Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1915-12-07
Tuesday, December z, 1915.
Let Farmers Stand Together.

upon Mr.. Embree an attack upon the
Farmers Union?" Our reply would be
that some Of the developments OF late
would certainly lead to that assump-
ton. When Hon. J. P. Buckley con-
fracted with Mr.. Enbree to present
the Farmers Union idea to the asri-
cultural interests to the state, the con-
tract was made because Of great
need of organization among the farm
ers. Maine is an agricultural state
and we must depend upon its soil for
the life Of our other industries. Mr..
Buckley, farmer himself, started out
to better farm conditions and, unable
to secure in Maine the services or
man with the experience necessary. he
sought outside aid. Mr.. c. E. Embree
had a long and enviable record as
promoter and organizer along cooper
alive lines, and for that reason Mr..
Buckley chose him.
After carefully looking into the pro-
gress Of the Farmers Union movement
in the past three years and inquirlng
among the members themselves as to
what had been done for them. we be
lieve that Mr.. Buckley made 10 mis-
take in the selection of Mr.. Embree.
The results obtained have been so
far ahead of what has been general
" understood as 70 be conservatively
termed remarka BILE. Il must be re-
membered that Mr.. Embree introduced
into Maine a system Of cooperation
little understood by any group OF men
in the State and least Of all by the
farmers. He began his work under
difficult conditions. it might be said
in the kindergarten. and gradually
worked up to the plan now in opera
ton.
Mr. Embree had no one 10 advise
him in the beginning and he simply
had TO work out the various stages OF
his plan. unaided except for the up
holding confidence and moral support
the department in q financial way.
Even in this last the funds We're lin
tied. as the only money Mir. Buckley
had at his disposal. was the fund APP
proprated for institute work. Wien
this gave out Mir. Emhrea prepared
10 return 10 Long Island. bat the Of
licers Of the Union induced him 10 re-
main and demonstrate Tha- good
might come from cooperative market
ing. An office was opened in Bangor
and Mr.. Embree placed in charge. No
cash was available with which 10 carry
on shipping operations. and for six
months Mr.. Embree himself financed
it. Later he was fully reimbursed
for his outlay.
The 1913 legislature appropriated
new Commissioner Of Agriculture, the
Hon. J. a. Roberts, re-engaged the
services of Mr.. Enbree. and through
out the term of Mr. Roberts the move
ment had the same support and en-
couragement that it had received from
Commissioner Buckley.
We remarked that the movement
progressed" and we consider it quite
q remarkable fact that when the third
annual meeting was held at Bangor
it was found the combined unions had
transacted a gross business of $500, 900
The Farmers Union is made up of one
man from each of the local unions and
this gives representative membership
Of IS men who were called the Board
of Directors. Because frequent meet
making the expense prohibitive, a
Board of Management was chosen
This board is made up of EN- Commits
sioners Buckley and Roberts, Chas. H.
Gardner, President; c. c. Clements,
clerk, Cathance, and Dura Stanchfield,
president, Easton. These are the
men who conduct all business opera
tons and it was this board who en-
gagged the services of Mr.. Embree No
business of Importance is undertaken
unless first sanctioned by the board
Each and every one of these unions
was organized by Mr. Embree, in fact
all of the great work has been accom-
plished by him and to him great praise
is due. The organization has met with
remarkable success and it is not sur
prising that it has aroused jealousy
awakened OPPOSITION. and, as an out
growth, an apparently determined at
tempt to break down the association
We need not name the first opposition
because it is entirely obvious that
those who are losing the profits which
are saved to Maine farmers are anX-
ious to bring about return to condi-
tons which will resume those profits
At first those opposed to the movement
simply smiled and gave it one year to
live. They smiled less confidently in
the second year because of the great