Bonners Ferry herald. [volume] (Bonners Ferry, Idaho) 1904-current, 1922-08-03
B0UCK TALKS TO
PROCRESSIVES
PLANS MADE FOR Annual GATH.
ERING WITH MANY ATTRACT
I'VE FEATURES
WILL ORGANIZE IDAHO WORKERS
ProgressiyeS Claim 5000 Members in
Washington.

Members of the Western Farmers
held a meeting at the fair grounds
yesterday afternoon at 2 o'clock.
William Bouck, master of the Western
Progressive Farmers of the north
west, A. j. McQuard of Bellingham,
Wash, representing the educational
department of the organization, and f.
z. Waters of Spokane, organizer for
the progressives of Idaho, appeared
as speakers for the movement Thos.
Barnes, Chas. Andrews and w. A.
Piper. members of the striking rail-
road shopmen from Spirit Lake, were
present during the early part of the
meeting and stated that of the 125
men on strike there only two foremen
have gone back to work.
MIR. McQuard was the first speaker
/ introduced. lie said he was appear
ing as the official representative of
Mrs. Mabel Roselle, Washington state
lecturer for the Progressive Farmers.
Mr.. McQuard said in part
THE Western Progressive Farmers
organization, is no pink tea affair. IL
is revolutionary. rather than bene-
ficial. We believe in organization, ed
ucation and cooperation among the
workers of all classes The breakup
of the present capitalistic system
Started with the end of the world war
and unless we carry on the fight for
freedom we will again find ourselves
in the midst of another despotic slay-
cry. We are opposed to government
ownership of industries, such as the
raannf nf 4.
the government, until the government
is controlled by the voice of the peo-
pie. 1t seems we must complete the
work started by the rebels of 1875.
The recent convention of the Western
Progressive Farmers at Cheney, Wn,
was held to get the farmers and the
laborers in our industries together for
mutual cooperation, for the cause of
one is the cause of the other. We
recommend peaceful use of the ballot
as means to our ends, so that it
may not be said that we lost anything
which we might have gained by peace
full methods, but if the capitalist sys-
tenn of the present cannot be over
thrown by peaceful methods we must
be ready to pay the price of a social
revolution"
William Bouck was the next speak
er. There is only one way out" said
Mr. Bouck. Democracy means re-
sponsibility, and we must be ready to
pay the price, whatever it may be. for
a new political order in this country
When you farmers find a piece of
machinery worn out, you buy a new
machine-and you buy, not an old out
of-date machine, but the best and the
latest you can get. That is good
sense. 1t is the same way in politics.
Ihe republican party, as formed just
before the Civil war, was organized
for a purpose IL accomplished that
purpose when slavery was abolished,
and it would have been better, far bet
ter for the country, had it been dis
banded in 1865. 1t has long ago
served its purpose, and the voters
should get better machine.
"The democratic party was formed
about 100 years ago and it's purpose
was the assurance of free speech in
the United States for all future time
That purpose was served, and it was
good one, but let us not keep on
using these worn out machines when
a newer and more up-to-date machine
is needed. Each party is formed with
an ideal, and when that ideal has been
accomplished, its work is finished"
In speaking of the organization pro-
cess of the Western Progressive
Farmers, Mr.. Bouck said it was the
intention of forming locals wherever
possible, and with the establishment
of three locals in a county, a county
organization would be perfected. He
said that the movement had 5000
members in Washington.
One of the features of the movement
is to foster an annual gathering, or
farmers chautauqua, as Mr.. Bouck
called it, where farmers could take a
two-day vacation and have horse
races, baseball games and other at
tractive features.
Mr.. Waters said the progressive or
ganization for which he is working
started in February of last year at
Chicago and through its membership
the farmers and the industrial work
ers have an opportunity to get to-
gether and understand each other.
He spoke strongly for education and
disarmament. I'D like to see big
brick school on every section cor
ner," he said, 'and just one nineteen
million dollar battleship would build
several of those school houses"
In arguing for immediate organiza-
tion of the farmers of Idaho Mr..
Waters said that members of the farm
bloc in congress was practically from
states where farmers organization
had gained substantial footing.
Party Conventions To Be Held