The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1921-08-24
OF THE
FARMERS UNION
A Large and Enthusiastic Attendance
on the Conference in
Ocala

Inc annual cOnVenLlOQ OF the i0r-
ida division of the Farmers Union
convened here this morning in the
court house at 10 o'clock. with Presi-
dent J. L. Sheppard presiding. A
most interesting business session, dur
ing which number of important
talks were made, lasted until 1870.
The session was well attended, the
court room being crowded. The num-
Der of out of town delegates who reg
istered this morning was smaller than
expected. The number registered was
about 35.
This afternoon the visiting dele
gates and number of the members
of the Marion County Farmers Union
and number of citizens of Ocala are
enjoying a boat ride down Silver
river and a basket picnic at the head
of the springs as guests of the Mar
ion County Board of Trade and the
Marion County Farmers Union. Mr..
C. S. Barrett. president of the Ma
tional Farmers Union. was unable to
be present at the convention, being
detained in Kansas.
This mornings session was opened
with the singing of "America," led
by Mr.. H. L. Shearer. president of the
Marion County Farmers Union. The
invocation was offered by Rev. w. F.
Creson of the Presbyterian church.
President Shearer welcomed the visit
ing delegates. He then introduced
President j. L. Sheppard "as man
who has done as much as any man
in Florida for the farmers" Presi-
dent Sheppard introduced Col. r. F.
Rogers, who welcomed the visitors in
behalf of the city of Ocala. The re-
sponse to this welcome was made by
Mr.. Hiatt, state agent in charge of
boys work. An address was made by
Mr.. T. j. Brooks, chief clerk of the
state department of agriculture on the
Functions of Farmers" He urged the
importance of organization among
farmers and pointed out the necessity
for the farmers having a voice in
Washington by means of which they
could make known to the national leg
islators the opinions of the farmers in
regard to national legislation. Mr.. E.
w. Jenkins, district extension agent,
stressed the Importance of distribu-
ton and production. The problem of
distribution was the outstanding prob
lem discussed during the morning
session. Miss Agnes l. Webster, of
Tallahassee, spoke on the "Woman's
Part in the Farm Organization" Mr..
&c. X. McQuarrie, state agent of ex-
tension work. on ''The Part the Farm
ers' Union has Played in the Fight for
Better Farmers in Florida; Mr.. j. E.
burlington, of Gainesville, spoke on
"What the Farmers Union has Done
in my Community and How 1t Did 1t. !"
Mr.. burlington stated that the farm
ers' union in Alachua county had ar
ranged to employ sales agent to sell
all of the products produced by the
members of the farmers union in the
county. Mr.. S. H Strung of Juniper,
spoke on "What the Farmers Union
has been worth to Gadsden County" !"
Mr.. H. P. Peterson of West Jocoi,
spoke on cooperative selling of farm
products. The session closed with an
address by Mr.. l. NJ. Rhodes, state
marketing commissioner, on the "Ac-
complishments and Possibilities of the
Farmers Union" Among other things,
Mr.. Rhodes stated that the farmers
union was largely responsible for the
rural credits act. He touched on the
exorbitant freight rates and their eff
feet on farmers, and stated that no
headway could be made unless freight
rates were reduced. He sighted in
stances of where crops shipped had
brought the farmer who produced
them less than the railroads that haul
ed them.
The convention will be convened IN
the court house at 9 o'clock tomorrow
morning.