Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1915-12-13
How the Movement Has Progressed, Difficulties
Met and Overcome, nd Confidence E s t b.
lshed-New Era of Prosperity Brought
About by Would-Be Enemies

The direct attack of Commissioner
". I. Guptill upon Manager {. L. En-
bree OF the Farmers Union, which
terminated in the dismissal of Mr.. En-
bree from the State office officially
known as Chief of the Bureau of
Marketing and Supplies" and the
commissioners indirect attack upon
the Farmers Union Of Maine as i'm
piled in the indignities Which Mi. En-
bree suffered from the discourteou'
and unjust treatment melted out to
him from the hands OF the commits
SlUner mark a new era IN the success
Of the Farmers Union, and perhaps it
may be said some day that the COM
miSSioner'S attack constituted the be-
ginning of the publicity which the
Farmers Union has needed and de-
served. Previous to the commissioner
dynamic kick. the Farmers Union had
prospered to be sure, but 1t worked
along so quietly and minded its bust
ness" so well that really not enough
| was known of it and 1t was slightly
Handicapped tur the want of fuller
knowledge of itself in the hands of
the Maine public.
| The State wide interest aroused by
the written and spoken charges of
| Commissioner Guptill first swept
against the commissioner in a wave
of rebuke, then turned about trans
formed into applause when the eXecu-
tive board OF the Farmers Union made
g mastery reply to the commission
cr, and is now become steady tide
Of approval and moral support for the
organization which has done wonder
full things for Maine farmers and holds
the potential promise of greatly i'm
proved business conditions Tor the
farming population Of the State. Not
only did the commission Of agricul-
ture concoct BY his attack sufficient
virulent potions TO cause his political
suicide almost nstantaneously, but his
attack was such that Mr.. Enforce at
. once gained the respect anH support OF
men who mad previously known moth
ing Of his work and the organization
! itself leaped into favorable prominence
I over night.
A thousand new friends Of the Farm
ers' Union demand :. comprehensive his
tory of the union in order that they may
/ the better follow It's future successes. a
member Of the union high in its leader
! ship and a worker in it from the very
/ beginning has provided the kennebec
I Journal with history of the union
which not only serves to establish dates
and Fundamental facts but gives an am
/ pie exposition of the high purposes and
! remarkable plan Of the founders and
! members of this pioneer organizations
| Maine alone out of nine states had the
! courage to introduce the work among the
! farmers. The progressive spirit OF Com
! missioners Buckley and t:ohcrts-tne one
Il Democrat the other n Rcpublcan--Aot
! only approved The plan but supported II
| with all the power their Office afforded
! Commissioner Guptill. i'll What spirit
! none can tell. divorced the work from
1 the department of agriculture and Is
Withholding from it an appropriation vot-
| ed for it's advancement b. the last Legls-
| lature, Withholding it by removing the
man who administered the appropriation
! and appointing an erstwhie spy on the
! Farmers Union in his stead. inc Dflei
hut enligh.cninT history follows