The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1921-11-15
FARMERS ARE HIT
Are Losing Money Steadily,
Says Union Head.
Economic Situation Is Wrong,
He Declares.
Plan SYSTEM OF EDUCATION
1t Is Not Altogether Due to
Faulty Markets.
Resentment Against Federal
Reserve Banking System.

The welcome of Topeka and the
state of Kansas was extended this
tionaI convention of the Farmers
Educational and Cooperative Union.
The delegates assembled at 10
O'Clock this morning in representa-
/ tive's hall at the state house.
Mayor Herbert ]. Corwine was I'M
delegation, and appointed in his place
Col. A. NJ. Harvey. William A. Biby
welcomed the farmers in the name of
the Chamber of Commerce.
Maurice McAuliffe. Kansas state
president, voiced the appreciation of
the Kansas members of the Farmers
Union in having their state chosen as
the location for the national conven-
ton of their order.
The response was by F. NJ. Pollard,
of Newhawka, Neb., a national direc-
tor of the union.
Following the addresses of welcome
and the response the business of the
convention started in earnest, and the
body went into executive session.
There is something radically wrong
with the economic situation in the
United States, particularly as it af-
fects the farmers of the country,
Charles S. Barrett, president of the
Farmers Educational and Corpora
tive Union, said in short interview
today.
steadily. The larger the scale on
which they farm. the more money
they are losing. The farmer who to-
day has followed the example of the
traditional colored Uncle Ned, has
hung up the shovel and the hoe and
gone fishing, is the farmer who has
lost the least money in the last two
years. The farmer who has produced
just enough to meet his own needs
for consumption, is ahead of the
farmer who has produced for market.
Arc Educating Farmers.
I'VE know what is the matter. The
word Educational in the name of
are educating the farmers in eco
nomics and figures"
at is not altogether a faulty mar
keting SYSTEM" he said. Our mar
keting system is not what it might be,
but the cooperative enterprises of the
Union Ast year have handled some
thing like two billion dollars worth of
farm products"
1t was evident that Barretts idea
as to what is actually wrong on the
farms of the country, the thing which
is making farming losing game, is
going to be kept to himself.
There is a distinct spirit of resent
ment against the federal reserve bank
ing system. Discrimination against
the farmers when they needed loans
on their products, is charged by Bar
rett
when the farmers needed money
from the federal reserve, they were
Disseminated against" Barrett de-
clared.
Asked whether the farmer is opti-
mistic or pessimistic as to the future
Barrett frankly said he did not know
"Oh, I guess there are a few rays
of light ahead but it is pretty hard
for the farmer right now" he as
serted.
He impressed the fact that there is
no talk or thought of a farmers
strike, and that the farmers have no
intention Of limiting their production
of the food of the world, just because
they are losing money in producing it.
Il understand that you don't like
to hear about strikes in Kansas" Bar
rett says. There will be no farmers
strike
The gathering of farmers in Topeka
today for the convention is the most
representative gathering of agriculture
ists which the United States has ever
seen.
why, there were farmers here
from twenty-five of the states of the
Union. the day before the convention
opened" Barrett said.
There never was such a wide field
OF opportunity for the work of the
union as there is at the present time
All in Harmony.
"And this is the first time in the
history of the union that every factor
in it has been absolutely in harmony
The entire union is unanimous and
standing solidly together for concerted
action today
Barrett asserted that Nebraska. one
of the leading states in point of mem
bership, is right in line with the rest
of the union, in spite of furry which
looked like insurgency last summer
The Farmers Educational and Co.
operative Union now has approximate
ly 1000 900 members, A. c. Davis,
secretary treasurer, of Gravette, Ark,
says.
THE membership is chiefly in the
states of the middle west. The organi-
zation of the union started in Texas,
and has been sweeping steadily north
ward and>to the east and west" Davis
says.