elevators and terminal agencies
or the handling of grain.
We own and operate 245 packing
ouses.
We own and operate dozens of
awspapers.
We own and operate coal mines.
We own and operate several banks.
%our mills. creameries, pickle fac
rfes, several hundred stores, an i'm
cement factory, a phosphate plant,
phosphate mine.
We own and operate tobacco fac
ories and warehouses. produce ex-
sanges, fertilizer factories, peanut
arehouses, a peanut recleaner, many
)tton grading schools, cooperative
e and fire insurance companies.
Any number of other general bust
sss agencies are owned or controlled
members of the Farmers union.
SIn this connection, 1t must not be
rgotten that the union does not Of
Tally own these concerns. We are
pt a close corporation.
In many states we have secured
kdical increases in public school ap-
OPERATIONS. In many of the states
Farmers union has been instru-
ental in the establishment of agri-
8.tural colleges.
Mother important legislation, state
ga national, nov pending, is an in.
ation of the resistless influence of
organization among American
mers. We have made systematic
nvasses of the various legislatures,
"a of several successive sessions of
ngresses. There is a new view
INT in Washington toward the
lerican farmer-and the might of
Farmers union, demonstrated in
ction, is responsible for it.
these achievements are the out
#rd sign of a great new movement
American agriculture. But they are
~comparably important to the
~it of fraternity which we have
ought among the farmers of this
ion. 1t is fraternity, appealing to
slligence, that has wrought this
gress. And the same force will
Eelop In a thousand unexpected
Nections to solve the problems of
"a American farmer.
cite these facts as the basis of
Iargument that now is the time for
ICY American farmer to affiliate
IA this organization,
has passed the stage of expert
mt. 1t is an assured, achieving,
8manent institution. Every farmer,
9Nyever small, who joins 1t, increases
own power by the organized
hit of his three million brethren.
DO you object to the order because
81 know some crooked customers in
There are many such In every
gious denomination, In many Sc
orders, one or two black sheep In
Err own family.
woes that fact keep you out of the
rch, the secret order, or cause you
desert your family? Hardly. 1t
les you more anxious to go In and
81 these evils, If you are worth be-
@called a man, and not a beast.
hat same influence should bring
into the Farmers union, with
siivine determination to help your
ner man-and if you help your
her man, you cannot avoid help
yourself, and your children and
ia children's children.
ae greatest drawback the Ameri-
farmer has ever labored under
&Epeen his willingness to be swayed
he man who iattered him, and
81 would not tel him unpleasant,
wholesome truths. This day is
ing, The farmer is learning to
the cotton strands out OF the
-where the rolitician and the
lie man is concerned. The quicker
completes the job, the better for
bwn material, moral, mental and
tual salvation and those Of his
lrene
are turning now with increasing
aiasis to the lob OF distributing
&oroducts in a business way. Here
corpooilorc havo ,,rOox