The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-08-22
MAY SELECT CITY AS A PERMANENT PLACE FOR UNION MEETING Ford and Kennedy Think Such Action Is Entirely
 Probable
WOULD MEAN MUCH
 FOR BIRMINGHAM
City Would Be Center of Farming h. terests of State-Oyer 1000 Dele agtes Attend Conventions of
 Union-Committee to Meet

Birmingham has a chance to become the permanent convention city and of the Alabama Farmers Educational and Cooperative union. All that is necessary for this city to get the convention here every year is to show the members of the union what they will do for the convention: pro- vide meeting places and some form of entertainment This was the statement yesterday of 0. P. Ford state presi- dent of the Farmers union, and Secre- tary T. J. Kennedy echoed MT Ford's sentiments.
 The farmers union in Ala bama is composed Of about 45,000 of the best farmers in the. south This number means that no less than 1000 delegates will be named each year to attend the convention, and that if Birmingham secures it permanently that this city will become the center of Alabama farming interests.
 The ninth annual convention of the state organization, which closed yes terday was attended by about 800 dele gates and visitors The number was far below normal, several things con tributing to the delinqency of many of the delegates. The present stringency fin the cotton situation, as well as the increases in the price of food stuffs due to the European war. was factor in the comparatively small attendance this year. Many of the farmers, too, had not had q chance 10 complete their work. due to drouth in some sections and an abnormal precipitation of mois- ture in other sections.
 Expect More Next Year
 According to statements of delegates who attended the convention just ended. there should be twice the number in attendance next year The reasons they assigned Is that the war situation in will have been discounted, if the war itself was not settled. And. they declare next year the United States will see the most prosperous period in all it's history.
 Birmingham wants the farmers to make this city their permanent meeting place, and if they want anything within reason that the city can supply the convention bureau of the Chamber of Commerce urges that they make Ii known. Oscar C. Turner president of the convention bureau, said last night that the bureau was rapidly assuming concrete form and that it would be ready to go out after of all sizes soon. But" he said we are prepared right now to care for the farmers convention. All we want to know Is what they want. We'll see to it that their demands are met. We'll provide a meeting place for them. and an entertainment that will make them want to remain in this city will be pro- vided. ~
 Birmingham will give the farmers of the state more than any other city in the state can or will do We have facil- Ities here for handling any sort of We want to handle the faomers' convention every year
 There will be an advantage to the farmers in selecting a permanent meet Ing place In that the city they select will know they are coming and can have a whole year to prepare for them. If they will select Birmingham as a per- meeting place we will get af- fairs organized in such shape that they will be given the best of every thing
 'rhe farmers of the state are the best in 1t. They hold the balance of power and they do things. Birming- ham wants conventions of men who do real work: who come to the city with the intention of harmoniously doing the work they have mapped out. The con vention just closed has done that, and we want to have it permanently
 '.The convention of the farmers union can do good for us here in Birmingham and we feel that we can do them good. At any rate. we want to get together on the proposition and have them meet here every year.
 Ford National Delegate
 O., r. Ford, state president of the farm CTS, was yesterday elected delegate from to the national convention of the Farmers union. which convenes In Fort Worth, Tex. in September. MT. Ford stated yesterday that he had a great love for Birmingham and wanted to see the 1915 convention of the farmers of the United States come to this city He also said that he would use all his in- fluence and do what work he could to the end that Birmingham be named as the next meeting place.
 Secretary Kennedy of the state organi- zation said yesterday that he would like to see Birmingham made the permanent meeting place of the conventions of the union. Mir. Kennedy yesterday was re- elected for the sixth time secretary of the union. He is one of the best known men in the state and has the confi- dence and admiration of every member of the state union.
 The executive committee of the Farm ers' union will meet Friday next in the The matter of the next con vention cit3 probably will not be taken ,sn hsrx tf if ia the conv enfion hureau