Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1913-06-16
FARM UNION
HEAD GIVES
PRAISE To
HEARST
Charles S, Barrett Declares Pa
pers Helped in Awakening Dixie
Farmers to Call of Progress,

Los ANGELES. June 16.-"The
Hearst newspape have been stead
fast friends of the Farmers Union,
and have given us invaluable as
sistance. The personal interest Of Mr..
Hearst and the splendid editorial and
other help of John Temple Graves
have done much to enable us to ac-
complish what we have done"
This was the assertion of Charles
5. Barrett, of Union City, Ga. presi-
dent of the great and rapidly grow
ing Farmers Union who in ten years
has become one Of the most potent
personalities in American life. Mr.
Barrett was in Los Angeles Sunday
He will leave this evening for San
Francisco. on his way to Basin, Wyo,
and Bismarck, s. d., to attend farm
ers conventions.
Mr. Barrett is the guiding genius
of the Farmers Educational and Co
operative Union, which has $4,000
Union Awakened Dixie.
Our organization is built on the
principle Of education and co-opera-
ton among farmers" said Mr.. Bar
rett yesterday. THE South was back
ward in agricultural development. but
there has been a great awakening
and the Farmers Union. in many
ways, has been the greatest financier
In the change. The Union was first
mainly Southern organization. but
our greatest growth now is in the
Middle West
The South has depended almost
wholly on cotton. The Union taught
the farmers the necessity of growing
other things raising their own hay,
grain and meat. and this diversity OF
production is one of the foundation
stones of our new prosperity
MY own State Of Georgia was far
down IN the list of States, but so re-
markable has been the progress made
that the Government reports place it
fourth in agricultural products now.
Educate the Farmers.
We try to educate the farmers and
then to bring them into cooperation
in any direction feasible. We have
not started many stores. In the South
the lodges built and operate ware
houses: In the West packing plants
and elevators.
We do not run for Office or nomi-
nate candidates. We have not a thing
TO do with partisan politics, but we
retire a man now and then to private
life just by way of example"
Mr.. Barrett smiled reminiscently as
he drew this distinction between pol
itics and politics.
One of our bills aims at the pro-
hibition of gambling in farm products.
1t has been passed twice by the
House, but blocked by the Senate, and
Murphy ]. Foster, of Louisiana, one
Of our strongest opponents, is now
living quietly at his home near New
Orleans in consequence. We had to
retire him.
Tells of Retiring Foes.
% Uncle John Lamb. of Virginia,
chairman of the General Agricultural
Committee, fought us We had to eX-
cuse him from further public service
at the primary last August.
The Farmers Union is a staunch
advocate of scientific farming. Many
agricultural colleges have been estab-
lshed in the South through its inhu-
ence. and more liberal support given !
those already founded in consequence |
of its demands,
The union was directly responsible !
for the Bureau of Markets recently |
established by Congress, the purpose
of which is to lend any possible as
sistance by way of information that |
will help the farmers in marketing |
their products"