Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1912-07-30
Announcement of Farmers Union.

President Crosby and Secretary Stet.
son, of the recently organized Farmers
Union of Maine, have issued the follow
ing statement of the scope, the purpose
and the needs of the organization, which
is being distributed in the form OF let
ter.
Bangor, Me-, July 3, 1912.
Dear Sir:
The formation of state central body,
made up of representatives OF the farm
ers' local organizations, became an es-
tablished fact in the organization OF the
Farmers Union of Maine, on June
2S, at City Hall, Bangor.
The gathering at Bangor was the out.
come of the work of the Agricultural
Department in its endeavor to organize
every important producing center IN the
state and then establish one central SELL
ing and buying organization represent
ing, or made up of, the various local
organizations.
All who were present at the Bangor
meeting will agree with the undersigned
that the work of the department was a
grand success The meeting was
made up of as fine representative body
of men as ever came together, each OF
them determined that the time had come
when the farmers of Maine must take
their place as men commercially engaged
in business, and this business must be
transacted in accordance with modern
methods.
The following loca organizations were
represented:
Maine Central Potato Exchange of
Brunswick.
Maine Central Potato and Apple Ex-
change of Brooks.
Maine Central Potato Exchange of
Dexter.
Maine Central Farmers Exchange Of
Waterville.
Maine Central Farmers Exchange Of
Pittsfield.
Central Maine Cooperative Associa-
tion of Dover.
Audroscoggin Grange Cooperative AS
sociation of Auburn.
Aroostook Farmers Exchange OF TT.
Fairfield.
Aroostook Potato Growers Associa-
citation of Presque Isle.
New Sweden Grange Produce Com
pauy of New Sweden.
These organizations were represented
by over two hundred farmers, most Of
them officers of local organizations, and
the outcome of their deliberations was
the formation of the Farmers Union Of
Maine, officered as follows:
President, E. S. Crosby, Bath.
Clerk, w. G. Stetson, Waterville.
Treasurer, w. S. Rogers, Cathance.
Directors, Wilbur Z. Reynolds, Unity; !;
C. r. Martin, Dexter; August Peterson,
New Sweden; NJ. S. Lyons, Calais.
In organizing the Farmers Union Of
Maine it became necessary to raise
money to meet the present expenses and
it was voted that the local organizations,
in order to become affiliated, must buy
five shares of stock at $1,000 each. Each
exchange subscribing five shares must
pay for one share immediately, the re-
msiuder to be paid as soon a. required
All locals will recognize the impor-
tance of being affiliated with the state
union and will, no doubt, take the steps
necessary to call special meeting with
out delay and vote to buy the five shares
required. The subscribing Of five shares
of stock by the local organization makes
eyery member of the local q member of
the state union; therefore, every farmer
should Immediately purchase stock In
the association nearest to him.
The work of organizing Las been sue
cessful, and every farmer in the state is
in sym pathy with the movement. Sym
pathy without practical actions will pot
paw the bills. Capital muss be forth
coming. Every farmer In the state
should buy at least five shares of stock
of his local organization. The eyes of
the whole business country are turned
to the farmers of Maine. wondering what
we will do. Some say the farmers are
not business men and will not maintain
the organization. This may have been
true in the past, but the farmer has pro-
gressed. This movement in Maine,
however, is going to put US to the test.
II the rank and file fail to respond with
their influence and their money, then We
will make good the prediction Of the
man of the city-that the man OF the
farm is not business man.
Remember, Maine Ii the first state to
organize on statewide basis, and our
state pride should urge US on to success.
z. s. CROSBY, President.
w. c. STETsoN, Clerk.