The Madison journal. (Tallulah, Madison Parish, La.) 1888-current, 1913-10-04
BARRETT REVIEWS HIS WORK
President Of Farmers Union Tells OF
Aims and Accomplishments Dur
ing the Past Year.

President Charles S. Barrett OF the
Farmers Educational and Co-opera-
tive union, in addressing the national
convention recently held at Salina,
Kan, said:
Slow minted out of selfsacrifice and
the devotion of loyal manhood, undis-
mayed by MISUNDERSTANDING. I'M
checked by apparently impossible OBJ
stacles, all great movements for hu-
mainly forge ahead in spite Of every
setback, every difficulty and every ef-
fort to stay their progress.
1t is not my intention or purpose
here to go into the history of farmers
movements in this country. That story
has been told and retold of the SPLEEN
did men who have burned the fires OF
youth and lighted the pathway with
the blazing beaconS of their undaunteu
souls. The glamor of war and its
sudden deeds of daring and heroic
acts catch and enkindle imagination
and stir the soul.
But how much greater and more In
spring is the unvarnished story OF the
quiet and unEssumiDg men who have
given their very heaTt's blood to ad-
vance the cause of the men Of the
soil in the past % years. No poets
have surg of their deeds, no histori-
ans have recorded their work, but
oftener scorn, doubts, suspicion, mis-
understanding have repaid their un'
questioning sacrifice. But they wrought
| mighty monuments along the highway
of human endeavor, left imperishable
| imprints on their day, and history
some day will do them tardy justice
You who today enjoy increased ben
efits of your soil, whose horizon has
broadened and lifted, whose opportu
mites are greater. and whose interests
are receiving more attention from sci
entists, publicists and politicians, owe
a mighty debt to these brave souls
who have hewn the way through unbe
lievable difficulties. ! would have NJ
finer tribute paid to me than to have
IL said | am following these men will
heart and soul, giving willingly ant
uncomplainingly of time, OF mind ant
strength to your cause.
No finer word is to be found In thu
English language than loyalty. From
and out of it comes all progress, al
upward and hard-won steps to thu
higher goals. You and my conscience
know If | have earned the right to b.
called loyal. All that l can say /
that my conscience is clear in thi
respect
LOYALTY cannot come without fait
and belief in your cause. That | hav
had from the iirst, and as years pas
in this work my faith grows In spit
of all the disappointments and stun
bling blocks in the way. The caus
is right. so with loyalty and faith
feel | am right, even though | max
human errors and mistakes.
II is not amiss at the outset for m
to pay my tribute to the splendid an
unduestioning loyalty | have and col
tinue to receive from thousands
men identified with the Farmer
union from coast to coast. Especial
have | had it in the past year froi
the national board of directors, tn
national secretary aud the vice-pres
dent. They have given me unstinte
support, moral and material. The
have supported and backed me in a
have sought to do, so. If | hav
. failed anywhere along the line 1t
my fault and not theirs.
During the past year we have o
gapized more new territory than eve
before. When you hear skepuc
which is but another name for yo'
. enemies, say: THE Farmers union
going the way of all farmers organ