The Jeffersonian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1907-1917, 1916-01-27
FARMER s. UNION PAGE
EMd by c Mc

tionate part of the wealth that she produces. 1t
has begun to dawn our would-be friends, who
once advised us that we had place in the po-
litical arena that the opposite is absolutely true.
While we propose to continue along the line OF
safe farming, giving the aid Of the Union to every
agricultural institution in State that will CO.
operate with us, we intend to go farther, and de-
mand Of our law Makers both State and national,
that they give to us, as the wealth of this coun-
try our fair share of the wealth produced
through laws that are just and equitable.
The farms of this country have done more to
change the course Of humanity from barbarism
to civilization than any other class. They nave
furnished the raw material to make the raiment
for the civilized world and food for all mankind.
Every ounce Of food is witness to their power
and every yard of cloth tells of their work Their
industry is the foundation of commerce. The
manufacturers success and the bankers security
is based on their products. The trains on our
mighty railways and the ships of the sea rush to
the hungry multtudes the food to feed them, and
yet the farmers getting behind in the process
sion. For at the beginning of our existence as a
nation 30 per cent. of wealth was in the pos
session of rural population. In 1850 the total
wealth of the United States was $4,000 00O,0 900.
The farmers owned 5000, 600, 0O0 or One-haH
of our total wealth. Our wealth is at present
estimated at $40 900, 900, of which SAL ,OOO-
100000 is farm property, but all OF this S4l,OO0-
1000 does not belong to the farmer. Foreign
and American corporations land companies, rich
individuals who do not till the SOIL and people
engaged in other vacations own $14 900 100000,
or about 81 per cent of the farm wealth of the
United States. This leaves in the possession OF
the real farmer $4,000, 100000 worth Of farm
property and this is owned only by part OF
them for in 1910, 81 per cent. of the farmers
were tenants and it is safe to say that since the
1910 census tenantry has increased to not less
than 40 per cent. In little more than fifty
years the wealth owned by the farmers has
changed from 55 per cent. to 20 per cent, so in
the name of justice, in the name of all that is
near and dear to us, in this the greatest country
under the sun, ask what are we going to do to
save country from system of slavery on the
farms far worse than any system of slavery ever
known?
THIS is the vital issue which must not be OBJ
scured by any other question. THIS is the issue
that must be faced and must be settled And we,
as producers of wealth, and the ones upon whom
nation must depend for prosperity in time of
peace and for soldiers in time of war, and for
the necessaries of life at all times have a right
to demand of our Congressman and Senators a.
system or rural credits with direct Government
loans at a low rate of interest without the inter-
venton of any other moneyed interest, that will
enable to reverse the system Of tenantry, debt
and mortgage and bring about the ownership Of
independent homes. And today, We place the
creed of our patriotic forefathers in the forefront
of this mighty organization and say to every
public servant that che who is not for is
against us"
We know no party, nor partisansm. What use3
All parties, all partisan organizations, have known
their loyal spirits have known their betrayers.
"In the word unspoken is the silence of God" and
in the non-partisan judgment of those who place
country above class, above persons, is the seat
of the mic.,ty like the arm Of omnipotence itself.
The time calls for men. While Washington
prayed in the SHOWS of Valley Forge, Robert Nor
ris plain, practical banker put resources behind
the pitable, struggling, starving Continental
army. Washington was not the radical that
Thomas Jefferson was; Thomas Jefferson was not
the iron man had in Andrew Jackson, but in
all of these, according to his talents, had a!
who dsdaned class and stood for the peo-
pe-the human rights upon which love of coun+
try rests. We cannot measure all by one Yard
stick Strength and genius differ, but he who does
in time of need that which he can do is the
patriot, and may the Almighty pity those who
think only of how best to promote their own
prosperity and comfort!
Mr. Chairman as there are other able speakera