The Harrison times., 1912-07-20
FARMERS UNION IS GREATER
President Barrett Says Members Must
Follow Certain General Prln-
ciples to Perpetuate Power.

cant 1actS In current American uioIoiy
is that the Farmers Union is today
greater in membership than at any
period since its founding. The pro
ducer 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 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 indl-
vidual. Throughout the rank and ME
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 organl'
zation.
1t is essential, however, II the organ
ization is to remain at top-notch 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,
its hypocrites and Its snakes In the
grass. We are gradually shaking
them out OF the organization, and
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 pitlful 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 were willing TO pay the
price.
II 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 q farmers movement. The
leader who steers a farmers organiza-
ton, and that means It's various
branches, including business enter
prises, to success must stand ready
to DO 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 self.interest cheerfully on the al
tar for them. When the brethren 20
back on the promises they made at n
hallelujah convention, and they are apt
TO do that at any time, he must 80
along as II nothing had happened ana
believe they'll come right aSter n
while.
These are only very few OF the
qualifications indispensable, to the
leadership that must porpetuote the
Farmers Union. believe, though, we
arc developing this class Of leaders
gradually, and | largely attribute tho
phenomenal Increase In membership
to that fact, II these traits are re-
auIred of leaders, It Is certain that
qualItIeg no less positive are required
Of members generally They must OK
act loyalty and u rigid accounting OF
the 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 it may have made one or two
failures In their locality A menace
that should be cheerfully watched Is
tho outside critic, Frequently ho iB
nm old member who became dlssatis-
fed because he was not elected 10
some little petty Office, or because OF
n private Rrudgo against some officer
or membor, or because things didn't
20 lust TO suit him IN his local, There
has been troachory failure, weakness
and all sorts Of the sins ho charges,
in the union Nobody denies that,
There have been similar offehses In
every large organization, OF whatever
nature. But the man who leaves tho
Farmers Union, or any other associa-
ton simply because Ia mombors are
not poaaeasod Of guperhumNn yirtuoa;
tho man who refuses TO do his share
In solving the problems and lesson
ing the hardships Of hls fellows be-
cause he nnds they're not angels
ought 10 10 out and associate with the
animals,
We are, slowly, overcoming another
fault that has weakened tho organlsa'
ton, and that Ia developing leaders
whose sole ambition In TO use tho In
nuenoe they create In the Farmers
Union 10 help thom In other lines
There are plenty OF men ! could name
70 you who have Joined the union with
the deliberate intention Of leaving IT,
after they have built up fences for
political prestige. for commercial en-,
reor. or some other selfish end This
sort of leader must 10, The only Kind
"a. u. ..,.t,ta lu tha lau0 uttu ia ha kyha