The farmer and mechanic., 1911-12-19
Address of
President H. 0. Alexander
At State Convention of North Carolina
Farmers Union.
Farmers Union.

another year is added to the CEN
turtles Of the past and charged to the
debit sheet of our lives. Behind us
is the cemetery of unrealized expecta-
tons. disa appointed hopes and thwart-
ed ambitions. Before us new day
is breaking. 1t is frausht with the
light of promise and the hope Of bet
ter things.
The old year has been filled with
Joys and sorrows; successes and fail
ures; prosperity and adyersity; life
and death To some the pathway OF
life has been strewn with flowers; to
others with thorns, To us all has come
valuable lessons in experience, if we
try to profit thereby.
Let us now have a day Of reckon
ing, q day Of examination, and let II
be, first. introspective. Another year
of our lives is taken from the future
and added to the past How have we
used it? Are we better men today
than we were one year ago! Are
we broader minded. larger hearted.
more unselfish? Are we more reason
able in the expression of our own
opinions and more COnSiderate OF the
views of those who differ from US?
Are we better husbands better faith
ers better sons better neighborS, more
useful citizens?
Let us continue the examination in
another line Of thought. Are we bet
ter farmers in every sense OF the term
than we were a year ago? More in
telligent, more progressive, more sue
cessful? Are we better business men,
wiser and more careful? Have you
adopted. or are you trying to adopt
scientific and economic methods of
production, marketing and dlstribu-
ton?
Let US turn another page and pro-
ceed. Are we better union men to-
day then we were q year ago? Have
we truly lived up to the sacred obliga-
ton which we assumed when we join
ed the Farmers Union? Have we
been loyal to our brother members
faithful to our principles and active
III efforts to put them into practice?
Let these things hold your thoughts
while we look about us to see what
next.
Have we established any new CO.
operative enterprises or been loyal in
our support Of those already in ex-
istence? Have We in every way pos
sible used our talents, means and in
fuence for the upbuilding Of the or
ganization that we represent here to-
day? Have our actions at all times
been consistent with our professions?
Have we been endued with the spir-
it Of justice, equity and the Golden
Rule? We are members Of an Edu-
cational and Cooperative Union. Are
we actively and heartily in favor Of
education and have we so impressed
the community in which we live?
Are we cooperative in spirit as we'll
as in deed? Do you know that the
best co-operator is the man who is
willing to do the other fellows way
if he can't get the other fellow to do
our neighbors in building up churches,
schools. good roads, telephones and
all other movements for the common
good? Or are we so wrapped up in
exclusive selfishness that we feel
only a passive or half hearted inter-
est in the community life?
Are we united in spirit and in ac-
ton as we'll as in name? Is the word
union" misnomer as applied to our
locals? Are we thermometers and
peace makers, or do we belong tc that
small class (and I thank God that it
is a small class and getting smaller
every year, that glories in strife aud
contention? Do not understand that
l would advocate peace at the cost Of
principle: never. But it is often Well
to change ones policy for the sake
Of peace But even here we should
.'be wise as scrpents and harmless as
doves:' or we may be made to pay
too great q price to hire some men
to keep the peace. And yet it takes
two to make a quarrel and if we al
ways manifest the right spirit our
selves the other fellow can harm no.
body but himself. I'm essentials
unity; in non-essentials. nberality; in
all things. charity"
Brethren. this self examination will
be we'll worth the time given to it, if
we have gone through it with an
earnest, sincere desire to profit there
by.
II you will now take your seats in
the jury box, / will take the witness
stand and give a very brief review Of
the years work, with some sugges-
fions for your consideration.
10 the best of my knowledge and
belief. all of your State officers have
done their duty to the best of their
ability. I doubt If any one of them