Clearwater Republican. [volume] (Orofino, Idaho) 1912-1922, 1919-06-20
FARMERS MEETING
WASGREAT SUCCESS
is OF GREAT IMPORTANCE TO
INDUSTRIES OF THE
NORTHWEST.
WILL MEET AGAIN NEXT YEAR
Senator Gore Urged Temple of Aeri-
culture at National Capital-Must
Watch Against Over-Produc-
ton by Farmers.

Two thousand farmers registered at
the first Federated Farmers conven-
tion in Spokane last week. The con-
vention lasted three days and was an
unqualified success. So satisfactory
was the outcome of the gathering that
it has been determined to repeat the
effort next fall with an extensive pre-
liminary campaign that will bring to-
gether an even larger and more rep
resentative gathering History may
record that the convention just closed
was the big opening gun in train OF
events of the very widest and greatest
importance to the agricultural industry
of the Inland Empire. The farmers
union movement has received genuine
impetus in this district and the results
are likely to be far-reaching.
The sessions took place at the state
armory in Spokane. Ample accommo-
dation was available for all convention
visitors and the city had arranged to
take excellent care of considerably
larger number than actually attended.
For visitors who preferred touch of
outdoor life tenting space was avail
able at the Interstate Fair grounds.
Free parking space under police pro-
lection was provided adjoining the Un-
ion depot and in other ways every ef-
fort was made to promote the comfort
and convenience of visitors. 1t is be-
lieved that the convention just closed
has blazed the way for series Of SIM
liar gatherings on a larger scale.
The city of Spokane extended right
hearty welcome to convention visitors
through Mayor Fassett. A response
was made by William Goodyear, and
the spirit of good fellowship thus
launched early in the convention sit
tings by Charles S. Barrett, president
OF the Farmers Union of America. In
a brilliant address, replete with humor
and intense with the spirit of his
theme, Mr.. Barrett sounded the slogan
of national unity for the agricultural
producer. Using the example Of the
labor unions effectively as demon
stration of the advantages following
united action the speaker pictured the
national farmers union as eventually
the most potent influence of the kind
in the United States. He was careful
to point out that the project did not
interfere with any existing institution
but was intended to exercise in the
national arena the influence that was
welded more locally by other organi-
cations of farmers. Mr.. Barrett out
lined the idea of the Temple of Agricul-
ture planned for the national capital,
which was to focus the activities and
interests of the farmer.
Watch overprodpctlon.
DR.. w. J. Spillman, associate editor
of the Philadelphia Farm Journal,
opened his address by addressing the
audience as Fellow Palousers," re-
marking that it was just rs years ago
since he landed at Pullman. He made
several remarkable points in the course
of his remarks. DR.. Spillman warned
the farmers of the United States
against the possible dangers Of over
production, pointing out that while the
normal export of food stuffs from the
United States to Europe was five and
half million tons the country was
now sending 100000 tons annually
across the Atlantic. If in five years,
the speaker averred, this country con-
tinued to export such a huge total of
food it would mean Accent wheat here.
He criticized the proposal to expro'
pirate huge sum for the preparation
of land for returned soldiers on the
ground that the area under cultivation
in the country now was ample to pro
vide for the normal consumption and
that any large increase in the area un
der crop was almost certain to result
in Improbable SURPRISES. DIR. Spill
man argued strongly for general
movement on the part of farmers to
establish costs OF production and tc
secure in perpetuity a reasonable re
turn on such costs.
ovation for Blind Senator.
Among the outstanding features Of
convention week was the presence Of
United States Senator Thomas p. Gore
of Oklahoma who received "a VERT
able ovation on entering the hall. Sen
atOr GOre WAS ueClueuiy puSy uuTiut
his stay in Spokane. He spoke to the
convention in the afternoon, addressed
members of the Chamber OF Commerce
at a dinner in the early evening anG
later addressed several thousand PEG
pie at Natatorium park. At all ap
pearances the distinguished visitor
was rendered splendid reception.
Senator Gore came out unqualifiedly
as a supporter of the Temple OF Agri
culture plan, and announced with pride
that he had the distinction OF being
the very first subscriber to the FUND
for the construction OF the temple. Al
a result of his advocacy and that o.
Mr.. Gilmore, and others, $4,000 was
subscribed toward the national funt
for this purpose.
The blind senator's addresses were
freely sprinkled with timely anecdotes