The Madison journal. (Tallulah, Madison Parish, La.) 1888-current, 1913-10-04


just hit him between the eyes with
that statement, and If he is still skep-
teal, we can supply him with incon-
trovertible proof.
l have travelled in 1.-The past year
fully one-third more miles than at any
time within my seven years as head
of your organization. That means that
| have spent very few days in my
home, and altogether | have been at
home less in the past several months
than ever before. East and west,
north and south, / have travelled al
most constantly in the cause, and |
have come in personal contact with
more individuals, attended more meet
ings, addressed more gatherings, pre-
sided over more deliberations than in
any of the previous seven years.
| have satisfied more enterprises
from one end OF the country TO the
other than ever before. ! have made
personal Investigations. talked with
the men at the head of the enterprises
and have seen the work they are do
ing. | want to say with all the en-
phasis possible that nowhere have l
found ought to feel discouraged over.
More of these enterprises are prosper
ing and giving satisfaction than ever;
we have had as few, perhaps fewer,
| failures than In other lines of business
endeavor.
| found with great satisfaction that
more and more of these enterprises
are being changed from joint stock
concerns to purely cooperative plants.
This is hopeful sign, and one mean
| ing much to the Farmers union. These
enterprises are demonstrating to the
world that solid, sane, conservative
and successful business men can be
recruited from the rank of the farm
ing class.
Out of the hundreds and hundreds
of enterprises | have visited In the
past year, very small percentage
failed to show signs OF success. and
even these few were striving to gel
on their feets More and more were
developing the right sort of men fol
these undertakings. 1t takes grit, 10y
atty, stickitiveness and common sense
to make them succeed. We want ant
welcome all Of that kind Of men w
can find.
More letters OF inquiry concerning
the Farmers union have reached M
within the past twelve months thai
for the entire six years prior to thi
time. That sounds like an extrava
CANT statement, but II you could SCI
! my mail every day and had to wrestl
with answering 1t as | DO, you'd b
prepared to believe 1t then withou
question. However, It Is not an exae
, geration when | make this assertion
but a plain fact We have receive
| greater and more valuable publicit
A., in the past year than at any previou
period in the history OF the organize
! ton. The work of the union and 1t
achievements have come in for Srea
: er and more valuable exploitation tina
: we have ever had. And this has bee
: through not only the union public;
Y ton, but through the great dailie
: from coast to coast and the grea
magazines of the country.
2 In the main, this publicity has bee
! fair and intelligent. 1t has brougf
y the union before the world in II
/. proper light, and in many instance
{ with a breadth of sympathy and III
h Outstanding. 1t is in large measui
d just recognition and appreciation
s last of a real world force. That, to
C goes very far in answering our critic
n and should bolster up the failing cou
age of any weakened brother.
l. We are getting more and more I
e vorable legislation through state lie
e islators. Many states have passe
J. numbers of excellent and helpful law
e | might mention in particular Was
8 ington and North Carolina. But 9th
T. states are waking up, and everywhe
It the conscience of lawmakers seen
g. to be aroused to just laws to help Il
4 farmer.
It The national congress is waking I
y and giving heed more and more
lie the voice of the agriculturist. The
y is much to be done in this line "
e. and we are hopeful of great resul
n ultimately.
Is A national conference Of all {
u various farmers organizations to d
is cuss and work out a general plan I
Il marketing farm products is somethi
re | most heartily advise and urge.
Is believe such a conference, compos
e. of the leading men in the several I
10 CARNATIONS. could achieve great thin
re If approached in broad and conc
tn atory spirit. Upon the solution OF t
I'd problems of adequate and proper mi
Id keting OF farm products much depen'
in fact, the very salvation Of the far
ne ing interests of our country. | no
m such a conference can be had, a
Ill that every farm organization, large
ne small, will be represented in it.
Dp