The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1912-09-10
ANNUAL ADDRESS OF PRESIDENT AT NATIONAL
FARMERS UNION CONVENTION IN CHATTANOOGA

Chattanooga, Tenn, Sept. 7-Fol-
owing is the full text Of the annual
address Of President Charles S. Bar
-ett, to the National Farmers Union
convention, held in Chattanooga dur-
'ng the week just closed:
Brethren Of the Farmers Union:
With the Farmers Union greater in
rumbers, finer in discipline, more
rusinesslike in politics. and in its de-
carmination to demand and enforce
he rights Of the American farmer
han since it's founding, it is my pleas
ure to greet you at this eighth annual
convention Of the organization. My
qualification is intensified. in that am
enabled to report that the past year
mas witnessed the most remarkable
growth in resources and in intelligent
management Of any agricultural or
ganization in all history. The status
CT your treasury attests expansion
from the standpoint Of numbers. But
conducted by Farmers Union people,
and the greater degree OF intelligence
with which We now regard all prob
Iems facing the farming population
Of this country, is by far the most
significant indication Of the record Of
tHe tWoIVe months We now DrlnS 10
a close.
We have confounded the critic and
sealed the mouth Of the skeptic.
When first the Farmers Union was
,rganized in Texas, and from there
spread gradually until it covered al
most every state in the nation. the
reelection was freely made that our
growth was Of mushroom nature.
The American really friendly to US.
pointed out that other agricultural as
sociations had been launched and en-
i0yed feverish existence only to pine
.~nd die before outside attacks and in
side jealousies They were fearful the
Farmers Union would duplicate that
course. The element that did moi
want us to succeed-and few OF that
sort still abide-openly ridiculed the
attempt to weld the farmers OF the
republic into cohesive organization
and confidently looked forward to the
Early date when ship-wreck would
tyertake us.
= which came from some OF our owl
errors, we have dispelled the dolefu
Irophecies Of those who meant US wei
and disappointed the sinister expec
tat1ons OF those who would like tt
cave seen us fail in our purpose. The
ask has not been an easy one. Plen
y OF dragons stood in the pathway
sEd Jealousies among our own mem
uers, and open hostility from the out
side. In the face Of every advers'
situation, despite the back-sliders. tn
eack-biters, the Jobs and the Jere
nliahs, the demagogues and idealists
Te have gone steadily forward. Tn
organization stands today with sole
~ront arrayed before the country. 1t
Ink and file are learning better hov
- distinguish as between friend AM
soe how to winnow the sheep from
ne goats. how to put aside the temp
tauon to let talk take the place o
acuon. We are yet to conquer man
'r our weaknesses. There are man
4vesuons we must yet settle betweel
Surselves. and before the country-a at
arge. But challenge successful con
ADDICTION, when say that because O
'ur plodding progress and persistence
ne American farmer is today TN
more advantageous position to figh
~nd to gain his own than at any tim
s-nCe government was organized i
mis- country.
Progress the keynote.
An issue that it seems especially m
uty to impress upon you, and 70
eou TO impress upon the hundreds G
.1ousands of farmers you represent
.aat the age in which we live is essen
-ally one Of readjustment and pros
reSs
Whether one studies affairs in th
>ountry, in China, or any portion {
me globe. his decision will be the sam
that everywhere people are movin
Forward toward equalizing the cond
Ions Of living. The trend, from wha'
ever angle you view it. is for the aver
age man to ask and obtain create
snare in his own government Speci;
--terest, whether that upon which tn
mandarin in China has f1ourished {
ne head Of the trust in America hs
Waxed fat, appears doomed. The ol
lcctrine Of equal rights to alI' Is t.
'ay nearer actual fulfllment than 6
any period sine two or three men d.