The people's voice. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1939-1969, 1941-10-22
Address of James G. Patton,
President National Farmers Union
:ditors Note: Mr. Patton,s speech, 6

Editors Note: Mr. Patton's speech
delivered before the state convention
of the Farmers Educational and Co
operative Union at KaIispeII last weeE
will be published in three install
ments. We hope that all readers o.
The Voice will read it carefully. u
is a message of Importance to aIl.)
am indeed happy to be in Mon
tana again to meet in convention with
as fine a group of people as there is
to be found anywhere. When one
comes to Kalispell, this beautiful little
city. SO peaceful and with such beau
tiful surroundings it is to say the least
refreshing and invigorating.
The Montana Farmers Union has
made many contributions to the cause
of agriculture in America. 1t has pro-
vided splendid personnel to help in
doing the job of education, legislation
and organization. Mr.. Rolph, your
state president, our national vice pres
ident, Mrs. Stoltz, your state Junior
Leader, a member of our national edu-
cation committee, Leo Doheny your
state director, member of our ma
tional legislative committee, Harold
Brown, your state secretary direc-
tor of National Union Security Asso-
citation and many others in Montana
have given a great deal of valuable
service to the total cause of farmers
in this country.
In these troubled times when we
all wonder what is coming next you
can justly take pride in the fact that
you are making real contribution
in behalf of farmers all over this
ing yourselves with an organization
which makes you articulate in places
very far from your homes, and make
no mistake about it-your interests
extend farther from your homes than
ever in the past.
The farmers of Montana who have
paid their dues in the Farmers Union
and patronized our co-operatives, have
also generously supported with legis-
lative funds from their meager in
comes the National Farmers Union
Legislative Program. They have,
through their patronage and building
of Co-operatives made it possible for
us to have available, at no cost to
the National, the legislative leader
ship of Mr.. M. w. Thatcher, who is
one of the best informed and most
efficient legislative representatives in
Washington
The National Farmers Union is
making progress. The growth in
membership will not be much this
year--but there are a great many
more people who are convinced that
organizations can be built and there
is much less defeatism and cant be
done" attitude. Iowa, South Dakota, |
Wisconsin, Colorado, Arkansas and
Texas have reported gains. l am sure
there will be others. If stated atti- |
tudes are any yardstick much larger
gains will be made in the next two
years. Everywhere I have been | |
have found people saying, 1--WE can
organize, we must and we will" l !
would like to point out however that |
numbers alone do not make an effec- |
tive organization.
Wherever there is a Farmers Union
our people are becoming better in.
formed, more unified, and more in
tensive in getting job done for the
lower two thirds of agriculture
More of our members are awaken
ing to the fact that strong organi-
cation in four or five states is not
going to give them needed influence
and results in congress and in other
places where it is extremely import
ant that our attitudes and influence