Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1912-09-09
F ARNERS' 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 me-
sided last week over the eleventh an
nual national convention of the Farm.
ers union.
MI Barrett was elected to head the
organization for the seventh cons....
tive time, and before leaving fo- w.
nome in Atlanta entered actively into
his new years work
President Barrett speaks modee+r,.
the directing part he played in tbo :..-
convention just concluded, bur bo +,,t.7
most interestingly of the great or,,r
ization he heads, its past and ire f.,
ture '''-
Under wise and watchru, a4r,,n.-
tration, the Farmers union hae go,.l'
opeo INTO by far the most militant and
aggressive organization the farmer. a.,
America ever have had. Its Cbstt..
hooga convention was attended b.. de-,
egates from every state in the r-r.a,
Hard Glass to Organize.
Discussing the organization and vo~,
OF the Farmers union. President Bar
rett said:
1T must be understood thai tns ,,....
dlH1euIt class in America to org3n.za
and keep organized is that class who,
comprises the farming population. I'm
all the stages of history the farmer bae
IN the very nature of his calling a.en
more or less an isolated and indepand.
ent part of the people of all nations
When the Farmers union was frs.
organized in Texas. in 1902. it had +o
reckon with these circumstances
In addition. the founders had 70
combat the distrust Of all organ;za-
lions Of such character. because Of the
many failures in the past. Such fail.
ures could be traced to several causes
foremost among them perhaps. wa.
self1shness on the part of leaders ,,hn
were bent upon using the farmer I'm
advance their own personal fortuuss
whether running for governor. sheriff
congressman or even in the channels ,t
commerce. Once such men had Won
what they were 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 tn,
rocks Of partisan politics.
Now Has 100000 Members.
we have in our present organiza-
ton in the face of temptation and DO
lttical brides, steered clear of engaging
directly in politics. Here and there We
have found it necessary TO formulate
legislative programs, both state and
national. Where this has been done IL
has been without reference to partie,
or party alignment. but simply and
solely for the advancement Of the
farmer, Irrespective Of the politicsI
creed he might embrace
We have approximately 10000
members. and they include all classes
Of farmers in this nation, from the poor
cropper to the Weaithiest owner of his
own acres, not 10 count the physicians.
the teachers. the editors and othclo
who are eligible to membership and
who are giving Us their financial and
moral support
Il know, too. and this is an impor-
tant 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 cver
American state for several years in
the service Of these people, that the
Farmers union is the greatest and most
practical organization of farmers 10
history"