Roanoke Rapids herald. [volume] (Roanoke Rapids, N.C.) 1914-192?, 1918-04-12
STATE ORGANIZER
il. GREEN RESIGNS.
WOULD ASK NO MAN TO JOIN
UNION UNDER ALExANDER'S
LEADERSHIP.
DISPATCHES FROM RALEIGH
ooInos and Happenings That Mark
the Progress Of North Carolina PEG
ple, Gathered Around the State
Capital
Raleign.
To the Executive Committee n.
Farmers Union.

To the Executive Committee n. c.
Farmers Union:
Al the last annual meeting Of the
State Union at Winston. Salem ac.
cepted unanimous reelection as or.
gsnizer.lecturer for the ninth time
with misgvings, and only under the
hops that the universal condemna.
ton by the press OF North Caro-.
lima OF the State presidents disloyal
attitude, in the greatest OF all world
struggles for human freedom would at
least make il undesirable on his part
to receive further odious publicity and
that sufficient amount OF official 81.
lence would prevail 10 make Il posi-.
BILE to proceed with the legitimate con.
structiye work OF the organization
without further humiliation OF its
loyal members who are keeping their
local unions alive mad active in com.
munity cooperation under their own
initiative and independent of the po.
litical activities OF individual State
officials. who have built for themselves
a political program over which they
became exceedingly enthusiastic and
over which the rank ard fle OF a re.
naming membership are profoundly
and admirably Indifferent.
When | 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 disin.
tegration OF the organization. My ef
forts from the beginning have been
concentrated along constructive lines
under the predom!nsting idea OF per.
petuating the organization. making the
local unions vital and active agencies
under strong and efficient community
leadership. such as would make them
strong and potent factors for the pro-
motion OF better farming. better bust.
ness and better living in the country
There are few local unions OF this
kind existing now in this State. but
they exist only under efficient commu
nifty leadership. which, In most in.
stances, is active only under its own
initiave and Independent OF any
counsel political or otherwise, from
State officials. This evolution in
which the principle OF self.goyernment
has become strong element exempli.
fes the need OF organizing the sue
cessor OF the Farmers Union stronger
at the bottom with less counsel from
the top The most expensive mis-.
takes have been those that came
through efforts to build structures
from the top downward. efforts that
were too often very much mixed and
muddled with presentations OF politi-
cal problems" Of a 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
the sale of bonds, having usurped to
themselves the privilege OF repudiat-
ing the action OF the State Union in
Its 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 odious pub
licity through the press. ! would not
be frank with you or true to my own
conscience II I should not declare to
you that II Is not humanity possible for
me to conscientiously ask any man to
become a member OF the Farmers
Union under its present REASONABLY
active State leadership.
At the recent State meeting OF the
Farmers Union recall a dramatic
performance when member read
some socialistic literature then refer
red with approval to that very parti
san organization known as the mon
partisan league which has been elect
ing men to political office in the Mid.
die West. and was suggesting that the
time had arrived for US to throw our
hats into the political ring. when he
was called down by gray-haired vet
eran delegate from one OF the eastern
counties and was finally ruled "out OF
order" by the presiding officer. II is
rather natural coincident that the
gentleman who wanted to throw his
hat into the ring" is now nominally
managing editor OF that defensive per
3onal organ Of the president. known
as the farmers Union Bulletin"
Take Care Of Indians.
Representative Weaver and Senator
Overman have put the Cherokee In
dams of North Carolina in good shape
for another year. The senate has
passed the Indian appropriation bill.
This. bill, for North Carolina. includes
an appropriation Of about 1880 for
the maintenance Of the Indian school
at Cherokee, in Swain county. and for
improvements to the school building
and grounds. The former appropria-
lions provided for taking care OF 100
Indian pupils. This one provides suf-
fcisnt funds for $50 pupils.