The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1915-04-14
DLANkENSH|P WRITES
OF FARMERS UNION
One Crop system Tends TO Make Nir.
Sinta Farmers ID ndent, he
SAYS.

Lynchburg, April l3.---"At our re-
cent State Farmers Union Convention
In Roanoke. which was by far the best
we have ever held. certain things
which We deemed necessary to sue
cessful farming were stressed by re-
ports OF committees and In the discus
sion OF the various subjects by the
delegates" writes Stale secretary ID.
M. Biankenship. Of the city, to a Ricn-
mond publication. He continues:
j think we may justly say that the
Keynote of the convention and of the
State at large was and lis Feed Your
Families First"
Our people are coming more and
more to realize that the one-crop sys.
tern tends to render us dependen,
rather than independent
The report OF the committee ON
marke citing tobacco at our last annual
meeting consisted of only four lines.
one of which reads. We also recon-
mend the growing of less tobacco and
more other crops. The State officials
OF our union are doing all in their
power to get the people In the tobacco
section to live up to the report of
the committee.
Declares for Torrcns Law
~ paIl Vi tuE AcpOIl OH
Banking and Farm Credits" read as
follows: We ind that notwithstand-
ing the regional reserve banks are
now a fact and also that national
banks are permitted to lend money
on real estate. farmers finds no relief
and We tidmly believes It Will
continue to be SO until the Torrens
land registration bill becomes a law"
AS stated in former article, bill
providing for this system was intro
duced at the regular session OF the
General Assembly in t91A. II pissed
the House OF Delegates by "A large
mArjority. but was killed in the Senate
by large marjority. composed chiefly
Of lawyers. AT recent special ses-
sion OF the General Assembly the bill
was again introduced only TO meet
the same fate. This. in face Of the
fact of an overwhelming demand by
the various agricultural societies and
many business men and organizations
for the enactment OF such law.
The convention went on record a.
favoring good roads and giving the
supervisors OF each county the right
TO regulate the tonnage on improved
roads.
Compulsory Education Law.
The committee on education made
an especially good report. quote
from their report Tt is our opinion
that the promotion OF education. both
technical and general, is one Of the
great object Of our organ!za tion. For
the furtherance Of this object, We he
iieve that a. Statewide compulsory edu-
cation law for all children from eight
to fourteen years OF age Is of prime
Importance: that We should have n
school term of not less than eight
months for all schools both large and
small; that agriculture. domestic
science and home economics be taught
In all public schools. that instruction
In all branches be intensive rather
than extensive. We recon- !
mend that all farmers read extensively
from farm papers for the purpose OF
general Improvement. -
We desire to endorse the work !
OF the farm demonstration agents and !
the Girls Canning Cubs. and that /
this work be encouraged wherever /
possible"
Our Legislative program as en-
bodied in the report of the commit |
tee is as follows: /
!. The Torrens system OF land reg /
istration.
2. Free school book. to be pub |
lished by the State.
g. The initiative an referendum !
4. The election OF all officers by |
the people.
). Stringent prohibition laws
s. The bonding of commission mer- /