The Robesonian. [volume] (Lumberton, N.C.) 1870-current, 1918-04-08

To the Editor of The Robesonian:
/ think it Timely for the interest Of
both the organized and unorganized
| farmers and for the reputstio of the
States loyalty under this crisis
in our national life that publicity be
given my inclosed letter of resigna-
ton as State Observation-Disclosures of the
Farmers Union of North Carolina, and
| am therefore presenting copy for
you to use as it may be your pleasure
Very truly yours,
J. z. GREEN.
To the Executive Committee N. c.
| Farmers Union:
At the last annual meeting of the
| State Union at Winston-Salem | &C
copied a unanimous reelection as or
ganizer-lecturer for the ninth time
with misgivings, and only under the
hope that the universal condemnation
by the ~ ess of North Carolina Of tbs
State presidents disloyal attitude, in
the greatest of all world struggles for
human freedom, would at least make
it. undesirable on his part to receive
further odious publicity and that a
sufficient amount of official silence
would prevail to make II possible to
proceed with the legitimate consJruc-
tive work of the organization without
a further humiliation of its loyal mem
bers who are keeping their local
unions alive and active in community
cooperation under their own initiative
and independent of the political ac-
tivities of individual State officials
. who have built for themselves a poll
teal program over which they became
exceedingly enthusiastic and over
which the rank and file Of 4 remaining
membership are profoundly and adj
mirably Indifferent.
When I entered into the Farmers
Union work in 1908 my greatest fear
was that activities Of those who were
. by nature more interested in political
questions than in constructive cooper
alive efforts might ultimately have
the effect of fastening a premature
: disintegration of the organization. MY
efforts from the beginning have been
concentrated along constructive lines
under the predominating idea of per-
petuating the organization, making
the local unions vital and active agen-
cies, under strong and efficient COM
munity leadership, such as would
make them strong and potent factors
for the promotion of better farming,
better business and better living in
the country. There are a few local
unions of this kind existing in this
State, but they exist only under eff
cient community leadership, which, in
most instances, is active only under
it's own initiative and Independent of
any counsel, political or otherwise,
from State officials. This evolution
in which the principle of self govern
ment has become a strong element
exemplifies the need of organizing the
successor of the Farmers Union
stronger at the bottom with less coun-
sci from the top. The most expensive
mistakes have been those that came
through efforts to build structures
from the top downward-effortst that
were too often very much mixed anc
muddled with presentations OF polltl
cal problems" Of general nature
In view of the recent renewed re-
! pugnant activities of the State Presi
| dent and his part of the advisory
| council" in which hostile attitude
is maintained against the Govern
! ment's plans of financing the war by
II the sale of bonds, having nsurped te
| themselves the privilege Of repudiat
ing the action of the State Union II
it's substantial endorsement Of the
| Governments plan by instructing that
ten thousand dollars of the State
Unions funds be invested in Liberty
Bonds, thus inviting more odlous pub
licity through the press, I would rot
be frank with you or true to my own
| conscience if / should not declare to
YOU that it is not humanity possible
| for me to conscientiously ask any
man to become member Of the Farm
4 14e frno on.
| ably active State leadership.
II At the recent State meeting Of the
| Farmers Union l recall dramatic
| performance when member read
some socialistic literature then re-
| , ferred with approval to that very par
| tisan organization known as the mon
= partisan league" which has been elect
inc men to political Office in the Mid.
. die West, and was suggesting thai
the time had arrived for us to throw
our hats into the political ring, wher
he was called down by gray-haireo
| veteran delegate from one of the east:
ern counties and was finally ruled
| "out of order" by the presiding Oil.
Ger. It is a rather natural colnclden'
that the gentleman who wanted te
"throw his hat into the ring" is now
nominally managing editor OF thai
l defensive p0ISOlld1 OISdlA VI CA1S PASo
| ident, known as the Farmers Union
Bulletin which seems to be more OF
| less under the eyes of the secret ser
vice men as possibly an undesirable
| publication to be transmitted through
the mails. =,
| But by far the saddest tragedy thai
resulted from the political caucuslne
at the Winston-Salem meeting was
the sacrificing of DR.. Clarence Poe
| Of the Progressive Farmer, by pre-
y venting his reelection as member
Of the executive committee, by mar
- gin of few votes-a place which Dr
Poe had neve rsought, put position
. in which he had rendered more val
| liable services to the Farmers Un1ol
than all other officials in it. Tha
such a thing could have happened
in a Farmers Union convention Il
North Carolina seems strange and al
most unthinkable to the membership
but it was no surprise to those wh'
| were acquainted with the politlca