The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1924-05-30
TEXAS FARMERS
WON'T TIE UP
WITH LABOR
Effective Farmer.Labor Party
Improbable, Says Observer
in Southwest

in Southwest
By o. M. KILE.
Copyright, 1A1G)
DALLAS, Tex, May 30.-Despite
numerous stories to the contrary,
there win be no effective Farmer
Labor party in Texas this year.
Stories of hundreds of thousands
Of closely organized and determined
farmers and laboring men in Texas
and Oklahoma ready to stand to-
gether politically as well as ecOnomi-
cally have been well circulated In
Washington and elsewhere and have
been cited as a part Of the strength
that would flow to a third party or
independent candidate for the Presi-
dency. There seems to be little
basis for these claims.
AT a recent convention Of this
Farmer-Labor group held at Dallas
| only handful of delegates Assem-.
bled. A nominee for governor was
selected, but little enthusiasm was
shown, and there is apparently no
reason to expect any effective upset
either locally or nationally from
this movement.
Promoted by Labor.
was inspired apd promoted by labor
rather than by the farmers. Organ
izers were sent out by the labor
unions. and in the local meetings
as well as in the selection of Off
GERS just enough farmers were in.
cluded to permit the use of the
word in describing the organization.
In many instances labor organizers
from outside the States came in
and not only started. but largely
carried on, the organization work.
At least one so-called national farm
organization representative, Ben
1amin Marsh. director Of the Ma
tfonal Farmers Council of Wash
lngton. d. c., came into the South
west to promote this coalition be-
tween labor and the farmer His
close relations with organized labor
are well known.
The idea held out was that the
labor groups in the various towns
would buy food products directly
from the farmer groups Of this Sec
ton. thereby furnishing better
market for the farmer, while at the
same time probably furnishing the
consumers needs at less than
present prices. Since the farmers
In Texas are now rather thoroughly
organized along cooperative mar
keting lines, there were possibili-
ties in this plan Of rapid cOnsolida-
ton OF the farmer and the laboring
man in this section.
Why Plan Was Wrecked.
Two principal factors wrecked
this idea, however First, the fact
that the farmer simply does not
like the idea Of a definite tie-up
with organized labor, There Is a
lesser gulf between the two groups
IN Texas than in most States Of the
East and Midwest, but the gulf
exists nevertheless. In addition to
his characteristic feeling Of indie
pendence, the average farmer can
not rid himslf of the suspicion that
any coalition Of the two groups
might bring the sane ultimate re-
suit as took place in the famous
story Of the lady and the tiger. The
farmer here. as elsewhere, has a
suspicion that should he go out
for a ride with labor he, like the
lady, might find himself, Inside"
and labor playing the role of tiger
when the ride" had proceeded for
a time.
The second reason why a Texas
FARMER is not much interested in
any sort of demonstration at this
time Is because he is rather pros.
porous just now and has few griev-
ances.
In fact, Texas Is one of the
bright spots on the agricultural
map today. The cattlemen are in
bad shape, but they do not see
much In the way Of legislation that
can help them. They hape cattle
prices will improve soon.
Cotton Prices Good.
But cotton prices are good, and
Texans have learned how to pro-
duce fair crops in spite of the boil
weevi. Big. new areas in the more
westernly. part of the State are be.
ing put in cotton this year for the
first time. The boil weevil is still
unknown in these newer areas and
GOOD crops are expected. Big oil
developments and very consider.
able growth in population make a
good home market for dairy prod.
ucts and truck crops. The Texas
FARMER has learned the diversified.
ton lesson and now supplies a much
greater share of his needs from his
own farm.
cooperative marketing has made
great strides in Texas during the
past three years, and in cotton IN
particular the work has been very
satisfactory. The banks and bust.
ness houses after period of oppo-
sltlon have now joined heartily in
making cooperative marketing a
Dig success. Several Of the smaller
groups and poultry producers, for
instance, are having their troubles.
nut the American Cotton Growers
Exchange. with Headquarters II
oallas now represents one Of tho
outS'andlng EXAMPLES u successful
cooperative narketing IN America.