Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1915-12-02
FARMERS UNION
Continued from Page One)
The Official Statement

The Official Statement
The board in this mood authorized
to the press of the State for publica-
ton the contracts which were made
the occasion of Commissioner Guptill's
suspicious and in addition thereto such
explanation as might seem advisable
| in order to make the position of the
Farmers Union plain. Mr.. Rogers
thereupon issued the following state
ment:
| At a meeting of the executive board
of the Farmers Union of Maine held
in Waterville today, the treasurer was
authorized to have published in the
papers Of the State the now famous
contracts made during the years 1913
and 1914 between the Farmers Union
Of Maine and certain fertilizer compa-
mics. These contracts were of private
nature and while there was nothing
in them that could be construed to the
disadvantage of Mr.. Embree, the board
did not feel at liberty to have them
published without the consent Of the
fertilizer companies.
Having received permission from
these other parties for the publication
of the contracts the board submits
them and submits to the people of
the State who are interested that there
is nothing in them that can corroborate
the statement made by the commission
err of agriculture in his letter OF dis
missal 10 Mr.. Embree.
The contracts We're not submitted to
Commissioner Guptill at his first re-
quest, partly for the reason that they
were of a private nature and the
board did not have permission from
the fertilizer companies to make them
public, and partly because of the evil
dent antagonism of Commissioner Cup
till to the present organization of the
Farmers Union. These contracts are
published now because of the insinua-
ton Of Commissioner Guptill that the
contracts themselves would, if pub
lished, be ruinouS to Mr.. Embree.
The executive board has full con-
fdence in the honesty and integrity of
Mr.. Embree and believe that the work
he has done and is doing in the State
IS VI tlciIlSIiuOuS lliipoi loiiSC ~ VIC
farmers of Maine. Moreover, tire re-
sponsibility for not showing the con-
tracts to the commissioner does not
rest with Mr.. Embree, but rests who'll
ly upon the executive board of the
Farmers Union Of Maine, whose prop
erty they are. They are published now
only that Mr.. Embree may not have to
labor under the suspicious placed up
on him by the letter of Commissioner
Guptill.
There is also included the contract
with Austin & Haines, wholesale grain
dealers, known now as The Farmers
Union Grain & Supply Co. Before Sc
curing the services of this company
it was impossible to buy grain from
wholesalers and this contract was
made to enable them to do so. Mr..
Embree was allowed to become pres
ident of the Farmers Union Grain &
Supply Co., which was a regularly at
filiated local Of the Farmers Union
of Maine, SO as to enable him to build
up a business that would be on pay
ing foundation when the locals were
to purchase the business which they
have now voted to do. Mr.. Embree
served without any remuneration, hav-
ing in view simply the general good
of the Farmers Union Of Maine.
Only one of these contracts is pub
lished at the present time, because all
are Of a similar nature and all Lave
been placed in the hands of the chief
executive of the State.
(SignedD) w. S. ROGERS, Treasurer.
The Dismissal Letter.
The letter written by Commissioner
Guptill to Mr. Embree, dismissing him
from the employ of the Department of
Agriculture was refused publication in
various newspapers because it was be-
lieved to be lbelous in its verbage. One
daily newspaper was advised by its le-
gal adviser not to print it. AS this letter
is referred to in the statement issued by
Treasurer Rogers of the Farmers Union,
Mr. Embree gave his consent to the re-
porters present at the meeting Wednes-
day to print the letter in the present
connection despite his conviction that
publication of the letter without allie
Waiting paragraphs constitutes a libel.
The letter mailed Mr.. Embree under
date Of Nov. "a, read as follows:
Nov. a. 1915.
Mr.. c. E. Embree,
Waterville, Me.
Dear Sir
Since my communication to you in July
in which I asked to see several contracts
that you spoke about in your. report to
Commissioner Roberts. ! have been wait
were grounds for the suspicion that you
were were 1 Using the r farmers Union for your
private ends. It has cost the State Of
Maine approximately g Ho, %s,t to build up
been the Intention of the Legislature and
each administration that such work as
you do should be open to public inspec-
ton at any and all times
tracts eives The impression that It would
be ruinous to you personally to do SO. It
IS Impossible for you to maintain the con-
fldence Of the public with whom you are