The Jeffersonian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1907-1917, 1916-01-27
OF FARMERS UNION OF GEORGIA, AT
THE MEETING IN CORDELE
JANUARY %, 1915.

Mr. Chairman:
With more than ordinary interest, have
looked forward to this day. Nothing could have
given me real pleasure than to have re-
sponded to what | conceive to be very high
privilege we'll an important duty-that OF
meeting the people of Crisp and adjoining coun-
ties the purpose of discussing agricultural and
nOn-partisan political problems, upon the proper
solution of which depends the future stability,
almost the very existence, of our great country.
For ten years the Farmers Union has stood for
and recommended to it's members diversified
farming the growing of home supplies, raising
cattle and hogs in fact, we have taught this les
son so thoroughly that it is presumptious for
anyone to suggest these means as any complete
solution Of agricultural problems 1t is fact
that the Union, in cooperation with extension
and demonstration agencies OF this State, mas
taught farmers to grow not only two blades
where one was formerly grown, but in many
cases more than twenty have been produced where
the one formerly grew; and yet we find the farm
of our State, as whole, more heavily in debt
than they were five years ago. So, my friends,
while it is safe farming to follow these teachings,
it is not apparent that will be able to
redeem the mortgages that hang over our homes
until we devise plan by which we will be
able to demand a margin of profit these extra
blades and extra bushels. We may learn from
scientific application how to grow 90 times what
we now raise per acre, but if sell the increase
for less than it costs us to produce 1t, there is
no gain to the producer; nor on the other hand,
do we find the laborers in the shops and in the
mills living in any more ease and luxury than
before we began system Of diverslficatlon.
But those of us who have been close students on
the farm for the past few years, have observed
that this extra increase of wealth is going into
the hands of the gamblers and the manipulators,
who control the money Of our country and in turn
control the prices of our products. And let it
be understood here that when we refer to these
manipu1ators who sap from the farms that
wealth which should go to the producer and le
Ultimate consumer we do not mean the men who
are engaged in legitimate mercantile, banking and
manufacturing industries. The Farmers Union
has war to make on our merchants and others
engaged in facilitating commerce. We have
always had merchants and will ever have them
for the fact that they are essential in great ag
ricultural and commercial country. One of our
greatest handicaps farm organization has been
due to the misunderstanding that existed the
part of merchants and country banks rela-
lively to our aim and purpose; but I am glad to
say to you today that these misunderstanding are
fast passing away and thanks be to those who
have stood faithfully by great Union, your
labors have not been in vain. The Union is
growing more powerful than ever before and the
business interests have at last seen the neces-
sity of cooperation all along the line in order
that our great section may receive her proper