Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1915-12-07

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they must act quickly or it would be
too late.
They did not have courage to launch
direct attack upon the Farmers
Union, but chose the more cowardly
means of undermining the character
Of the builder of the Union. They
believed. apparently. that if they could
by some means drive him from the
State they could bring about the down.
fall of the association. The first act
was TO discredit him generally and
particularly in the eyes Of the farmers.
We have reason to believe from what
has 10 come to this Office in the last
six months, that a systematic attempt
was made to poison the minds of the
, farmers and others against Mr.. En-
bree. without making any direct or
tangible charge against him. IL was
intimated that he was receiving large
sums of money from the farmers them
selves for transacting their business,
and that he was grating" upon all
selling. for the unions. and without
ever giving any accounting TO the Ag-
ricultural Department. The thing had
to be done in such manner as not to
arouse the farmers because the pro-
moters themselves feared the wrath to
come.
We do not know what influences
were brought TO bear upon the COM
missioner of agriculture but we believe
that he not only proceeded from a
mistaken position. but that he acted
unwisely. unustly. and in q way that
Giscredits the department. His dis
charge of Mr.. Embree from connection
with the department. and thus cutting
off the benefits which the Legislature
had appropriated for the farmers, was
ill-advised 10 say the least. And
the language in which he gave his
reason (or prete|t was Abeious-
Newspapers were afraid to publish.
/ when il came TO their hands.
To our mind, the Agricultural De-
partment of the Stat has been led
into Giscredit and its usefulness de-
piorably reduced under the direction of
Cons missioner Guptill. ana this has
been brought 10 focus through the
Jr
Had we no other means Of judging
the merits Of the case. the loyalty with
which Hon John 2. Buckley and Hon
]. a. Roberts and their associates Of
he Executive Board of the Farmers
Union of Maine have stood with Mr.
E,mbree. would be sufficient. These
gentlemen, both former commissioners
Of agriculture. and closely associated
with Mr.. Embrcc and advising with
him at every step IN recent months,
have none but words Of praise for
Manager Embree who is openly ac-
cused Of graft 10y Mr., Gup,i! We
Maine for consideration.
For many wears thinking men Of the
Grange and agricultural educators
h.ve realized the need and advocated
tn establishment Of just such an or
c-anizat ton as has been given the farm
ing interests by Mr.. Embree. Already
Il has saved them thousands of dollars
enc is now upon a footing TO save
them many thousands every year. The
time has conc when the average farm
or realizes that he must look out for
his own and his neighpors' interests
rather than trust all to the niddlemen
and the sharpcrs. That is possible ONLY
by concerted action and the employ
ment of skilled statesmen and buyers
20 defeat TIE INSCRIPTIONS. parasitic
Interests that have so long lived upon
the labor Of the farmer. Let the
farmers rely upon the experience Of
SUCH as Mr.. EmbTee acting with the
counsel Of men OF unquestioned char
acter and ability, like those of the
Executive Board of the Farmers
Union.
We believe Mr. Ismbre has but one
object, the upbuilding and maintaining
Of a farmers organization that will
make the farm more valuable and at
tractive to the young, and the State
richer for its existence. That is Mr..
Embree's plan as he has carefully out
F, lined it TO US and we believe he is sin
cere. He wishes to leave that monu-
ment behind him.
J in our humble opinion, the hope of
F.. the farmers Of Maine lies in the
/ Farmers Union and. regardless of any
action of misguided men, of the De-
partment of Agriculture or elsewhere.
I they should cling steadfastly to the
organization thus far established and
equipped. They should also stand
! Loyalty behind the Executive Board.
A crisis has been reached and now is
/ the time to stand together as never