The interior journal. [volume] (Stanford, Ky.) 1912-1984, 1912-04-30
FoRclsLe EXPOSITION
OF THE FARMERS UNION
Made In Address TO LARGE Crowd
Of Farmers Here Saturday,
Other Speaking Dates.

Prof. W. NJ. Martin. national or
ganizer of the Farmers Union, spoke
10 large crowd of farmers at the
court house here Saturday after
noon. His address opened the eyes
of many of his hearers. 1t was in
mart as follows:
sTo the farmers Of Lincoln and
their friends What is the Farm
era Union fort For what does 1t
stand' What are its methods OF
work aud what benefit will MEM
beers securei These and many 9TH
err question are asked by men who
feel the necessity of lettering their
condition as farmers.
The Farmers Educational and
cooperative Union of America" II
a fraternal beneficiary association
of farmers, the preamble Of whose
constitution is as follows:
In the cause of modern industrial
development, we find 1t necessary
that the farmer not only apply the
principles of scientific agriculture,
but that he systemaiize his business
by corporation. and apply the prin-
ciples Of scientific commerce.
Expensive aud wasteful methods
of exchange have been "a constant
drain on the farming class and
speculation has been allowed to
demoralize markets aud prevent its
normal operation of the law of sup
ply and demand.
To enable the farmer to meet these
conditions aud to protect their in
terests, We have. organized what is
known as the Farmers Union. The
organization is natural. and Is sue
cessfuiiy operating IN more than
three fourths of the states.
Let me state few of the purposes
of the organization: To secure
equity. establish justice and apply
the Golden Rule.
To discourage the credit and
mortgage system.
To assist our members in buying
and selling.
To educate the educational classes
10 scientific farming.
To teach farmers the classified
iions IT crops, domestic economy.
and the process Of marketing.
To sy,tematize methods of pro-
duction and distribution. To elimin-
ate gambling in farm products bv
hoard, of trade. cotton exchanges
and other spectators.
To bring farming up to the STAN
dard of other industrial and bust
ness enterprises.
To se-ire and maintain profitable
aud uniform prices for cotton, grain.
lave stock and all other products Of
the farm.
To strive for harmony and good
will among mankind and brotherly
love among ourselves.
Here are some of our legislative
demands;
We recommend the following sub
iects of legislation to which the at
teniion 81 our legislative committee
l. directed:
4 law to prevent gambling in
agricultural products by boards of
srade and cotton exchanges.
>. \ law to provide for the es-
JBb.i-hment of parcel post.
3. 4 law against the establish
ment of central government banks
through which the money of the
countryman be withdrawn from cir
culation. and the volume of avail
able money contracted.
!. A law to restrict foreign i'm
migration.
:, A law gradually reducing the
tariff 10 n revenue basis.
We have given IA few principles
for the which Farmers Union stands.
VIII You kindly re-read the above
and let H. have the benefit of you'
criticisms!
COOPERATION.
The present high price, for farm
indictments. wooden aud leather
goods. in fact everything the farmer
buys coffee, sugar. condiments,
oils. grass seeds and other necessar-
ies have advanced in cost 10 such
an enormous extent that it has pre-
scented n very grave problem to the
majority of the people.
This has gone to such an alarm
lng extent that the United States.
government has ordered and con-
du1ed an investigation t. ascertain
the cause of the present unheard of
high prices. Several states have
made similar Investigations. Many
clubs. leagues and individuals have
done likewise. and in all cases the
results have shown that large pro-
fits are made by what is termed the
'Hmiddleman." who does not produce
merely buying up the products OF
Others and selling them at enormous
profits.
There is no doubt that farmers
have felt the large increases ii
prices and given some thought An'
study to enable us to do something
TO protect ourselves.