Newspaper Page Text
Atlanta cm i-WedfljiScmrnnl
VOL. X.
LABOR LEADERS ARE
DECLARED FUEL BY
SUPREME COURT
Imprisonment Sentence of the
Lower Court Against Gom
pers, Mitchell and Morrison
Is Finally Set Aside
(By Associated Press )
WASHINGTON. May 15.-Settlng aside
the sentences of imprisonment imposed
by the supreme court of the District of
Columbia, for altered disobedience to a
boycott injunction, the supreme court of
the United States today held that Sam
uel Gompers, John Mitchell and Frank
Morrison, president, vice president, and
secretary, respectively, of the American
Federation of Labor, had been erroneous
ly sentenced to jail on the charges of j
contempt of a local court.
This was the first case announced. Jus- ;
tice Lamar delivered the court's decision. ■
He began to reed the written opinion
without declaring the decision at 12 i
o’clock. Many minutes were spent in re- '
viewing the facta.
The court unanimously held that the
only sentences that could be imposed up- j
on the labor leaders were fines. In so
holding, the supreme court of the United
States found that the court of appeals of j
the District of Columbia and the supreme
court of the District of Columbia erred
in treating the contempt proceedings as a
criminal case and not a civil one. The
effect of holding the proceedings a civil
one was to make jail sentences impossi
ble. Hence the jail sentences had to be
set aside.
To correct the error the case was sent
back to the local courts with direction
that it be dismissed. At the same time
the court expressly made it possible for |
civil proceedings to be instituted against
the labor men by the Buck Stove and
Range company, at whose instance the
original contempt case was brought.
The court was led to hold that the
contempt proceedings in this case must
be civil in nature because criminal pun
ishment is exercised by courts to force
persons to do acts commanded. In the
present case, the court took the view that
the labor men were being sent to jail,
not to make them do something the court
ordered, but because of “something they
had done ’’
In as much as the difference between
the labor men and the Bucks Stove and
Range Co. have been adjudicated, in
cluding the '.'boycott" case out of which
the contempt proceedings arose, today’s
decision is probably the last of this
widely known action.
The charges of contempt against Pres
ident Gompers. Vice President Mitchell
and Seecrtsry Morrison arose out <of a
bitter labor war between organised labor
on the -Fuck s Stove and Range com
pany. of St. Louis. Mo.
The St. Louis concern had come into
the supreme court of the District of
Columbia to prevent, by injunction, the
American Federation Os IMbof hhd Ifs oT
flcials from boycotting its own products
or the business of those who dealt with
It. The company claimed that the Fed
eration was trying to unionise the com-|
pany’s shops The labor leaders urged
tint the company was “unfair" to la
bor. The head of the company was J.
W- Van Cleave, president of the Na
tional Manufacturers' association, which
had often come into conflict with the
Federation. He was charged with having
been opposed to organised labor and *ith
having sought to put his nickel plate
workers on a ten-hour instead of a nine
hour basis
Justice Gould, of the district supreme
court. Issued the injunction prayed for
by the company. An appeal was taken
to the court of appeals of the District
of Columbia, but before that court could
pass upon the validity of the injunction
the Buck’s Stove and Range company
again came into the District supreme
court, this time with charges of con
tempt against President Gompers. Vice
President Mitchell and Secretary Morri
son. These men were accused of having
violated the Injunction decree.
/ Justice Wright found them guilty and
sentenced President Gorhpers to one year
in jail, Vice President Mitchell to nine
months and Secretary Morrison to six
months. An appeal was taken from this
sentence, first to the court of appeals,
which affirmed it. and finally to the
supreme court of the United States,
where It is now pending.
POSTUL SWINES BUNK
POPUUR WITH PEOPLE
On July 1 Depositors May
Convert Their Deposits Into
/ Government Bonds •
(>y Asesciatad fmi 1
WASHINGTON, May 15.—Material
growth in the popularity of the postal
saving* bank la Indicated by a
statement issued today by Postmaster
General Hitchcock concerning the opera
tions of the 48 initial depositors which
began business January 3 last. During
April 3i*>lß separate deposits were made,
aggregating 382.645, an average of 331.57.
In January 3.830 separate desposlts were
m-tde. aggregating 361.806, or an average
of only 336-14. /
Depositors on July 1 may convert their
deposits Into United States bonds, bear
ing 21-3 p*r eent Interest. The bonds
have been prepared in denominations of
yo, fl® and 35®. The bonds will be Is
sued to every depositor who may apply
for them on the proper form before
June 15
The bonds will be issued only to de
positors, but may be sold or assigned at
any time. They are exempt from all
taxation. *
MANyIjABIEsTIuLLED
BY JNFECTED MILK
* PHH-ADEUPHIA, May 15.—One of the
moot comprehensive milk exhibits ever
aeen in this country will be opened here
next Saturday. The committee in charge
bM data showing that not less than one
tip rd of the 350,000 babies under 1 year
old who die each year in the United
States, are victims of infected milk.
The exhibit will seek to demonstrate
that clean milk is one of the best and
cheapest of all foods; that dirty milk at
any price costs too much, and that ev
ery dairyman, transportation company,
milk dealer, health official, housewife and
taxpayer has definite responsibility for
protecting milk from contamination.
I
HEROES Os SOUTH
IN THINNED RANKS,
MARCHTO BIVOUAC
Ten Thousand Veterans. Who
Once Wore the Gray of the
Southern Confederacy, Meet
in Little Rock
(By Auoeiated Pr«s».)
LITTLE ROCK. May 15.—With flags
and bunting in evidence everywhere, with
every arrangement perfected to properly
care for the comfort of thousands of
visitors, and with ideal weather condi
tions, the people of Little Rock are to
day welcoming those who are pouring in
to attend the 31st annual reunion of the
United Confederate Veterans. Special
trains are arriving over all railroads, and
it is estimated that 10,000 veterans will
be In attendance .
, The Sons of Veterans, who are arriving
in large numbers, will hold their first
session tonight, when addresses will be
delivered by their officers and other no
tables.
CAMP IS OPENED.
Accommodations have been provided
by the executive committee for 7,000 old
soldiers. Camp Shaver has been opened
and a thousand or more tents supplied
with clean white cots awaiting every ap
plicant. Lunch stands and a huge com
misary have been established for the
accommodation of the veterans.
The conyention will open Tuesay with
addresses of welcome and responses. In
the afternoon the annual oration will be
delivered by Dr. R. C. Cave, of St. Louis.
On Wednesday the real business will
be taken up when reports of the various
committees will be read and considered.
Officers will be elected and the next
meeting place will be chosen. On Thurs
day the parade of veterans will take
place.
Gen. George W. Gordon, the command
er in chief, arrived today from Mem
phis.
RANKS ARE THINNING.
“The time will come when Confederate
reunions will be held no more.” said
General Gordon. "The old boys are pass
ing away rapidly—at the rate of more
than 6.000 a year. To the best of my
k owledge there are about 100,000 of us
left. . You can well juuge bow many there
will be in ten years hence.”
Macon. Ga, workers. 200 strong, are
; scheduled to arrive this afternoon in
hopes of capturing the next convention.
Fifteen Special Trains
Rush Through Memphis
MEMPHIS, Tenn., May 15.—Fifteen
< special trains carrying thousands of vet
| erans and visitors passed through Mem-
I phis this morning en route to Little
' Rock. Many veterans and sons of vet
-1 erans arrived hre last night and re
mained over until .today. Gen. George
W. Gordon, commander-in-chief, arrived
from Washington Sunday morning. He
left on one of the special trains for
Little Rock early today.
Railroad men say special trains
have been engaged to carry the crowds
through the Memphis gateway.
Macon Veteran Leave
MACON, a.. May 15—The Macon dele
gation, 350 strong, and including Confed
erate veterans. Sons of Veterans, spon
sors, representatives from the Chamber
of Commerce, the Dublin brass band and
the Hamilton guartet, left this afternoon
at 1 o'clock over the Central railroad
for the annual reunion of Confederate
veterans at Little Rock, Ark. The spe
cial will arrive at Little Rock Tuesday
morning and will find everything In read
iness for a successful effort to land the
1912 reunion for this city, Secretary E.
H. Hyman, of the Chamber of Com
merce. and his assistant, N. L. Royster,
having gone several days ahead of time
to make the preliminary arrangAnents.
Accompanying the Macon people to Little
Rock, were two coaches of delegates
from Savannah and Dublin, who will
render all the assistance in their power
to the local party in their fight for the
reunion in 1912.
Nashville Veterans Leave
NASHVILLE. Tenn.. May 15.—Near
ly 100 Confederate veterans from Flor
ida and Georgia passed through Nash
ville last night on the way to the re
union in Little Rock.
Forty-six members of Chatham Bi
vouac. this city, left for Little Rock
today. Troop A. First Cavalry. Nash
ville, will have 100 men in the parade.
WOODRUFF SITS ICE
WILL NOT COST MORE
President of Atlantic Ice &
Coal Corporation Denies
Reported Increase
(Special Dispatch to The Journal.)
CHATTANOOGA. Tenn., May 15.
That the retail price of ice will not be
increased in Atlanta on account of the
license placed on peddlers was the opin
ion emphatically expressed by Ernest
Woodruff, ot Atlanta, president of the
Atlantic Ice and Coal Carporation, one
of the biggest plants in the sou)h. when
his attention was called to the predic
tion in an Atlanta morning, paper that
the retail price of ice would go up.
The Atlantic Ice and Coal Corporation
control 50 retail wagons and trucks in
Atlanta and the president stated posi
tively this morning that there will be
no increase in the retail price of ice.
‘There is not the slightest probability
of the re tai price of ice being affected
by the tax." he sad.
J. C. Gentry, treasurer of the Atlantic
Ice and Coal Corporation, when asked
his opinion as to the probability of an
increase in the price of ice, echoed the
sentiment of Mr. Woodruff, as express
ed at Chattanooga. "So far as our com
pany is concerned," said he, "there will
be no increase, and our facilities are
ample to supply the trade of all At
lanta."
Mr. Gentry sta.ed further that the
price of ice in Atlanta is lower than
tnut ot the average southern city.
princeTeassu is ,
NOW EMPEROR
ADDIS ABEBA. Abyssinia. May 15.
Prince Lidj Jeassu. grandson of Emperor
Menelik. was proclaimed emperor of
Abyssinia yesterday. The coronation
ceremonlgg will tak/s place later.
INDUSTRIAL WORLD
WILL WATCH WORK
OF REMARKABLE DIET
Fourth Convention of Inter
national Union for Protec
tion of Industrial Property
Gathered at Washington
(By Associated Press.)
WASHINGTON, May 15.—With every
nation on earth represented for the first
time since its establishment in 1883, the
International Union for the Protection of
Industrial Property began its fourth con
ference here today to consider many new
industrial problems, which have arisen
either directly or indirectly from patent
and trade mark laws. Charlemagne Tow
er is presiding.
The attention of the entire industrial
world will be directed toward this gath
ering, which may continue six weeks.
The conference is expected to negotiate
many treaties affecting various Industrial
problems. It is known now that there
will be seven propositions in the form of
proposed treaties submitted by six coun
tries as soon as the congress is organ
ised. '
The nature of these propositions will
be kept secret until made public by the
delegates of the various countries. Great
Britain has given notice of two proposed
treaties, while one each wfTI be submit
ted by France, Germany, Netherlands,
Sweden and Switzerland. It Is likely
also that the Internatidnal Bureau at
Berne, which is maintained as a sort' of
bureau of information by the nations
signatory to the treaty of Paris and sub
sequent treaties, may advance several
questions for discussion.
The program today included the pre
sentation of the credentials of delegates
and other routine matters incident to or
ganization. All of the proceedings of the,
conference are conducted in French and
are secfet.
Speeches of welcome will be delivered
-tomorrow by Secretary of State Knox
and Secretary of the Interior Fisher.
Delegates to the meeting have full ple
nary powers. Including authority to draft
and sign treaties and agreements in the
names of the countries they represent. In
every instnace the chairman of a dele
gation is the highest diplomatic officer of
his country now in the United States.
While this meeting is called the “fourth
one of revision,” it is in reality the sixth
meeting. The international union was
organized in Paris in 1883. The second
conference was in Rome in 1885, the
third in Madrid, 1891, and the fourth in
Brussels in 1897, and the fifth at the
same place in 1900. The delegates to ■the
/1R97 congress were not empowered to
sign the treaties enacted, and therefore
the second Brussels conference was nec
essary.
There are 18 nations in addition to the
United States now adherent to the treaty
of Paris and subsequent conventions.
All of them early signified their inten
tion to send delegates. They are Bel
gium, Denmark, Great Britain, Japan.
Norway. Netherlands, Switzerland,
France (TunlsT although under France,
sends a separate delegation), Portugal,
Italy, Sweden, Dominican Republic, Ger
many, Austria, Hungary, Mexico and
Spain. _ ,
The following nations, which were
non-adherents to any of the previous con
ventions, but who accepted the invitation
to attend this conference, making it the
first one at which every natiofi has been
represented, are the Dominion of Canada.,
Chile, Costa Rica, Greece, Hayti, Pana
ma. Paraguay, Persia, Russia, Siam,
Salvador, Uruguay, Colombia, Ecuador,
Honduras, Liberia and Peru. These na
tions are expected to become a part of
the international union at the Washing-,
ton congress. Until they do they have
no right to vote upon any of the prop
ositions. but may discuss them at will.
Commissioner of Patents Edward
Bruce Moore, as head of the American
delegation, automatically became presi
dent of the present conference, but ac
cording to custom he will after the de
livery of his speech of welcome place
before the cqngrees the name of one of
the participants who will be voted on
by the delegates. The other members
of the American delegation are Charles
K puell, of New York; Frederick P.
Fish, of Boston; Melville Church, of
Washington, D. C„ and Robert H. Par
kinson, of Chicago.
Many entertainmnets have been ar
ranged for the delegates to the confer
ence during the time the conference is in
session.
Gllll FOUND OROWNED
IS NOT OOROTHI MOLD
“Simply Another Disappoint
ment” Says Brother of
Missing Heiress
■ ,ii -—I
NEW YORK, May 15.—"1t is simply,
another disappointment, the body is not
tiiat of Dorothy Arnold.” .
This was the declaration today of
John Arnold, brother of the missing
New York girl after a night spent in
examining clothing and jewelry of a
young woman whose body was found In
the East River late yesterday the size,
weig..v and general appearance of the
body corresponding so closely to the
description of the missing Dorothy Ar
nold mat both police and relatives of
Dorothy Arnold thought it was she.
The clothing was fine and there were
several pieces of valuable jewelry. The
body had been in the water four months
or more and was in such condition that
identification was difficult. Relatives
of Miss Arnold spent several hours ex
amining the jewelry and finally satis
fied themselves that the drowned wo
man was not the missing girl. Miss
Arnold disappeared on December 12.
STEVENSON, ALA., IS~
SWEPT BY FLAMES
STEVENSON. Ala., May 15.—With
the better portion of the business sec
tion of this town In ashes, and with a
loss estimated at over $125,000, the
inhabitants face a serious situation.
The fire, which broke out at midnight
Saturday night, burned fiercely until 4
o’clock Sunday morning. There was no
water available and dynamite was free
ly used in the effort to arrest the pro
gress of the flames. The town is left
with but five stores, and there is abso
lutely no possibility of the business be
ing resumed until buildings can be
erected. _
ATLANTA, GEORGIA, TUESDAY, MAY 16, 1911.
/
HOW MUCH LONGER CAN HE HANG ON?
PEACE LOOMS LARGE
ABOVE INSURRECTO
ANO FEDERAL CAMPS
Reports in Are That
Mexican Federal Govern-
ment Is Inclined to Accept
New Peace Propositions
(By Aiiociated Preu,)
JUAREZ, May 15.—The end of the
revolution in Mexico seems near- Judge
Carbajal, federal peace commissioner,
this morning received telegraphic in
structions from Mexico City to proceed
,with peace negotiations along the lines
proposed by Rafael Hernandez yester
day and carried In last night’s Associ
ated Press dispatches and based upon
Madero’s demands. ' ,
The telegram to Judge Carbajal is
believed to be signed by President Diaz
himself, and it is rumored contains a
formal acceptance by the president of
the propositions suggested. Without
doubt formal peace negotiations will be
immediately resumed.
Indirect assurances that the Mexican
government is inclined to accept the
proposition submitted unofficially with
in the last two days by the insurrectos
tor the establishment peace, were re
ceived today by Rafael Hernandez, one
of the go-betweens in the negotiations.
The government is believed to be
ready to re-organize the cabinet and
give the insurrectos four members out
of eight, and to allow the revolutionists
to name outright 14 governors, of 27
states and by mutual agreement select
the remaining 13 governors.
More definite advices giving the at
titude of the government are expected
before the day is over. Optimism re
garding the ultimate success of the
peace parleys now taking place by tele
graph with Mexico City prevails today.
It is not believed that Colonel Rabago,
who last night was reported to be
marching on Juarez, will provoke any
engagement at this time, though the
insurrectos are taking no chances and
are preparing to meet him. '
The belief exists that the federal gov
ernment will not send him marching or
ders, in view of the probable success
of the present negotiations.
Out Look Is Bright
In Mexican Capital
MEXICO CITY, May 15—Peace again
loomed big on the horizon of Mexico’s
internal affairs today and Led foreign
Minister de la Barra, as he started for
the national palace at an early hour,
to remark:
“We believe that we are making great
progress toward peace.’’
The minister appeared to be happy,
notwithstanding that peace as outlined
in the proposal from the revolutionary
camp may mean his elimination from
the government.
Beyond the hopeful expression of de
la Barra, the government officials main
tained an impressive secrecy as to what
is going on behind the doors of Presi
dent Diaz cabinet room.
TRIES TO HOLD UP TRAIN
W!TH CALICO AND GUN
SULPHUR, Ky., May 15.—Armed with
an antiquate shot gun, which recently
disappeared from a local hotel, waving
a piece of red calico, Charley Williams,
a middle-aged white man, attempted to
hold up the Louisville and Nashville pay
train as it approached the Sulphur
station this morning.
The crew, who were armed, stopped
the train and started after Williams.
Williams, dropping the shot gun, es
caped. A lunacy commission will be
appointed to investigate his case If he
Is captured.
BAPTISTS TO MEET
IN JACKSONVILLE
NEXTWEDNESDAY
Southern Baptists Convention
Will Be One bf the Largest
Attended in Many Years.
Big Reception Awaits
JACKSONVILLE, Fla., May 13—The
Southern Baptist convention will open its
annual meeting here next Wednesday,
and already there is some talk concern
ing the officers to be elected. Joshua
Levering, of Baltimore, is the president
and is serving his third time in that ca
pacity. According to precedent, which is
strong with the Baptist organization, the
executive officer, if stalsfactory, is re
elected twice and then retires. Whether
Mr. Levering will follow this is not
known, as he has not talked on the sub
ject. ;
If the Baltimore man wishes to again
stand for nomination it is supposed that
he will have no opposition. In case he
refuses to run there are several well
known men who have been suggested for
the presidency.
The most, prominently mentioned are
Dr. E. Y. Mullins, president of the South
ern Baptist Theological seminary at
Louisville; Dr. Lansing Burrows, of Geor
gia, who has been the convention’s sec
retary for 29 years; Dr. William E.
Hatcher, of Virginia, and Dr. S. Palmer
Brooks, of Baylor university, Waco,
Tex.
Jacksonville ts busy preparing for the
reception for the hundreds of delegates
expected to attend the meetlngw Five
hundred hav e already been assigned to
homes In the city.
TAKE HEART, GARDNERS!
RAIN WILL COME, MAYBE
Showers May. Come, Says
Weather Man, and Pleasant
Breezes Certain Tuesday
The weather mna is disposed to cheer
the hearts of the amateur tillers of the
soil who anxiously watch for new sprouts
day by saying that there is a proba
bility of light showers, just the sort gar-:
deners are needing, during Tuesday and
Wednesday. He won’t promise positively
that the showers will come, but he does
say that gentle breezes are certain toi
blow, and that it will be delightfully cool!
during the next two days.
The temperature ran up to 90 degrees
Saturday and dropped to 83 Sunday an<f
is still going down. Pleasantly cool:
weather ik assured for Tuesday and
Wednesday and the brezes which will
blow from the east and northeast are
likely to bring light rains.
Monday a fair sized storm is raging!
in the upper mountain sections of the
west and the rainfall is heavy. The rain
fall at St. Paul registered 2.30 inches
Monday morning, and it is probable that
some of the rain will reach Atlanta with
in the next two days.
BARNESVILE PYTHIANS
TO ATEND_CONCLAVE
BARNESVILLE, Ga., May 15.—There
will be a large representation of the
Kriights of Pythias of Barnesville and
community at the meeting of the Grand
lodge which will be held m Atlanta May
17 and 18. There are three lodges of
the Knights of Pythias in Pike county,
representing a membership of about 200.
All of these lodges will be /epresented
at the meeting in Atlanta. Many at
tractions will be provided for the visi
tors to the convention by the Atlanta
committees, and the representatives
from Barnesville and vicinity are ex
pecting a grand time at the meeting.
CORPORATION BOOKS
MAY BE'DEMANDED BY
ORDER OFjRANO JURY
Important Decision Handed
Down by U. S. Supreme
Court Settles Much Mooted
Question for Good and All .
WASHINGTON, May 15.—The su
preme court of the United States today
approved the recexit sentence of con
tempt imposed in the New York courts
on Christopher C. Wilson, president of
the United Wireless Telegraph com
pany because of the refusal of a per
mit of the lower courts for examination
of his bookft.
By this decision the federal govern
ment won a far-reaching legal contro
versy in .»at officials of corporations
cannot refuse to give up possession of
corporation books for examination by
grand juries, lest they themselves be
incriminated thereby.
The sentence of contempt imposed
in New York courts on Wilson wad
based upon his action in defeating the
attempt of a grand jury to examine
the books of his corporation.
In 1910 a subpoena addressed to the
United Wireless Telegraph company
and not to any individual as la usually
the case, was served on the officials
of the vcompany, directing that certain
books of the company be produced for
examination by the grand jury, which
Was investigating "an alleged violation
of the statues of the United States by
Christopher C. Wilson,” it is said, that
the investigation had to do with al
leged violation of the postal laws. Wil
son himself appeared in court to answer
to the subpena, but declined to * allow
the grand jury to examine the books
and refused to turn them over to the
directors of the company for production
in court. The ground for his refusal
was that the books would tend to in
criminate him.
He was finally adjudged in contempt
of court. Two attempts to procure his
release from a marshal's custody on
habeas corpus proceedings resulted in
failure. His case was then brought to
the supreme court
Mr. Justice Hughes, jn announcing the
opinion, said that Wilson could not un
der these circumstances assert a per
sonal privilege which, the obligation of
i the corporation to the government re
! quired it to perform. Mr. Justice Mc
i Kenna delivered a dissenting opinion.
The court also approved the contepipt
sentence imposed on William Dreier,
;of New' York, secretary of Lichtenstein
I Millinery company, who had also re
i fused to produce books under circum
stances similar to those in the Wilson
case.
PITCHED BATTLE FOUGHT
ON SWAINSBORO STREETS
Deputy Sheriff Woods Dying
From Bullet Fired by Ne -
gro Desperado
SWAINSBORO, Ga., May 15.—One ne
gro was shot to death Deputy Sheriff
R. B. Woods is dying and John Mc-
Leod, a negro, wounded three times, is
in Emanuel county jail following a bat
tle in The /streets here Saturday night.
It is feared further trouble may re
sult.
McLeod was a prisoner in charge of
City Marshal Crul. On the way to the
met the deputy. The negro
drew a revolver and shot Woods In the
breast. The marshal' and negro ex
changed shots and other pistols were
fired. Dave Blount, a negro, was found
dead on the sidewalk with a pistol be
side him. Crul captured McLeod after
a chase and took him to jail. The dep
uty died later. No further trouble had
occurred at midnight.
EPOCH IN HISTOBY
WRIHEN IN UNION
OEILSJ«
President Barrett Discusses
Results That Have Followed
Organization and Urges
Achievement of Ideals
UNION CITY, Ga., May 15.—What th«
National Farmers’ Union has accomplish
ed, and the ideals to which it is working
is told in a statement issued today by
President Charles S. Barrett. The state
ment follows:
To the officers and members of the
Farmers' Union: A new epoch was writ
ten in American history when the Fern
ers' Union became a truly national ot
ganization. Other associations of farc -
ers had preceded it. But they had fall
en by the sword of partisan politics cr
had failed to hitch enthusiasm to the
harvest—so they fell.
I speak advisedly when I say the
Farmers' Union, is the first organization
In history to successfully join theory
with practice, to begin the movemert
of weeding the politicians from the in
nermost councils of the farmer, and to
impress upon the latter that the improve
ment of his lot rests not in the hands < f
some far-off “upliiter” or fly-by-nlgll
reformer, but with himself.
STANDS FOR RESULTS.
Today the world asks less' for rhetoric
and more for results. This is a very
slight summary of what we have accom
plished, together with a statement of
what we yet hope, with the aid of the
Almighty and our own courage, to ac
complish.
We have 1,528 warehouses, mainly for
storing cotton. Mississippi leads the
warehouse movement, with a 51,000,0)0
corporation. v
We own and operate a large numlwr
of elevators and terminal agencies for
the handling of grain.
We own and operate 243 packing houses.
We own and operate dozens of news
papers.
We own and operate coal mines.
We own and operate several banks, flour
mills, creameries, pickle flfctories, sev
eral hundred stores, an implement fac
tory, a phosphate plant, a phospahte
mine.
We own and operate tobacco factories
and swarehouses, produce exchanges, fer
tilizer factories, peanut warehouses, a
peanut recleaner, many cotton grading
schools, co-operative life and fire ins tr
ance companies.
Any number of other general business
agencies are owned or controlled by
members of the Farmers’ Union.
In this connection it must not be for
gotten that the union does noV officially
own these concerns. We are not a clt se
corporation. In every instance owner
ship or control rests in individual mem
bers, consorting together for their own
benefit. That is the true spirit of co
operation.
Before thia order was organized, stajis
tica showed that 70 per cent of the farm
ers in the south were blighted with :he
curse of the mortgage. We have cut
down the percentage by one-half, snd
our work in that direction has har-lly
begun.
ENACTED MANY LAWS.
The influence of the Farmers’ Un on
is written upon many of the best laws
put in retent years upon state and na
tional statute books.
In many states we have secured radical
increases in public school appropriations.
In many of the states the Fanners' Un
ion has been instrumental in the estab
lishment of agricultural colleges.
Other Important legislation, state and
national, now pending, is an indication
of the resistless influence of the organ
ization among ■ American farmers. VV e
have made systematic canvasses of the
various legislatures and qf several suc
cessive sessions of congresses. There is
a new view point in Washington toward
the American farmer—and the might of
the Farmers’ Union, demonstrated in
elections, is responsible fhr it.
These achievements are the outward
sign of a great new movement in Amer
ican agriculture. But they are not com
parably Important to the spirit of ira
ternity which we havee wrought among
the farmers of this nation. It is fra
ternity which we have wrought among
wrought this progress. An the same
force will develop in fc thousand unex
pected directions to solve the problems
of the American farmer. ,
Notable among the triumphs of the
organization is that one which haa
brought a social awakening among the
farmers. In many states it hag brought
thousands of white women and children
out of the cotton fields into the schools
and the homes —where they belong. Had
it done nothing else, the existence thus
far of the Farmers’ Union would have
been justified by this transformation,
that is merely in its beginning.
I cite these facts as the basis of an
argument that now is the time for ev
ery American farmer to affiliate with
this organization. '
PERMANENT INSTITUTION
It has passed tne stage of experiment.
It is an assured, achieving, permanent
institution. Every farmer, however
small, who joins it, increases his own
power by the might of bis
three million brethren.
If we have saved many millions for
our members by,co-operation and leg
islation; if have defeated several
congressmen wbo were unworthy of of
fice, several senators who were untrue
to pledges; if we have gradually instill
ed into our people, by gruelling, per
sistent labor, the doctrine of business
methods in farming, if we have weeded
Out of the organization some of the most
unprincipled scoundrels in the land, and
thereby strengthened it —
Have we not the right to go before
the American farmer and, on the record
of things done, bid him in his own in
terest and our interest to join with us?
We are entering upon a tremendously
important era in our national history.
Organization is its keynote; conservation
of energy and effort ots slogan.
Whether hard times or. good times are
ahead, the farmer will not be able to
minimize the effect of the first or reap
his legitimate share of the last, un eM
he is organized.
. Do you object to the order bees use
you know some crooked customers in
it? There are many such in every re
ligious denomination, in many secret or
ders, one or two black sheep in your
own family.
Does that fact keep you out of the
church, the secret order, or cause you
to desert vour family? Hardly. It
makes you more anxious to go in and
cure these evils, if you are worth be*,
ing called a man, and not a beast.
That same influence should bring you
into the Farmers' Union, w|th the di
vine determination to help your brother
man—and if you help your brother man,
(Contlaaed on Page Seven, Column 3)
NO. 68.
