Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1912-09-09
FARMERS' UNION
HAS 100000
MEMBERS
Georgia Man, Re- elected Presi.
dent, Declares Organization
Is Rapidly Gaining Power.

President Charles s Barrett returned
today from Chattanooga, where he rr.-
sided last week over the eleventh am
nual national convention of the Farm,
ors union
MI. Barrett was elected 10 head ,..
organization for the seventh conss.,.
tive time, and before leaving fn~ ~.
| nome in Atlanta entered acriyeI,. ,,,.-
his new years work
President Barrett speaks nodoa.-..
the directing part he played in t,o ,.1
convention just concluded. but he ,a,r'.
most interestingly OF the great. o-v,,-
'zation he heads, its past and its r,-
ture ''-
noer wise and watchful adn'r,s.
tration. the Farmers union has ds,.-
oped into by far the most militant and
aggressive organization the farmers ~.
America ever have had Its Cba,ts-
fhooga convention was attended b., del
egates from every state in tho T-ni,r
Hard Class to orqaniz..
| Discussing the organization and Yor.
Oh the FARMERS union. President Bar
rett said
1T must be understood that m. n,,...
dlffcult class in America to orga,.zs
ana keep organized is that class vh.ra
i comprises the farming population. In
all the stages Of history the farmer has
! IN the very nature of his calline aa-n
more or less an isolated and tndepand-
ent part of the people of all nations
When the Farmers union was frs.
organized in Texas, in 1902, it had TO
! reckon with these circumstances.
In addition, the founders had N
combat the distrust of all organiza-
tons Of such character, because of the
many failures in the past. Such fail.
| ures could be traced to several cai,as
Foremost among them. perhaps was
| seIhshness on the part of leaders. Vhn
were bent upon using the farmer to
| advance their own personal fortunes
whether running for governor. sheriff
congressman or even in the channels of
| commerce. Once such men HAD Won
| what they We're seeking. the organiz3
ton, which they had harmed rather
| than helped by their influence. speedily
became a secondary factor in their
lives. Efforts to organize the farmer
| had previously failed. too, because the
members, encouraged by their short
sighted leaders, went to pieces on the
rocks Of partisan politics.
Now. Has 100000 Members.
We, have in our present. organiza-
ton, " the face of temptation and po-
! iticaI brides, steered clear Of enga giug
/ directly in politics. Here and there ne
have found it necessary to formulate
legislative programs both state and
| national Where this has been done j,
! has been without reference to parties
or party alignment but Simply ana
solely for the advancement of to-
farmer irrespective. Of the. .poIitca
creed he might embrace.
I'VE have approximately G,0O0. 900
members. and they incluGe all classe.
| of farmers in this nation. from the poor
cropper &c the weaithiest owner Of his
own acres, not to count the physicians
the teachers the editors and Others
who are eligible 10 membership and
who are giving us their fluanc!a and
moral support .. ........
y know too and this is an impog-
TAM gauge that from the standpoint
of dues actually paid in the Farmer,
union is larger and more powerful than
since its founding.
! Il am convinced. from my persona
observations taken in travelling ever
American stale for several years in
the. service Of these. people. that the
Farmers, union is. the greatest and most
practical organization OF farmers in
! history"