Southern Mercury United with the Farmers Union Password. (Dallas, Tex.), Vol. 27, No. 6, Ed. 1 Thursday, February 7, 1907 Page: 1 of 8
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l cuthern Mercury Established I88O.
Farmers Union Password Established 1903.
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Vol. XXVII, No. 6
Southern Mercury and Farmers Union Password Consolidated May I, 1905.
Dallas* Texas. Thursday, February 7, 1007 $1.00 Per Annum
OFFICIAL REPORT.
THE AUSTIN FARCE.
note that many Unions fail to under-
stand the special assessment of 10
On the Vote on the Adoption of the i cents (which you will note is only for
' "National Constitution." ! one time—not annually.) It seems that
Brethren: We, your president, fee-, many Unions understand this to be
retary-treaBurer, and board of directors j for the payment of last year's expens-
as a quorum of the same, have met, es. Not one dollar of it can be so used.
as per our instruction, and counted! All indebtedness must be paid out of ^
the votes of the Local Unions cast j the regular dues of 2 cents per quar- j Mercury-Password has endeavored to
Nov. 24, on the ratification or rejection ter, or 8 cents for the year. This 10 ' keep its readers posted as to the de-
of the constitution adopted at Tex-i cents is missionary money, and can j velopments as they were brought to
aikana, Tex., Sept. 5-8, 1906. j only be used for extending the Union, i light—and now, as the scene is about
For several weeks past, in fact ever
since the Legislature assembled, the
people of Texas have been surfeited
with a stupendous farce called a legis-
lative investigation of charges against
the junion United States Senator. The
We find that 2695 Local Unions! We who belong to the Union believe"
have voted on this question, 1927 have ! that it is a good thing, and are will-
voted in favor of ratification, and eight ing to contribute 10 cents each to a
Locals have sent in a tie vote.
The vote by States is
as follo>
States
For
Against
Alabama
199
Aikausas
.591
155
California
. 7
• • •
Florida
. 48
14
Georgia
.133
11
Illinois
. 4
• •
Indian Territory
. 28
3
Indlahoma
.107
73
Kansas
. 2
1
Louisiana
. 69
26
Mississippi *
.187
77
P' issourl
.100
8
North Carolina..
• . . .
4
Tennessee
78
25
Texas
.130
344
fund for spreading the organization
s: [ over other States, to hasten the day
Tie; when It shall be the Farmers' Educa-
2 ; tional and Co-operative Union of Ainer-
2 ica in fact as well as in name.
8 Let us all move forward, now, with
renewed energy. If anything gets
wrong we can have it repaired with-
out stopping the machinery. We hope
to so perfect our plans before we have
another crop to market that wc can
, keep in cloee touch with you at all
8 times, and keep you supplied with
1 such information as will enable us to
more effectually regulate and main-
tain the price of our products than we
have ever done in the past—millions
to close and the curtain dropped, we
dismiss the subject with our endorse-
ment of the conclusion presented by
the San Antonio Express in its issue
of Jan. 26, which is as follows:
"The 'suppressing committee,' as
the Bailey investigating committee is
now nicknamed, is rapidly becoming
the target for all kinds of severe criti-
cism on account of its evident inten-
tion, regardless of all other purposes,
to spread a thick coat of whitewash
over the junior senator.
"Instead of a full, fair and com-
plete investigation, the whole matter
damaging nature to Mr. Bailey, has j MORE ABOUT THE COTTON GROW-
also been held in abeyance. Mr. John- ER3' UNION
son testified that Mr. Pierce loaned ,, , .
Mr. Bailey $156,000, und that he came > oniorming to the policy we have al-
to Houston, purchased a controlling
interest in the Southwestern Oil Com-
pany, a concern competing with the
Waters-Pierce Oil Company, and that
wiuiln a few weeks he turned over to
Mr. Pierce thiB controlling Interest in
the company, and its business was
merged with the Waters-Pierce-Stand-
ard Oil trust, thus giving them a tight-
er and an additional grip on the throats
of the people of Texas.
"On the personal protest of Bailey
ways presented of letting both sides
be heard, we give space to the follow-
ing troni the secretary-treasurer of
the new organization, "The Cotton
Growers' Union." It will be noticed
that Bro. Green disavows any purpose
or intent to injure or destroy the Farm-
ers Educational and Co-operative
Union of America. Just how he can
build up t..e Cotton (irowers' Associa-
tion without drawing on the member-
ship of the F. E. and C. U. of A we
Texas State Union, on Jan. 25, some
3 i have already been saved to the South- i ,.
A large majority of the Unions vot- j ern farmer. I !' g;'K "n th" "™8,pap?hrs Prevent
ing voted unanimous, either for or i Assuring you of our earnest, faithful | i0.™ ln,bllshinK the truth- °n'y
against, showing conclusively that the j efforts at all times, and of our im-! * carefully expurgated copy of the
o, our member- Ducit eoe„„ence he.r.y co-! J
is degenerating into a farce which it | ly disgusted with the committee, und
patent, on its face. Not only does this j who brand it aa a high-handed outrage
committee presume to expunge from | en the people and a deliberate effort
the record such matterB as reflect on | on the part of the investigating coin-
Bailey, but it is also attempting to put I mittee to suppress, rather than bring
out the truth."
who stated that he did not want •any! " understand:
such stuff in the record." (small won- a*i a,'"cle "Wearing in the col-
der), the accommodating chairman of ! ',mns your paper over the sipna-
the committee held it in abeyance and I V,'r<! ,,, A- Calvin, president of the
, «... I IOVI1U llttl..M 1 UP _
presumed to prohibit a free press from
publishing it, although the statement
was made on the oath of Bailey's own
witness.
"Such proceedings were never heard
of before in Texas, and there are many
members of .he Legislature thorough
goodness' pake, if you do, pay your
dues like u man, and if you are elepl-
ble, and want to join the Cotton Grow-
ers' Association, do so.
"There are a large number in the
Farmers' Educational and Co-operative
Union who are not eligible to mem-
bership in the Cotton Growers'
Union, and that Is the only class from
A NATION OF TENANT8.
... , ... . - . ; Total population
which much oppos tion to the new or- No. famines, or homes....
ganlzntlon will arise, and we expect ,ramnies ln morfg'd homes
that. The actual farmers move has - -
j miles in rented homes..
always been opposed by classes that FamUles ,n homes free';
were not actual farmers unless you
would open the gate and take them ln
to attend to our business for us; and
so doing is what has brought disrup-
tion in all former farmers' organiza-
tions.
"How many State and National of-
very unjust and misleading statements ! !,()W holding ln Ka,'ln
... I mm * L<H II/.iiii I *>■*>! I i lir/t A iy.
are made relative to the Farmers'
ers' Educational and Co-operative As-
Cotton Growers' Union of Texah. He i BoclaUon, woul<1 ll!,v^ 'fen a member of
says: 'There is a movement in the
West to dismember the Texas Union
and institute a rival organization.'
"Such statement is without founda-
tion. In the declaration of purposes
of the Cotton Growers' Union It is spe-
cifically stated that 'this organization
is not antagonistic to any other farm-
that organization had the eligibility
clause read like that of the Cotton
Growers' Union? If all such had to
step down and out, I expect there
would be several vacancies to fill. No
farmers' organization will ever achieve
any great results und remain In har-
mony until all, except actual farmers,
ship is practically the same every-1 operation: wishing you a happy and ! " 1 p
where. A small per cent of the Unions prosperous year for yourselves and 1 ,k*re
voting had a divided vote.
It seems that the entire membership
of each Local Union generally took
the same view of the constitution, con-
sequently generally voted as a unit.
Had the constitution been fully under-
stood by all, we believe that the vote
lor ratification would have been al-
i.:ost as unanimous as was the vote
for adoption at Texarkana.
The letters accompanying the vote
show clearly that the bulk of the op-
l osition came from a misunderstand-
in fi of certain sections of the consti-
tution.
Jfepeclaliy was this the case with
Antcle 8, Section 2. A very large per
DALLAS COUNTY UNION.
The Dallas County Farmers' Union
een a num-j of Dallas County held a successful
families and success to our great or-
ganization, we are. fraternally,
C. S. BARRETT, President.
R. H.. McCULLOCH,
Secretary-Treasurer. „
W. A. MORR1SS,
CAMPBELL RUSSELL,
W. S. MILLER,
Directors.
LOOK OUT FOR FRAUDS.
The brethren are cautioned by the
State Experiment Station to look out
for fertilizer Irauds, as follows:
About this time of year irresponsi-
xent of the opposition was based en-jble parties go around attempting^ to
t irely upon a misunderstanding of the
intention of and necessity for this sec-
tion.
There was a good deal of objection
sell so-called "recipes for mattpg fer
' |e
terday I had a man fo come. to me
with a recipe In his pocket..for which
meeting on Saturday last, at Lancas-
ter, Tex. The attendance was good,
the interest keen. The discussions, al-
though frequently animated, were in-
variably conducted with the utmost
ber of the leading morning newspa-
pers and the committees to prevent
the people learning of the very dam-
aging evidence that is being given
against Bailey.
"Sworn testimony given by witness-
es summoned by Bailey himseir, is,
being deliberately suppressed by cer- \ good feeling.
Niin morning papers. One of the most i Among the important questions
important facts which the committee [ which came before the body was the
is supposed to establish is whether or j proposition to establish a co-operativo
wot Bailey was employed by the ; 0n mill in the county. The committee
Waters-Pierce Oil Company, and If so j was finally instructed to pursue fur-
employed, whether he was supposed ther investigation in reference to the
to practice law or to sell to the com-
pany his 'political and personal In-
feasibility of the t>
was definitely decided
roposed project. It
to build a
Xluence' in the admission of the com- .Union cotton warehouse in Dallas
lionr to Tovttfl ' n n : * ....
nt Texarkana to this section, not on ■ he had paid )5. and asked /or the ma-
t le part of a few delegates, but on terial for a fertilizer.
t he part of all. After it was thorough-1 If any of your readers are offered
ly discussed and understood that the, an opportunity to get in on the ground
«Id constitution required the entire j floor of the fertilizer business—to
pany to Texas.
"John D. Johnson, the attorney for
the.. Waters-Pierce Oil Company, who
has been the star witness for three
i days, under oath, made several admis-
sions of a most damaging nature
against Bailey, but the Bailey papers
carefully suppressed it. This Is lead-
ing to the open charge in some quar-
County. Proposition^ from any town
ln this county desiring the warehouse
shall have due consideration. Ex-
President N. C. Murray was present,
and addressed the body on the ware-
house question.
At the noon hour the body adjourn-
ed for a magnificent dinner, prepared
, by the good ladies of Lancaster, and
ters that the 'golden hand' of the. spread at the opera house. A cordial
membership to be counted either for! learn how to make fertilizers for $10 i Standard Oil Company is clearly evl-; address of welcome, delivered lt pleas
f r against, then all objection (at least a ton—all by purchasing a five-dollar | "ent in the case. In answer to a ques- j jng style by one of the leading business
" " ' ' ' "on of Representative Cocke of Bexar, men of that enterprising llttie city, was
County as to the purpose of securing i W(.|i received. The speaker dwelt on
the service of Senator Bailey, Mr., th(! good feeling existing between the
Johnson gave the following answer, farmers and business men of that sec-
which was promptly suppressed by the tion, and assured the delegates that it
Bailey papers: | js now becoming apparent to all that
" 'Let me tell you the story about
i ll open objection) was withdrawn, j recipe for making fertilizer#, we wish
i nd the constitution was unanimously to offer the Advice: Don't.
i.dopted. When you purchase a recipe for
Wherever this was correctly tinder- making fertilizers you are parting with
Ftood by the membership the vote was j ^'our"money for nothing. We have
t.eneraliy unanimous for ratification, i seen several of these recipes, and
One Union, the loyalty of which is' have yet to see one that was not
worthy of special commendation, said: j worthless. The mixtures prepared ac-
*'We are bitterly opposed to Article 8, i cording to the directions given are
Saection 2. We consider it unfair and I not worth the time and labor applied,
unjust, but realizing the necessity of! Ingredients are called for which can
a constitution that can be clearly un-j only be purchased at a drug store at
derstood. we vote unanimouslv for. high prices, and, likely as not, are
ftuoption, hut we will never stand for
another vote of this kind."
Brethren, we are glad to say that all
votes hereafter taken will be under
the new constitution, which provides
that every measure shall stand or fall
according to a majority of the vote
actualy cast. See Art. 3, Sec. 6, and
Art. 6. Sec. 2.)
Hereafter, the member who stays
at home and does not come to an elec-
tion, will simply be recorded as a
"dead head," and no accounting made
Of him.
In this election, counting all who
actualy voted, considerably over two-
thirds were for ratification. Counting
those not voting as voting ln the af-
firmative, gives 10 to 1 for ratification.
Counting those not voting as voting in
the negative, would have given a mar
jority against ratification.
Under such a requirement the con-
stitution could not have been changed
—never could. It would have been as
unchangeable as the laws oi the Medes
and Persians. We trust now this is
plain to every one.
Some Unions said: "We vote- for
the old constitution and 5 cents dues.
of no more value to the plants tnan a
piece of coal would be.
But even if you did happen to buy
good directions for mixing a fertilizer
—what then? You have paid your
money for something that could be se-
cured for nothing. This Experiment
Station will at any time send without
charge, directions for mixing any kind
of fertilizer desired.
But, as said before, we have never
yet seen a fertilizer recipe sold for
$5 or any other price, that was not
worthless.
Do not buy fertilizer recipes!
0. S. FRAPS,
Chemist, Texas Experiment Station.
College Station, Texas.
that,' he said, turning to Mr. Cocke:
'When the Supreme Court at Washing
ton affirmed the judgment in the main
case concerning the license of the old
Waters-Pierce Oil Company, Mr.
Pierce and I began looking around
and considering. This was the first
trip. Mr. Pierce wanted to employ
it is not only the right, but the duty,
of the farmers lo organize for the pro-
tection of agricultural Interests. Hon.
N. C. Murray delivered an appropriate
response in Ills usual earnest and fe-
licitous style.
After these addresses the audience
was invited to line up to several long
tables which were groaning beneath
who enter tills new organization se-
cessionists? Have not the members of
the Fanners' Educational and Coop-
erative Union the right to join any oth-
er organization of farmers they see
fit?
gallon they assumed when they enter
ed the Farmers' Educational and Co-
operative Association that debarred
them from joining or forming another
farmers' organization?
"While I he Grange was still in ex-
istence was not the Alliance brought
forth? And did Bro. Calvin or any one
else over hear the Grange members
who joined the Alliance being called
secessionists for so doing?
Such misleading statements as tho e
seem to be tor a very specific purpose,
and it doesn't require a sage to. very
correctly conjecture what those pur-
poses are. It is very evident to all
thinking people that such stateiMtais
are only calc ulated to prejudice (lie
minds of the people against the new
organization; but It will be effective
only with those who have not studied
the situation. I have thought for some
time that our State president was in'
dorsiug the National machine, but
since he comes out squarely and says
there in no cause for this cllssallsfac-
Orowers" Union, Snyder, Tex.
additional counsel who possessed good | u profusion of toothsome viands. This
QO SLOW, BRETHREN I
personal and political influence. It
was very natural for clients to look
around for lawyers of that character.
He had never met Senator Bailey, but
was very favorably impressed with
him. In talking the matter over with
Governor Francis one clay—that's
ahead of the story. Mr. Pierce deter-
mined to come down here and surren-
der himself on an indictment at Waco
so that he could give personal attention
to it so he eould see Bailey and make
an arrangement—employ him on be-
half of Waters-Pierce Oil Company.
Francis had recommended Senator
Bailey.
"Mr.- Johnson, the friend of' Senator
Bailey, vouched for by Senator Bailey,
swore as follows:
'"Mr. Pierce wanted to employ ad-
ditional counsel who possessed good
personal and political influence.'
"So anxiou-' • Mr. Pierce to se-
cure Senator 's personal and po-
o help him out of a
part of the program was slighted by
none.
While the dishes were being clear-
ed away short addresses were made
WAREHOUSE FOR ROGERS.
Little River District Union met Jn
regular sobbIoii Saturday, Jan. 12, }907,
Was there anything In the obli-j wlt" j*®*1 No- f17 a"d ,t0°^
life fot' the warehouse to bp er/'t UM at
Rogers. There was <«AAsual time
had a|)d plenty ,t0' <'&'• There was a
good irowd oti( nnd an open session
just after dinner that was altly con
duckted by our worthy State vice pres-
ident, Bro. J. A. Wheeler, that result-
ed in an addition of nine to our Union
—seven ladles and two men. At night
we had a public session. There was a
large? crowd out to hear Bro. J. A.
Wheeler, Bro. J. P. Baugh, Bro. J. L.
Bird and the goold old ono-gallus
tarmer. Bro. J. W. Smith, our district
and county president.
We do not feel that unionism Is dy-
ing out her6, yet w« believe thut the
next season will see a Farmers Union
warehouse at Rogers. The warehouse
Committee expects every Union and
itnlbn min und woman to get them-
selves In readiness to help them In the
good cause.-
Now, brethren, the good sisters have
never failed to feed you well wherever
jron have set a place of meeting. They
tion and "secession, "as he terms'U,"it { h ve been true to their duty, and now
is evident that he indorses the whole! "'ey a1"0 thinking that It. Is time you
'push.' But while a few are Indorsing I w,'r" doing" your duly. rhcy see a
It, the great rank and file are oppos-1 need for a warehouse? at Rogers and a
Ing It, and thai is what is troubling I col ton company at Hoiialvn to support
the minds of a few officials. They "•> H<> they have, by their klml acts,
clearly see the hand-writing on the i proved to us that we must do jscjine-
1 thing. Brethren all over the South'
land, let's do our duly, be true to,our
.589,291
.197,789
. 60,437
. 16.789
wall. They fully realize that such an
eligibility clause as thai contained ln
the constitution of the Cotton Grow-
ers' Union is going to sweep Texas.
"Ves, (he State and National consti-
tutions of the F. E. and C. U. of
A contain the referendum and Im-
perative mandate, llul so shrewdly
are (he provisions arranged for execut-
ing that clause that the* membership
has but little say so—. and sometimes
no say at all. How about the vote on
cause and prepare! ourselves so we may
he ready to meel our dues next fall.
R. E. WATSON.
Tex., Jan. 4, 1907.
Ilctclcnhclmei
DO YOUR DUTY.
by A. M. Colwick and B. I1. Chapman, jjiaf National constitution? Do you
The Abilene Organization.
To the Members of Farmers' E.
and C. Union: Brethren—I have just
finished reading the eligibility clause
of that new organization calling it-
sef the 'Cotton Growers' Union," and i litleal influence __
It wai, I must say, with surprise and I hole, that Mr. Johnson "swore that"
astonishment that I found that the | -"Mr. Pierce determined to come
. ... .. very evil against which they are fight- j down here and surrender himself on
ft- d',. "v,Tw Cfl«S«mD°f^ran(f I ,ng 18 Incorporated in their organic ' an indictment at Waco—so he could
*= ^ Jk ?!!' ~ of ! law. After proclaiming that no person j Bee Bailey and make an arrangement-
fact, the old constitution plainly re- i g^all. be eligible to membership ex-
quired 20 cent• dues per year, to be l rept an actUal farmer—living on the
f611 ?i_, e ge®era' secretary. We ■ farm—they surrender the whole prop-
know this constitution was not suited . OBjtion by a later clause which reads
to present needs, end It would have, follows: "Provided, that the above
been destructive to State Unions to! sball not apply members of the
have enforced It. So we borrowed
money and ran the Union on credit
last year. The 8 cents dues which will
be paid this year must cover two
years' expenses. Provisions have al-
ready been made for reducing the dues
to 5 cents per annum at the next an-
nual meeting without the trouble or
expense of a referendum vote.
The dues can never be raised with-
out a referendum vote, and they can
be reduced to 1 cent or 1 mill by a ref-
erendum vote if the membership so
desire.
The new constitution, which is now
In force, makes it easy to make any
changes in our laws which the mem-
bership deem best.
. Study the constitution, become ac-
quainted with its requirements, and
If you find anything objectionable,
change it If any officer fails to per-
his duties satisfactorily, remove
order who are selected by the order
to buy and sell, under the supervision
of the order." My brother, don't you
know they will have trouble with these
"provided" brethren? I am an actual
farmer. I have no interest in anything
apart from the farm except a Farmers'
Union cotton warehouse, and I am
willing to co-operate with ail farmers'
organizations. But let us go slow,
lest we show ourselves to be penny-
wise and pound-foolish; l« st we turn
from light and victory to darkness and
confusion. Go slow, my brother; go
■low! W. P. STINSON.
Ellasvllle, Tex.
One more word of explanation. We
The annual Fat Stock Show of the
National Feeders' and Breeders' As-
sociation Will be held in Fort Worth
March 20 to 23rd. It will be the
greatest gathering of fine stock ever
brought together in the South, includ-
ing eattle, horses, mules, keg*, efaeep,
goats and poultry.
employ him in behalf of the Waters-
Pierce Oil Company.'
"That the situation wan desperate
Is shown by the fact that Mr. Pierce
was willing to surrender himself on
an indictment, conviction of which
charge meant a term in the penitenti-
ary, in order to secure Mr. Bailey's
personal and political influence to get
the trust back Into the State. Mr.
Johnson says nothing about loam*,
nothing about a personal arrangement
with Mr. Pierce, but says that Mr.
Pierce was to employ Mr. Bailey tn
behalf of the Waters-Pierce Oil com-
pany.
"This is the kind of testimony that
is being suppressed day after day. Not
even the members of the Legislature
are permitted to be present it the
hearing, and when the record (tf the
testimony goes back to then, the com-
mittee will have expurgated from it
every single sentence that reflects on
the man they have Beemlngly determin-
ed to 'whitewash.' This will force
those who show a desire to give the
people justice to go outside the rec-
ord to show cause for their action.
"Another portion of Mr. Johnson's
testimony, which was even of a more
and a number of Instrumental selec-
tions were rendered by some of the ac-
complished young ladles of -Lancaster
ancl vicinity, in a most creditable man-
ner.
A bejarei of directors for the proposed
warehouse was elected as follows: W.
H. Hilton, J. H. Lawle-r, E. M. Dinwid-
dle, A. M. Colwick, B. F. Chapman, J.
A. Carver and J. M. Young. The com-
mittee was empowered to add to its
number, by appointment of a sub-com-
mitteemen for various towns. F. M.
Mitchell was added for Lancaster.
Every member of the organization In
Dallas County should take at least erne
share of stock.
Appropriate resolutions eif thanks to
the Lancaster Union for Its hospital-
ity were adopted.
The County Union adjourned to meet
at Dallas, Commercial Club rooms, on
the first Saturday in April.
VALUABLE COTTON STATISTICS.
President Calvin Is in receipt of
some 300 copies of the proceedings of
the International Spinners and Manu-
facturers' Assflfelallon, held In Bremen,
Germany, last June. This report con-
tains much valuable Information on
cotton production, distribution and
manufacture, and shows the efforts
being put forth by the spinners to get
Into direct communication with the
cotton producers of the South. These
books are tendered Uro. Calvin compli-
mentary by the International Spinners'
Congress, and he will forward a copy
free to any Texas County Union pres-
ident desiring one. The book contains
200 pages of valuable data about cot-
ton.
Any newspaper which pretends to
champion the cause of union labor-In
any of Its subdivisions and falls or re-
fuses to carry the Typographical Union
label at its masthead Is exposing its
inconsistency, and Is unworthy of the
patronage of organized labor. Look
over.your union paper and see which
of them bears the Typographical Union
label, at the head at Its editorial col-
umns.
Indorse that method, Bro. Calvin? 1
presume you do, for when that was
being agitated you kept as silent as
the grave on that particular thing.
The rank and file had explicit, confi-
dence In you up lo that, time, and they
listened and longed to see something
from your pen entering a protest
against such monarchical rulings.
"Then, If measures can be railroad,
ed through the constitution we have,
have we any assurance that any other
tneausure could not be worked
through In the same high-handed way?
"Now, Bro. Calvin, let's Bee whore
your consistency Is. You urge loyal-
to the constitution. By what au-
thority do you proclaim to the mem-
bership of Texas that they can remain
in good standing without paying Na-
tional dues. Have the National offi-
cials any authority to make such a
proclamation? it's an open violation
of the National constitution to give
out. the password to any member who
has not paid the National dues for
last year and this, also the 10-cent as-
sessment. Now, you say publicly, to
the membership, violate the constitu-
tion, pay no National dues unless you
want to, and shall still remain in gcrod
standing.
"Now, who is in open rebellion—the
Slate official who makes such a proc-
lamation, or the honest farmers who
want to get together and organize a
strictly farmers' organization that does
not antagonize any other organization
of farmers or laboring men?
"Now, Bro. Calvin, that sort of taffy
may hold some together. It's not the
little amount of dues that any mem-
ber cares for. It's the principle in-
volved. 1 believe the great majority
of members who oppose the entire Na-
tional outfit will not be bullied Into
submission by having that little fee re-
mitted.
"We don't want a password that has
to be smuggled through; that would
not be legitimate. Pay your National
dues like a man, and if you are elegl-
mate way, or step down and out. That's
the only honorable thing to do, and I
don't advise any member to step out
I say, stay in if you want to; but, for
I am sorry to hear of some Union
brethren starting another Union.
Brethren, don't do that! Such work
has been the nndoing of every attempt
for relief yet made by the
working people. Let's coine to-
gether and reason, cine with the other.
Those who are weak and Ignorant
should take The Mercury-Password.
Those who can't stand the National
Union should wait till we have all
met again and discussed our diffcr-
ances, and then we can decide on an
intelligent course or action.
Our State president says we don't
the boast of Amorlca; Its teachings and
Influences, which have been the breath
of life to her institutions, have been
destroyed, and a majority of the peo-
ple made to depend upon a dominant
class standing between them and their
nHtive soli. M. A. DRINKARD,
—In Farmers' Journal.
Elsewhere In this issues we give tho
report of the directors of the "Nation-
al Farmers' Educational and Co-opes-
nlivc Union of America on the result
of the vote on the proposed National
constitution framed at Texarkana oa
the 5th and 6th of September last.
While it Is quite elaborate, it doe*
not. give the data necessary to removo
the doubts ln the minds of many M
to Its legality and correctness.
It shows that out of 11,364 Loctf
have to pay National dues If we don't' Unions In good standing In the organ-
want to. We will get the worel Just
the same. Bro. Barrett Is a whole-
souled man, ancl can be relied on to
do the right thing. I don't, say that
everything he has done was right, but
remember none of us are perfect.
I^t's stay with'the Union. We are
Just getting to Where we can do some
good. The warehouse movement will
do us a world of good If wo will use
It properly. We have much to en-
courage us now, so don't listen to
any one who would have you aid In
destroying our order. We must bear
and forbear, do our duty, and urge
others to do so. J. O. FIFE.
l.adonia, Tex.
FARMER8' UNION MAGAZINE.
The February number of the Farmers'
Union M'ngnslne, edited by Alfred M.
Colwick, of Dallas, Is Just out and car-
ries a very valuable and interesting
table of contents, Including among
other subjects treated, such timely
topics as the following: Women as
Farm "Hands," Union Warehouses, un-
e-arneul Wealth, Hankers Want Elastic
currency, A Re-sl Wducator, Intelligent
Farming, Erm st Howard Crosby, Navi-
gating the- Air, Fanners' Market
Ilouse-s, How a Woman Fought a
Trust, The Unearned Increment, Roose-
velt's Panama Perforinancce, The Far-
mers' Union and Its Work, A word to
Non-Union Farmers, The Russian Sit-
uation, Popular Rule vs. Corporation
Rule, Your Children's Prospects, Na-
tional Union Conference, Wasteful
Methods of Handling Cotton, etc., etc.
A stamp will bring a specimen num-
ber. You can get this splendid maga-
slne, the regular subscription price
being one dollar, and the Mercury-
Password one year for only $1.36.
Izatlon, as reported by the secretary
at the Texarkana meeting, only (895
took any action at all on the matter,
and of these only 1747 voted In favor
of its adoption, or less than 15 per
cent of Locals comprising the organ-
ization. Texas, which has far mora
Locals than any other State—about
4000, In fact— protested against its
adoption, not so much because of its
opposition to a National Union, but
because of certain objectionable feat,
ures contained in the document, anfl
especially because of unfair methods
used to secure Its adoption.
The summary does not show
whether the Locals wttich voted foe
Its adoption were small in member-
ship or large—whether the 1747 which
Voted for the adoption averaged ten
members or less, or whether they all
were ln good standing at the time the
vote was taken.
FIRST COUNTY ORGANIZATION.
Scurry County now has seven stroqf
Locals of the Farmers' Cotton Giw*
era' Union and the county will be tbosi
oughly organized by the 16th ln^
the date Bet for organization of thi
county. It ia no trouble to organia*
a real farmers' organisation, for whas
you tell the farmers that no one bal
a faimer who farms the soil can Jala
this order, they are anxious to bo
come members. God speed the das
when tho farmers of the South wtl
have an organization of their own
wherein there will be no conflicting in-
terests. Then we will have unity ft
action in the marketing of our cotto%
the great money crop of our South
land. JOHN W. BAKER.
Snyder, Tex.
;ff!
* .
4
From the Federal census of 1900 th#
following Interesting and startlini
facts are disclosed:
OOO'OOO'OOS'Kt S 'II jo miBdM iB}oj
Wealth per capita 1,231
Total real estate value.. 16,614,647,491
75,303,38V
16,187.715
2.196.378
8,365,739
5,625.601
From tho above figures wo find that
only 31 per cent of the families of the
United States live in their own homea,
free from encumbrance, while 69 per
cent live in mortgaged or rented homes.
Again: These figures show that the
aggregated land values are in the
hnnds of this 31 per per cent of the
population, with the other 69 per cent
subject to their terms for shelter to
protect them and their families. What
u revelation! Witli all of our vast do-
main of free lands—tho property of rtl
tho people—about exhausted, and with
the home sites monopolized and heM
for speculation beyond the reach of
the Industrial masses, how dark the
future for the homeless!
What has tills government to offer
to the great industrial classes to secure
their devotion, to develop their patriot-
ism? What is there in the future for
this class? What becomes of tho patri-
otism of a citizen when ho Is robbed of
n home and forced to labor for a mere
pittance allowed by a favored few, who
have been allowed to monopolize for
speculative purposes the land intended
for his home? Can a government
which maintains and supports such a
ccinclition of affairs ect the love and
patriotism of those whom It suffers to
be oppressed? Common sense, reason,
equity and justice demand that all the
powers of government shall be brought
to besr In remedying tho evils and dan-
gers that exist, ancl by wlso legislation
restore and protect the rights and lib-
erties of the people, as handed down by
our patriotic fathers.
Look at the conditions In "grand old
Texas" which these census figures re-
veal:
Total number families
Families, owning homes free...
Families In mortgaged homes.
Families In homes unknown...
Families In rented homes 303,871
Families in homes unknown
tenure 21,707
The above figures appear more
startling when viewed in their relative
proportions, as follows:
Families owning homes free, 37 per
cent; families ln mortgaged homes,
10 per cent; families In rented homea,
53 per cent.
Making 63 per cent of the population
of Texas dependent upon 37 per cent
for the very roofs which shelter them.
The people have, from a nation of free
home-owners, been reduced to depend-
ence upon a favored class for the rooCt
which shelter their helpless families.
The American home, which has been
*
jjsl
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Southern Mercury United with the Farmers Union Password. (Dallas, Tex.), Vol. 27, No. 6, Ed. 1 Thursday, February 7, 1907, newspaper, February 7, 1907; Dallas, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth186279/m1/1/: accessed April 24, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; .