Vernon Parish Democrat. (Leesville, La.) 1917-193?, 1921-10-13
FARM LABOR UNION
is NEW ORGANIZATION

The Farm Labor Union Of America
was organized by a number Of farmers
and farm laborers at Bonham, Texas,
October Goth, 1920. In the preamble
Of their constitution is the statement
that I'VE farmers and laborers who
produce the farm products for every |
living creature, and without which no
one could survive, from the inmate Of
the county infirmary to the king in his |
palace, are and have been slaves for
years - slaves to the manufacturers,
gamblers, and spectators of every |
type" > 3 = Who have been "fiIling |
their Golfers with the wealth that right
ly belongs to the producers"
The new organization is growing !
very fast so that it is taking on the
proportions of a national movement,
already OVERLOOKING the boundaries of
Texas into Oklahoma and Arkansas,
with roster on October LIST of 20O,- |
900 members, in less than one year.
The form of action resolves itself
into two locals, who send delegates to
county organizations, who in turn send |
delegates to state conventions, and
state conventions send delegates to the
annual convention held in Montgom- !
cry, Ala. in July Of each year, where
the price of the cotton crop will be
promulgated.
A new and unique object Of the Or
ganization is to find out the cost of
production of farm products - es-
pecially cotton = and to hold the price
of cotton in ratio to that cost rather
than to the whim and wish Of the spec
ulator. Having obtained the cost of
production, no member of the organ
ization will sell his product for less
than the price set by the organization
in its deliberations at Montgomery.
In affiliating with the Federation of
Labor of the various states, and other
labor and forward movements, the or
ganization hopes to be able to enforce
its price.
By system of marketing cotton at
the gins, one-half the crop will be held
back until January LIST, and then put
on the world market at the original
price. After February 10th all the
remaining cotton on hand in the or
ganization will be sold at one per cent
advance. This will prevent specuIa-
ton in futures.
1t is believed by its organizers that
so thoroughly will the organization be
accepted by the farmers that they will
be able to dominate the cotton pro-
duction business in the South and get
a fair price, consistent with the cost of
its production.
This idea is spreading to other pro-
duce. In many Texas cities organized
workers are demanding eggs and poul-
try from the organization depots, and
railroad men are talking about refus-
ing to haul cotton not bought at fair
price.
The organization is growing so fast
that it takes a crew of organizers to
attend to the calls for help in the
country districts. Locals are being
formed on the payment of one dollar
and twenty-five cents a month dues.
They have a weekly paper which is
devoted largely to their welfare, and
"A. 7. CLANCY, of Bonham, Texas, is
secretary of the organization at pre-
sent.
The farmers are tired of being told |
how much they can have for their cot
ton, and are now demanding that they
receive the cost of production and
margin for emergencies.
Cooperative stores and warehouses
are expected to be a sequence to the
organizations activities, where farm
ers can trade their surplus products
with each other and buy their supplies
comparatively.