The Harrison times., 1912-08-17
FARMERS UNION is GREATER
President Barrett Says Members Must
Follow Certain General Prln-
clples TO Perpetuate Power.

greater in membership than at any
period since its founding. The pro
Queer in this country is at last awak'
ened TO the necessity Of organization
What this means in the agricultural
the economic and the political life OF
the nation is not easily estimated.
From reports made to me by state
officials, and from my recent travels,
which have embraced virtually every
state organized, | find more money In
the state treasures and a greater paid
up membership than ever before. The
membership include residents OF three
fourths Of the states, and farmers OF
every grade from the one-horse va
riety on up to the very wealthy indi-
vidual. Throughout the rank and hle
there is a new attitude toward the In
terests OF the farmer, new loyalty
toward cooperation and an aggressive
ness that is new in American organi'
| zation.
It Is essential, however II the organ
ization is to remain at topnotch IN
numbers and efficiency that both ON
GERS and members bear In mind and
practice certain broad principles. One
Of the first is the exercise Of due care
in the matter Of leadership. The Far
mers' Union, like any other great body,
whether religious, civic or otherwise,
has its rascals, its lukewarm brethren,
it's hypocrites and its snakes in the
grass. We are gradually shaking
them out Of the organization, ana
there are fewer in now than at any
time. But the fight to keep down this
element must be an eternal one, II the
organization is to succeed, perma-
nently. Farmers organizations have,
heretofore made slow progress be-
cause Of the pitiful scarcity Of men
who, in the first place, really under
stand the farmer and who, in the sec
ond place, were willing and ready to
make sacrifices for him, In other
words, who we're willing to pay the
price.
1t isn't sufficient that leader be
an excellent business man or brainy,
as that word is generally understood.
can point you to plenty Of ordina-
rily able men, brilliant men, In fact
who would make an absolute failure
In heading n farmers movement Tho
leader who steers farmers organiza-
ton, and that means It's various
branches, including business enter
prises, TO success must stand ready
to be knocked down and dragged out
by the brethren time and again, and
then come back again and serve them
humbly. He must put health, strength
and selfinterest cheerfully on the al
tar for them. When the brethren go
back on the promises they made at a
halleujah convention, and they are apt
to do that at any time, he must go
along as II nothing had happened and
believe they'll come right aster a
while
These are only n very few of tho
qualifications indispensable TO tho
leadership that must perpotuato the
Farmers Union, believe, though, wo
are developing this class OF leaders
gradually, and largely attribute the
phenomenal Increase in membership
TO that fact II these traits are re-
quIred Of leaders, II Is certain that
Qualities no less positive are required
Of members generally, They must eS'
act loyalty and rigid accounting OF
tho leader but they must uphold his
hands dismiss Idle suspicious against
him. and resist the everlasting tempta'
ton TO kick out Of the organization
because Il may have made one or two
failures in their locality A menace
that should bo cheorfully watched Is
the outside critic, Frequently, he Is
an old member who became dissntis-
fed because no was not elected to
some little petty oflleo, or because OF
A private grudgo against some oilleor
or member, or because things didn't
20 jugt to suit him IN his local There
has been treachcry failure, weakness
and all sorts OF the sins no charges
I'm tho union, Nobody denies that
There have been similar offengos in
every largo organization, Of whatever
nature, But tho man who loayos tho
Farmers Union, or any other aasocia.
ton simply because lts mombors arc
not possessed Of auporhuman ylrtuoai
the man who refuses TO do his share
IN solving the problems and lessen
ing the hArdBhips OF his fellows be-
cause he finds they're not angels
ought to 30 out and associate with tho
animals
We are, slowly, overcoming another
fault that has weakened the orgOnlEa'
ton, and that Ia developing leaders
whose sole ambition Ia to use the In
nuenee they create In tho Farmers
Union TO help thom In other lines.
There are plenty Of men | could namo
10 you who have joined the union with
the deliberate intention OF leaving H.,
after they have built up fences for
political prestige, for commercial ca
roor, or aomo other selfish end This
sort Of loader must 30, Tho only kind
who counts In the long run, IL ho who
enlieta for the entire war, not for ono
battle and who goes into q Farmers
movement not 10 curry strength for