The National Co-operator and Texas Farm Journal. (Fort Worth, Tex.), Vol. 31, No. 40, Ed. 1 Wednesday, August 11, 1909 Page: 3 of 12
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WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 11, 1909.
THE NATIONAL CO OPERATOR AND FARM JOURNAL.
Arkansas State Union Holds Meeting in Little Rock
The annual meeting of the state
union of Arkansas drew probably 300
delegates and visitors to Little Rock,
the state capital, last week. The union
was in session Tuesday, Wednesday
and Thursday, meeting mornings and
evenings, but no night sessions were
held.
State President John Bowers, Sr.,
refused to be a candidate for re-elec-
tion on account of his failing health,
and George A. Cole of Fayetteville
was elected to succeed him. Presi-
dent Bowers retires with the affec-
tion and esteem of the entire Ar-
kansas membership, and the newly-
elected president enters his duties with
the brightest of prospects.
Mr. Cole has been professor of ag-
riculture at the Arkansas State uni-
versity, and for the past year has been
in charge of the agricultural depart-
ment of the university, which was re-
cently established. He is not only
a thorough, practical farmer, but is
thoroughly versed in the scientific
methods of agriculture, something
that is essential in a state like Ar-I the result as stated. After the elec-
kansas, which produces a little of ev-
ery known agricultural crop: Added
to these qualifications President Cole
has been a loyal and untiring union
worker since the organization was
established in the state.
He is a plain, modest man about 50
years old, of pleasant manners, but
thoroughly in earnest in his wish to
make Arkansas a great agricultural
state and her people prosperous and
contented.
President Bowers was elected vice
president for the ensuing year and M.
F. Dickinson, state secretary, was
elected for another term. Other of-
ficers named by the convention were
: follows: F. M. McCuiston, New-
port, doorkeeper; L. F. Martin, Cle-
burne county, conductor; Rev. Hiljer,
Cleburne county, chaplain; R. H. Mc-
Cullough, W. D. Walker, J. E. Rogers,
L. M. Burge, F. W. Broadnax, mem-
bers executive committee.
Met in State Capitol.
The convention met in the hall of
the house of representatives of the
old state house, the new capitol of
the state being still incomplete. As
a body of representative citizens Ar-
kansas had reason to be proud of
them. They were businesslike, met
promptly, transacted the work be-
fore them as rapidly as they could,
and when the sessions adjourned they
usually went directly to their hotels.
Some of them, actual farmers, too,
stopped at the best hotels which Lit-
tle Rock boa and they seemed as
much at house there as if they were
used to paying $4 a day for board
and room all their lives.
Arkansas is prosperous this year
and the Arkansas state union has
among its members leading farmers
. of every section. A few of the dele-
rates reported drouth; some others
alked of the boll-weevil, but the ma-
lority had a story of good crops and
bountiful prospects to relate.
Governor Welcomes Delegates.
Governor Donaghey of Arkansas
welcome the delegates in a frank,
straightforward way. The governor is
lot a farmer, but he was a work-
ngman, and he told the delegates
le was their friend. His record of
upport for the four-school bill in the
last legislature, a Farmers’ union
neasure, bore out his statements. His
iddress was frequently interrupted by
pplause. During the convention the
governor kept open house and scores
of the delegates visited him in his
office.
The mayor of Little Rock and oth-
r local speakers also made speeches
if welcome and responses were made
y J. A. Boone of Marmaduke and
len Griffin of Conway. In the aft-
rnoon the president delivered his an-
nual address, which will be found on
another page of this issue. He was
followed by President G. R. High-
tower of the Mississippi union, who
told of the work being done by farm-
ers in his state.
Wednesday morning was devoted to
reports of committees and an address
by National President Barrett of
Georgia, who was a visitor through-
out the meeting. President Barrett
spoke for over an hour, urging farm-
ers to start all their movements by
first raising everything consumed at
home and making themselves as in-
dependent as possible. He declared
that the union is now a firm organiza-
tion, based on the soundest of prin-
ciples. Mistakes have been made but
the union is now through the flounder-
ing period and in a position where it
should make no more mistakes.
The Farmers’ union, he declared,
is on the road to success and will
continue for all time to come.
Wednesday afternoon officers for
the ensuing year were elected with
I tion of officers the delegates were
| given a ride over the beautiful city
of Little Rock as guests of the Little
Rock Traction company.
Thursday was devoted to late re-
ports of committees, resolutions and
final business, and most of the dele-
gates returned to their homes Thurs-
day night
A majority of delegates report crop
conditions most satisfactory and pros-
pects, in many sections, the best in
years. A few counties reported drouth
and some weevils, but, taking Arkan-
sas as a whole the state is very pros-
perous this year, agriculturally speak-
ing.
PRESIDENT BOWERS’ ADDRESS
The annual address of President
John Bowers, Sr., to the state union
convention was as follows:
One year has passed since we as-
sembled in this city last as repre-
sentatives of the great body of organ-
ized farmers of this great state, and
during that period we have enjoyed
great blessings and accomplished
many victories for the people. My
brethren, we should feel deeply grate-
ful to the God of Hosts, who has
been with us in our peaceful battles
and preserved us against the grim
monster of death, for not a single of-
ficer of our state organization has
been called from the walks of men,
though inroads have been made in
the ranks of our membership.
Though our organization is one for
the resisting of industrial and eco-
nomic wrongs and though we at times
look on the dark side of things, it is
right and proper that we also enumer-
ate our blessings and magnify our
opportunities, for in so doing we but
perform a moral duty, perfect our
mental vision and render defeat less
likely.
We have cause to rejoice in the
fact that our great body has made
so good a stand against commercial
outlawry as it has, having commanded
the respect of the business world,
checked the assault of the forces of
monopoly and at the same time dem-
onstrated the great truth that “in
union there is strength."
Unionism is today stronger than
ever, though there are many mem-
bers dropping out, a condition which
we all knew would develop, but it is
gratifying to note that the present
membership is more in earnest than
ever before. In war, it is said that
it is a poor commander who relies
chiefly in numbers. So it is in all
great industrial organizations. We
must rely on the justice of our cause
and the certainty that right will pre-
vail
One on God's side is a majority
according to an old saying, and it is
certain that we are on the side of
right, for no movement which follows
justice, equity and the golden rule
can be confounded with the forces of
evil. So it is one of our first duties
to preserve and make manifest our
moral stand upon everything. One
testimonial of our worth as an organ-
ization is to be seen in the tax which
has been made upon us as an organ-
ization.
It will be remembered that we were
branded as “night riders” last fall,
and whether the charge was the out-
growth of the slander of those who
deplore our legitimate activity, or was
merely the cowardly subterfuge of the
real night rider who meant only to
shield himself by casting the sable
shadow of his own vile deeds across
our good name we know not, but cer-
tain it is that powerful men higher
up encourage the base slander by re-
fusing to credit our body with the
integrity which its clean record is
entitled it to. The defense which we
made against so foul a libel was tak-
en part in by the membership and of-
ficers alike, for all of which I, as your
chief officer, feel grateful indeed.
We should not expect to es ape un-
fair opposition, for no better proof
of an organization’s worthiness and
usefulness can ever be made than that
of absolute smooth-sailing and un-
ruffled content. It is but proof of
our force and usefulness that we are
opposed by the cohorts of greed, graft
and grab.
In our last meeting we voiced a
demand that the following legislature
amend the corporation law so as to
read $5 as a minimum share instead of
$25 as formerly. Also we asked for
a law to better regulate the trans-
portation of perishable products over
the railroads of the state. We further
demanded four agricultural schools for
the state. Each of these demands was
granted by the legislature.
To show you the influence the union
exhibited in legislation, I will recite
a few facts in connection therewith.
Your legislative committee, com-
posed of Brother H. S. Mobley and
myself, instituted a fight for the four
agricultural schools bill, after agree-
ing on the Bellamy bill, which passed
the lower house, after some opposition
by those favoring the one-school plan.
The measure went to the senate, where
it was halted at the second reading by
Senator Glover's objection, he and
others in that body preferring the one-
school bill. At this point your com-
mittee decided to address a circular
letter to the secretaries and members
of the unions over the state instruct-
ing and urging them to write their
respective senators to vote for and
work for the passage of the Bellamy
bill for four schools, or none, reciting
in this circular letter the further fact
that the state union had at three dif-
ferent meetings demanded four
schools. The responses in accordance
with this circular letter were so nu-
merous and prompt as to result in the
passage of the bill, which will give
ou rboys an opportunity to receive
scientific training in the most neces-
sary vocation known to man, and aid
in placing farming on a plane with
the industries which have already re-
ceived attention along the same line.
No’ act which has come under my
observation has quite so forcefully
demonstrated the perfection of organ-
ization among our locals as this. I
received ninety-three letters and postal
cars, besides the number Brother Mob-
ley received, acknowledging com-
pliance with your committee’s request
Their action caused the strongest op-
ponent of the bill in the senate to
surrender without making a fight, con-
tenting himself with merely voting
“No” on the final roll call
Those senator* voting “No” were with your approval
Glover, Carlock and Roland, repre-
senting the counties of Saline, Grant,
Hot Springs, Madison, Carroll, Mar-
ion, Boone and Newton, respectively.
It is very true we must avoid en-
tering personal politics, but it is also
true that if we are to avail ourselves
of the most of our advantages we
must seek the aid of legislation, and
through the agency of the legislative
committee, backed up by the mem-
bership, is found the way.
In every reform to which we ad-
dress ourselves let the first consid-
eration be as to its practicability. Most
of the disappointments which come to
our brethren are the result of vain
and unreasonable hopes and expecta-
tions. Let us maximize our victories
and miinmize our defeats and better
progress will be made. We do not
succeed in anything by avoiding dis-
appointments but by overcoming them.
Brethren, there is one matter to which
I respectfully call your attention, and
that is the condition of our present
state constitution. In places it is
vague and uncertain in its wording.
There are sections in it which, con-
flict with the national constitution. I
want to suggest that this convention
take this matter up and institute
amendments in keeping with the pro-
gress and demand of our great organ-
ization. I do not intend in this ad-
dress to make extensive recommends -
tions as to what our course and ae-
tion shall be during the future, but
I do want to urge increased zeal in
the union spirit and increased activities
among our members. •
Again I would impress upon you the
importance of improved methods in
farming. We are to have four agri-
cultural schools located at different
and favorable paints in the state, and
while it is not expected that shews
schools will be filled by union pupils
only it is expected that the union peo-
ple lead the way inasmuch as the
union brought about the existence of
the institutions. So the opportunity
is soon to confront us of availing our-
selves of these schools which we de-
manded so long. A
It has already been said that the
schools will not be patronized. The
advocates of the one school bill used
this as an argument against the four-
school bill, stating that the farmers
would not take advantage of agricul-
tural training to that extent We must
look to this.
It might be said that there are two
distinct and well defined functions of
our organization. One is educational
and the other co-operative. The ed-
ucational part is more permanent and
more difficult to lose, for even in the
instance of disbanding of the union
the lessons would remain. But if we
Tail to give due consideration to the
co-operative branch we can keep noth-
ing to show for it except a feeling of
self-reproach. We must keep alive
and active both functions. We must
realize that the improvement of the
individual members must result well
for the organization, so let each in-
dividual beware of his responsibility,
for it is only through the aggregate
energies that we are to maintain and
advance our great union.
Many questions have been submitted
to me to rule on, in every instance
of which I have acted as wisely and
fairly as I knew how, having only
the one ambition to serve well and
promote the union success. Since as-
suming my office a year ago I labored
under many disadvantages, having
been in poor health a great deal of
the time, but I have the feeling or
consciousness that I have performed
my duty willingly, if not well; hope-
fully, if not successfully. In conclu-
sion I thank you all for the honor
conferred upon me, having no higher
ambition than that I may have met
7
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Grant, A. W. The National Co-operator and Texas Farm Journal. (Fort Worth, Tex.), Vol. 31, No. 40, Ed. 1 Wednesday, August 11, 1909, newspaper, August 11, 1909; Fort Worth, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth1636894/m1/3/: accessed May 22, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; .