The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-08-19
FARMERS UNION
 WILL |NDORSE
 FORD PROPOSAL
Large Delegation in Attend ance at Annual Convention. Prof. SchofieId Slated
 for Next President

Offer of Henry Ford to the | United States government for the purchase and operation of the ni- trate plant at Muscle Shoals will be indorsed by the Farmers Union of Alabama at it's meeting this morn ing. A statement to this effect was made yesterday by members of the organization which opened its sew enteenth annual convention in Judge Dan Greene's courtroom at the courthouse.
 With more than 300 delegates rep resenting practically every local union in the state, present. the meet ing was called to order by President C. Nj. Dinsmore, at 10 o'clock yester- day morning. Mir. Fords offer was discussed, and a committee was ap- pointed to draft resolutions on the matter which will be the first ousi- ness to be disposed of by the conven- ton this morning, 1t is stated. Copies of these resolutions, which will be passed without a dissenting vote,git retary of War Weeks, Senator's oscar W. Underwood and Thomas Heflil, and the Alabama representatives in Congress, urging their support of the proposal recently made to the gov ernment by Mir Ford.
 Prepare Resolutions
 Other committees were appointed to prepare resolutions and plans for body, and immediately started on their duties. It is expected that some action will be taken by the conven- tion looking to an utilization of all farming interests to make their in fluence felt hereafter politically. The meeting today will be an exec utive session, and will be devoted to the trancation of business scheduled to come before the convention, the election of officers and the adoption of resolutions and others matters. Reports of officers will be read, and 1t is probable that the national off, cers will speak. Tomorrow will be devoted to the passing of resolutions and the winding up of the conven- ton. c. s. Barrett, national presi. dent, will be the principal speaker. Prof. J. F. Schofield of Jasper, for merly principal of the Jasper High school, is slated for the next presi- dent, as c. Nj. Dinsmore, who has held that office for two years, is not candidate for reelection, 1t is stated Professor Schoefield has recently specialized with great success in the planting of sweet potatoes. Dele gates to the convention who were seen yesterday were of the opinion that he is the leading candidate for the place, as he is being mentioned most prominently. In addition 10 a president, other officers to be elected Include secretary and an executive board of five members.
 Cooperative Buying
 In talk to members of the con- vention, pr. Dinsmore urged co-op- erative buying among the farmers He stated that the purchase of .nil- lions of dollars worth of goods through cooperative channels would oO Swat saving to the farmer ana that by selling hundreds of millions of dollars of farm products a better price was obtained for the products ana the farmer has been greatly ben efited. He referred to a number o.f good laws that have been passed in the state and nation at the instance of the organization, and of the de- feat of other laws that would have worked a hardship on the farmers During the past six months 99 new locals have been organized in the state. he said, but one of the gr.at troubles was the fact that the zen. dency of too many people was to leave the farm and come to the cities.
 Dr. N. A. Barrett, president of the city commission, welcomed the farm CTS on behalf of the city, and D. c. Ball, chairman of the board of rev. enue, on behalf of the county.
 President Busby of the Birmng- ham Trades council, welcomed the guests on behalf of that organiza lion and talks were made by Judge Hugh A. Locke of the chancery division of the circuit court, and w. c. Land son, national organization lecturer of Salina, Kan.
 President Barrett
 Finding criticism for the farmers because they do not cooperate and thus get a larger share of the profits which they earn, Charles S. Barrett, national president of the Farmers Union addressed the state convention of the organization last night at the county court house.
 The trouble with the farmer" MT Barrett said, lis that he does not think. The farmers have become the laughing stock of the world, because after producing their crops they all low other people to absorb all the profits.
 S"There was time when preached diversification as the salvation Of the southern farmer. l still believe diversification is a splendid thing, put We may as we'll realize that the money crop of the southern farms is cotton, and we must plan to get our share of the profits from the crop. 1t doesn't do us any good to raise Dig crops for other people to get all the benefits from them. I have no patience with the man who talks about the farmer being oppressed. If he Is oppressed it is his own fault.
 The farmer needs cooperation in both business and politics. Co., operative marketing and buying are needed. Then the farmer must see to it that he is not legislated against in Congress. A farmer should never forgive public official who betrays him. The farmer will pay more than his share of the war debt unless he organizes. We can produce indi- vidually. but we cannot sell indi- vidually.'