The Rice belt journal. (Welsh, Calcasieu Parish, La.) 1900-19??, 1915-08-20
ANNUAL CONVENTION OF
texas farmers UNION
Union Delegates Demand Non-Interfer'
ence With Cotton Trade with Neu'
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. Passed, Etc.

Houston, Tex.-Many resolutions
were passed at the annual convention
of the Farmers Union OF Texas al
Houston last week.
Chairman N. S. Ray of the commit
tee on crop conditions in Texas report
ed AS follows: The crop condition
in Texas is placed at 68.1 per cent.
The reduction Of acreage in cotton Is
placed at 26.5 per cent and the acre
age in grain and forage is placed
above normal" Included in the re-
port Of the resolutions committee were
the following resolutions:
Resolution praising President Will
son for the stand he has taken to pro-
mote peace and asserting that peace
without honor is Illuminating and we
demand that the farmers Of the South
be protected against unwarranted In
reference with the shipment OF cot
ton to neutral countries and we urge
the president to notify all countries
that this nation will permit no inter
ference with its trade with neutral
countries"
Resolution indoTsing permanent
warehouse and marketing law.
Compulsory education was Endorsed
as demand Of the union.
Resolution favoring the separation
Of the A. and M. College and the Uni
yersity of Texas.
Resolution indorsing the bill against
usury as introduced in the thirty
fourth legislature.
Resolution fayoring an amendment
to the constitution for graduated
land tax.
Resolution favoring an amendment
to the constitution providing that all
State, district, county and precinct Of
.icers be elected for term of four
years instead of two years.
Resolution declaring that the initia'
tive, referendum and recall was the
only reliable safeguard of the interests
of the people.
Resolution urging that all foreigners
become American citizens before they
are allowed the privilege Of the ballot.
Resolution opposing the creation OF
new courts and new offices and sug-
costing that the problems be solved
by longer hours and shorter vacations.
Resolution fav0ring an amendment
to the constitution providing for NOM
nation for State and district officers
by majority vote.
Resolution favoring a law limiting
the expenditures of candidates for po-
litical offices.
Resolution favoring an amendment
to the constitution to permit cities and
counties to exempt manufacturing
plants from taxation for a period of
years in order to encourage those in
dustries that will consume the raw
materials of the State,
Resolution commencing the State
agricultural department for establish
ing q bureau of markets.
All of the above resolutions were
adopted according to information
given out at the close of the session.
Immediately after adjournment the
Farmers Union Cotton Company met
with the board of directors to hear the
annual report, and to elect a new di-
rectorate for the coming year. The
following were elected: H. H. Pope,
Fort Worth, chairman; c. Smith de
Leon, Joe E. Edmondson, Patillo; w
D. Lewis, Topsy; Ed Doss, Rosedale;
J. L. McConkey, Wichita Falls; Joe
Langfeldt, D'Hanis; R. e. Huston,
Henderson; Frank Lewis, Joseph. The
three first named being officers of the
State Farmers Union, automatically
become members of the board of d.
rectors of the cotton company.