Southern Mercury United with the Farmers Union Password. (Dallas, Tex.), Vol. 26, No. 1, Ed. 1 Thursday, January 4, 1906 Page: 4 of 8
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Ut,
00T7THEBN MEBCURY AND FARMERS UNION PASSWORD!,
United with the
FARMERS UNION PASSWORD.
Weekly.
ONE DOLLAR PER ANNUM.
Published every Thursday by the
FARMERS' UNION PUBLISHING CO
Entered at the Dallas. Texas, postof-
fice as mall matter of the second class.
Main Office: 218-216 Commerce St.
(corner Lamar. Gaston Building). Dal-
las. Texas
Change of Address—Subscribers re-
questing a change of address must Rive
the OLD as well as the NKW uddress.
Advertising rates furnished upon ap-
plication. Address all communications,
and make all drafts, money orders, etc..
payable to __
. MILTON PARK, MANAGER.
DALLAS TEXAS.
We take pleasure in correcting any
■nd all errors—don't fail to give full
particulars, dates, amounts, etc., when
making a complaint. Write names
plainly. This will reduce mistakes to
the minimum. Our agents are re-
quested to ask their Postmaster to in-
form us of any oopy not taken out.
Secretaries will please write us for
apeoial terms to agents.
OUR NEW YEAR RESOLUTION.
My Country.
Resolved, to become a soldier in the
Army of the Common Good; never to
suffer graft in silence, nor endure the
acquaintance of grafters; to enforce
the Square Deal, and in all my relations
with politics and government to re-
member that I am first of all an Amer-
ican Citizen.
My Neighbors.
..Resolved, to lend my neighbor in need
a helping hand; to be kind; to judge
tolerantly; to be patient with afflic-
tion or misunderstanding; to extend
to others the degree of courtesy and
consideration I require them to accord
me.
Myself.
Resolved, to play fair; to speak true;
to hold sacred my pledge, my friend-
ships, and my obligations; not to ask
another to do aught I dare not or would
not do myself—above all, ever to keep
well in mind that wealth is no corollary
•f worth and success no evidence of
character.
RESOLVE TODAY.
1. That you will not buy anything on
credit that you can possibly do with-
out.
2nd. That you will make no mort-
gage on your crop.
3rh. That you will raise everything
neoded to -supply your family that you
can on your farm.
4th. That you will decrease your
cotton acreage at least 20' per cent
this year.
6th. That you will attend regularly
the meetings of your Local and County
Union.
6th. That you will use your Influence
to get your neighbors to Join the Un-
ion.
7th. That you will practice the Golden
Rule in all your dealings with your
fellow man.
8th. That you will acquaint your
wife with all your business and consult
With her about sales and purchases
you make.
9th. That you will make a special
effort every once or twice In awhile to
extend the circulation of the Mercury-
Paesword, the only Union paper of any
general circulation In the South which
possesses vim, snap, aggressiveness
and real convictions, never squirms,
dodges nor crawfishes, "never wabbles
In the spindle," and never for a mo-
ment deserts the Interests of the boys
at the forkB.
HOW THE FRENCH GOVERNMENT
PROTECT8 THE FARMER.
Frances foreign trade In agricultural
produce. During the last few wears
the excess of Imports over exports has
disappeared and given rise to un excess
of agricultural exports as follows:
1900 100,000.000 francs
1901 152,000,000 francs
1902 212.000,000 francs
1903 62,000,000 francs
1904 124,000,000 franca
These figures make It clear that pro-
tection has not operated dlsadvanta-
geously to the French farmer.
DISCRIMINATE AGAINST FARM-
ERS.
The railroads and mine operators of
Indlahoma have combined ag:ilrixt the
Fanners' Union, and refuse to ship
coal for the organization. True, the
railroads are public carriers. True,
they have no right to delay the moving
of cars—yet they do so. True, the coal
lands of which the South McAlestor
Coal company operates Is public do-
main, and not private property, and
the company has no legal right to re-
fuse to discriminate against organized
farmers—yet It does so.
Thore Is some talk of petitioning
Congress, and of bringing the matter
before the Interslute Railway Com-
mission. Meanwhile the farmers aro
getting It where the chicken got the
axe. And Congress and the Commis-
sion aro losing no sleep over such out-
rages.
The present duties Imposed by the
French government on foreign cereals
•re equal to an Import duty of from
SO to 40 per cent on wheat and from
40 to 60 per cent (ad valorem) on flour.
However, these corn duties are not Im-
posed In a mechanical or arbitrary
fashion, but are liable to be lowered or
suspended in case of need. In 1S98,
(or Instance, when the stock of cereals
had run very low In consequence of bad
harvest and when bread prices threat-
ened to become excessively high, the
government suspended the corn duties
for a time in order to provide cheap
gcaln and to defeat the machinations
of those who try, at the cost of the
nation, to profit by the temporary
scarcity of bread stuffs. France meana
to protect her agriculture at any cost,
and therefore, she refuses to conclude
commercial treattes which restrict her
liberty of action with respect to corn
duties.
The effect of France's protective pol-
icy, has on the whole, been most sat-
isfactory. If we leave out of account
•11 those exotic agricultural products
Which France can not raise herself, we
find that in 1884, the year which pre-
ceded the Imposition of heavy protec-
tive duties on grain and other agricul-
tural products, France imported pro-
duce to the value of 1,094 000,000 francs
•nd exported agricultural products to
the value of only 862,000.000 francs.
Hence France had to pay to foreign
countries • balance of 441,000,000
francs for agricultural produce which
•he might have raised herself and be-
jher home market was spoiled by
-Cheap foreign products.
tariffs of INS. 1887 and 1894
hanged the aspect of
THE WACO AMENDMENTS.
Tho voto on the Waco amendments
aro being counted, and announcement
of the result will soon be made. Owing
to tho Texarkana meeting the count
could not be mado as early as was
intended. The Mlncola constitution Is
In force until due notice is given. Local
secretaries should send to Secretary
Chapman 5 cents por quarter as dues
for each male member. The Mlneola
constitution says 10 cents, but tho
original executive committee more
than a year ago ruled that 5 cents
(one-third instead of two-thirds)
would suffice.
DRUNKARD-MAKING NOSTRUMS.
The ruling of tho Internal Revenue
Commmlssioner, requiring a liquor sell-
ers' license and tax of all makers and
dealers of patent medicines that con-
tain ulcohol In undtio quantity, will he
enforced after Jan. 1, 1906, says Farm,
Stock arid Home. The chemical bu-
reau of tho commission has completed
analysis of eleven such remedies (?)
that will come under the order, and
more are being analyzed. Whatever
may result from this wholesome act
of the government, In possllrie actions
at law on the part of the assailed booze
put up expressly for the use of pro-
hibition families, a flood of Information
regarding tho character of such stuff
will come from it that will do great
good. For millions of mothers will be
made to understand what they are do-
ing towards the ultimate ruin of tholr
sons, if not daughters, when they dose
them with fancy cocktails distinguished
as panaceus for all the Ills flesh Is heir
to, that they are deluded into buying
and giving to their loved onos.
THE WACO MINUTES.
Much hns been Bald nbout the pub-
lication of the Minutes of the Waco
meeting. Much has been said with a
view of Injuring me personally. My
plan Is to never explain but to go
ahead and do my work, and am willing
at all times to be judged by my work.
I only make this explanation now on
behalf of tho Texas State ofllcials.
About six weeks aftor the Waco meet-
ing, part of the minutes were sent to
me. The balance, which" consists of all
tho resolutions and some of the re-
ports, have never been turned over to
me. I explained this matter to tho
gentlemen who have been causing all
this trouble and they said they would
set me right, but they have repeatedly
tried to set me wrong. I am ready
at any time to print the minutes and
send them out when they are furnished
to me, but, I must insist that It Is Im-
possible for me to print them until I
get the copy. If anybody elsu Is smart
enough to print them without tho
copy they may have the Job. Fra-
ternally, O. P. PYLE.
The above purports to be in behalf
of the officials. Yet it charges that
tho Waco resolutions were not fur-
nished the printer.
J. E. Thomas, who was Acting Sec-
retary at the time that the minutes
were turned over to Secretary Jame-
son, of the Executive Committee* has
repeatedly stated that the minutes of
the entire proceedings were furnished
Secretary Jameson on Aug. 30 or 31.
Some of the resolutions were re-
ferred to during the sittings of the
committee, hence were In evidence.
Furthermore, a letter Is on file In this
office from J. E. Thomas, date of Aug.
22, stating thut "I have the minutes of
the Waco meeting ready to be printed
In pamphlet form."
B. F. Chapman and J. E. Thomas
both state that until up to nbout the
middle of November neither O. P. Pylc
nor any one else had as much as
hinted, much less Informed them, of
this claim about not being furnished
the resolutions and other reports.
As a matter of foqt, the Mercury-
Pasword in Us issue of Nov. 23rd, did
state that O. P. Pyle gives as his rea-
son for not printing the minutes, that
he "has never been furnished with a
complete copy of the proceedings, hence
his Inability to do the work. We are
not advised as to who Is responsible
for the loss or retention of a part of
the official manuscript of the proceed-
ings, but we do feel that an explana-
tion Is due the membership by some-
body."
The Mercury-Password further ob-
served that "there were many Impor-
tant matters discussed and determined
at Waco—matters which affect tho
organization vitally: matters which the
membership at large should be Inform-
ed on. The minutes will be compara-
tively worthless to most of the mem-
bership If delayed till the vote on tho
constitutional amendments shall have
been taken, and the question of a na-
tional organization shall have been de-
cided. We charge no particular mem-
ber with blame but that some one
has blundered seriously thore Is Utile
doubt."
Several others think so, too.
THE REFERENDUM IN , MAINE.
The Maine State. Orange has placed
Itself on record squarely In favor of
the Initiative and referendum. The
resolutions adopted a*e models of
cogent and convincing enunciation of
the Justice of direct legislation. It
will bo seen that tho Farmers' Union
Is not the only farmers) organization
which endorses the principle. The
resolutions follow:
"Whereas, the question of so chang-
ing tho constitution of this State so as
to make It possible for the people
wherever a reasonable number may
so desire, to vote directly on any pro-
posed law Is now being discussed by
the people of this State, and
"Whereas, the members of our order
believe that this legislation will tend
to make the will of the people more
readily expressed and Is therefore In
accord with the principles on which
our government Is founded; be It
"Resolved, That the Maine Grange
place Itself on record as favoring the
Initiative and referendum In munici-
pal, State and National affairs.
"Resolved, That as we believe In the
sovereignty of the people, wo believe
that, could the voters be allowed to
participate directly in such legislation
as they might see lit to pass upon, It
would have an effect to check arbi-
trary, and unwise laws, interest and
educate the best people In s -lf govern-
ment and correct many of the abuses
which aro everywhere recognized.
"Resolved, That we commend most
heartily tho members of the last leg-
islature who voted for the initiative
and referendum and that we call upon
the next legislature to submit a con-
stitutional^ amendment to the people,
which If adopted shall make the Ini-
tiative and referendum a part of the
fundamental law of Maine."
As there are only about 200,000 vot-
ers In Maine, the Grange added to that
of the labor unions' and the members
of the Referendum leagues are certain
to secure a majority of both houses of
the legislature and probably the nec-
essary two-thirds to udopt the refer-
endum amendment.
all farmers and stockmen In the dry
sections of the State.
The Co-operative Union of Germany
has a membership of 650,000. During
the past year they did a business of
about $50,700,000, and paid back to
their members as prolita about. $4,250.-
000.'
THAT COTTON SCHOOL.
Tho cotton school idea should not be
allowed to drop. Every County Busi-
ness Agent should avail themselves of
tho opportunity to fit themselves for
handling cotton and protecting the In-
terests of their constituency. Your
county could well afford to pay tho ex-
pense of tuition of reliable young man
to bo qualified to handle your cotton
Interests. Those interested should
write President Cnlvln.
That Territorial convention, calltyl
by a district Union to consider tho
propriety of forming a separate Terri-
torial Union for Indian Territory, Is
set for South McAlester, not Tisho-
mingo. Jun. 17. The State officers of
Indlahoma explain that their sole pur-
pose for securing an additional char-
ter was purely to more fully cover the
business sldo of tho organization, and
It Is hoped that no precipitate action
will bo taken, and that matters will
be adjusted in a manner reasonably
satisfactory to the membership of both
Territories, since a division would
necessarily entail the additional bur-
den of an extra set of officers, etc.,
etc.
The United States Postoffice De-
partment is about thirty years behind
the other countries of the world in the
matter of handling packages. .Weight
is limited to four pounds, and it costs
nearly six times as much to send an
eleven-pound package from Dallas to
Fort Worth as it does to send a hun-
dred and ten pounds through the Ger-
man postoffice from Berlin to the- most
distant point of Austria. In other words,
our cost is $5,900 per cent greater.
The four "insuperable obstacles" to a
parcels post in the United States are—
according to Ex-Postmaster General
John Wanamakor—the Adams Ex-
press Company, the Amerioan Express
Company, the Wells Fargo Express
Company, and the Southern Express
Company. He has further declared
that parcels could be carried by the
postoffice department, with its 76,000
offices, at one-twelfth the oost now
paid by the publio to express com-
panies. Write your congressman, or
better get up a petition demanding a
parents post. The express monopoly
has oppressed the common people
long enough—this "hold-up" must
cease.
The Executive Committee of the F.
E. & C. U. of A. la now in sosslon
at general headquarters, 260 Elm street.
The committee elected at Texarkana
will doubtless be In attendance with a
view of taking charge; but as such
transfer can be effected now. 4t Is safe
to say that the present officers will
continue to perform the duties which
some of those elected at Texarkana
are so anxious to handle." Organizers
In Mississippi, Missouri, Tennessee, tho
Caroltnas. Florida, California, Oregon,
etc., should make their reports to no
one but General Qrganlzer J. D. Mont-
gomery.
James Hogan Hyde, late president
of the Equitable, recently spent some-
where from $20,000 to $30,Of© on a
dinner to Sarah Bernhardt. Mr. Hyde
Is an eminently respectable, high-
toned young gentleman, and quite a
philanthropist, too. He spent this
money Just merely to help the work-
ing people, don't you know.
The authorities of the Agricultural
and Mechanical College have arranged
with the managers of the X. I. T. ranch
at Channing In the Panhandle to carry
on a series of experiments to determine
the value of milo malse and KnlDr corn
as cattle feeds. The results of the ex-
periments should be of great value to
The small farm well tended offers
a fuller life und better social environ-
ment than a large farm and will pay
as great a prolit to u farmer who un-
derstands scientitlc and Intensive cul-
tivation.—Maxwell's Talisman.
"Delays are dangerous," so the
proverb goes. But designing men
sometimes create delays In order to
avert danger to their pets or pet
schemes.
Elsewhere will be found an outline
of the contents of J. L>. Montgomery's
legislative report. Get a copy and find
out how your "representatives" voted.
Another year has departed—but no
minutes yet.
Have you turned a new leaf?
BUSINESS*ATTD* POLITICS.
The referendum system Is the easiest
road to reform and honest political con-
ditions.
The business man who Is not In a
trust or combine, and if the volume of
freight ho controls is not large enough
to force the corporations .to give him
a special rebate, does not flourish as
he formerly did when there was* open
competition in business. He pays moro
than his fair share of taxation, na-
tional, state and city, unless ho has
Joined with the grafters to control as-
sessments on his property or Is pro-
tected by tho tariff In any products
ho may produce. What such a busi-
ness man requires Is a restoration of
tho old doctrine of equal rights to nil
and special privileges to none.
How can the business man obtain
equal rights with his combined com-
petitors and how can he help abolish
special privileges to those who now
have them? There would appear to be
but one way. and that Is through tho
opportunity to pass upon the acts of
representatives of the people In Con-
gress, in the State Legislature and In
city councils through tho referendum
system. The business man can under
that system demand a vote on any law
or ordinance If five per cent of the
voters will Join him in requesting that
a referendum vote be ordered. If the
business man wants a new law passed
or an old one repealed a similar peti-
tion with the proposed law annexed
will compel the legislative body to con-
sider It and either pass It or substi-
tute another law for it, or improve the
proposed law by amending It. In any
event the law as It was Initiated with
the substituted or amended law, both
go to the referendum vote of the peo-
ple. Does not the business man think
that this Improved dyBtem of law mak-
ing and the approval or veto, of the
people to be more likely to give him
what he wants than bi corporation con-
trolled grafting legislative body Is
likely to do? It Id useless for those
with special privileges, or those seek-
ing such, to buy the law makers, for
the voters would never ratify such a
corrupt bargain, which, although con-
cocted, secretly, is bound to show Its
bruzen front lu the body of the law.
It Is thus that the business man, in
conjunction with honest voters, can
under the referendum system, abolish
grafting and corruption and every one
has a square deal.
There Is but little energy necessary
to be used to Install this reform ex-
cept to organlzo a Referendum League,
as the voters of those cities and States
have done that have anticipated them-
selves under this system. The whole
secret lies In the questioning of the
candidates of all parties If they will
vote for the referendum system and
then vote only for thoae who pledge
themselves In writing to do so. The
plnn Is non-partisan and honest voters
of all parties can unite to accomplish
this reform without seceding from their
political affiliations. The majority of
the voters everywhere are favorable to
the referendum system and only need
a few influential citizens to arouse
them to act. It Is a business way of
securing good government.
MR. LAWSON'S PARALLEL.
Between the Silent Prey Hunters of
Wall Street and the Noiseless An-
nihilators of the Jungle.
"Years ago," says Mr. Lawson, in the
conclusion of "Frenzied Finance," in the
January Exerybody's, "I was impressed
by the story of an African explorer
who, having traversed a thousand miles
of pathless forest, forded great rivers,
and crossed two ranges of precipitous
mountains, was ,ln the last lap of his
heart-grinding Journey, engulfed in a
quicksand. Untouched he had passed
among ferocious beasts and cruel sav-
ages; the (lerce waters had spared htm,
nnd with sure steps he had climbed
through dark ravines, up awful sum-
mits; yet, at tho end, after eluding
deuth la all lta sterner forms, he per-
ished Ignobly In a swamp. It came
over mo as I speculated on this man's
inglorious fate, that in softness inheres
as great destruetlveneso as in force.
In the yielding suction of the morass
was death as sure as In the lion's mouth
or lu the tiger's claws. The malignant
shark of tropic waters Is not more ter-
rible than tho monster Jellyfish which
smothers Its prey In lta own viscid
pulp.
"Among men, It Is aa In the wilds.
Silent craft is as dangerous as brute
strength. More to be dreaded In the
world of finance than the daring plun-
ger Is the. 'unco good' banker, whose
gold bricks are served out to unwary
investors from under a cloak of sanc-
tity."
THOROUGHLY QUALIFIED.
An undertaker advertised for a help-
er who was qualified and experienced.
An applicant for the position, being
questioned upon his experience and
ability to satisfactorily discharge the
work required, replied that he had
worked ten years In a packing house.
He was employed without further ex-
amination.
Garland County Union (Ark.) will
meet with Mountain Valley local, Jan-
uary 5 and t, 1908.
LAW GOVERNING LANDLORD AND
TENANT.
In determining what, if any, notice to
quit is necessary, reference should be
had to the terms of the lease.
When the leaso fixes a time for tho
termination of the tenancy, no notice
to quit Is necessary.
Where the lease is for an indefinite
time, notice to quit Is required, unless
otherwise agreed upon between the
parties.
The statutes In most of the States
fix the length of time notice is re-
quired to be given where the parties
have not In the lease agreed as to the
notice: the statutes of the State In
which the property Is situated should
therefore be consulted.
Indefinite terms arise either from
the fact that the lease Itself sets no
limit to the term, or from the fact that
one who has led under a lease made for
a fixed term, holds over into another
term without the consent of the land-
lord, becoming In the latter case a ten-
ant from year to year or from month
to month, as the original lease was for
a year or years or for a month or
months.
Where the original lease provides for
an Indefinite period, It usually provides
that notice must be given to terminate;
if it does not so provide, then the law
fixes the notice.
The law fixing the notice is tho same
for an indefinite tenancy as for a ten-
ancy by holding over.
Where the term is from year to year,
there must be a notice of at least six
months before the end of the year,
unless otherwise provided by statute.
In case of a tenancy from quarter
to quarter, a full quarter's notice Is
necessary, and in case of a tenancy
from month to month, a full month's
notice.
It should be thoroughly understood
that when renting by tho year, even
although the rent Is payable monthly,
one holding over his term Is taken as
a tenant for another year, and that
where the original tenancy Is for a
quarter, even although the rent is pay-
able monthly, the one holding over Is
held for another quarter.
If a notice Is given to terminate a
tenancy in ten days, when It should be
a notico of a month, it i3 held that the
notice will be good if the month Is al-
lowed to expire before taking proceed-
ings.
A notice to quit is considered as
waived if tho landlord accepts rent that
became due after the time set in the
notice for the ending of the term.
One who has a mere license is not
entitled to notice.
A licensee is one who may be re-
moved at any time at the pleasure of
the owner, even although in some cases
the owner would be liable for action
for damages for broach of a contract
of which the license Is a part.
A person who occupies premises as
an employe of the owner and whose
occupation, is in furtherance of his em-
ployer's business, is a mere licensee.
Instances of this are managers of ho-
tels, keepers of toll-gates, employes of
mining companies living In the com-
pany's cottages, an employe on a farm,- >
even when there Is an agreement to
work a farm by shares, desk room in
another's office, guests in a hotel,
boarders In a boarding house, roomers
or lodgers.
This is not saying that there may not
be a tenancy of a single room.
In general, however, when the land-
lord resides on the premises, cares for
the rooms and has a general control
of the premises, there is no tenancy.
The relatlfln of landlord and tenant
must exist.
Where the owner of the premises has
deeded them away, the purchaser
should, on giving notice, notify the
tenant of a change of ownership.
Where the tenant is in possession
under a contract of purchase which he
does not fulfill he is not entitled to
notice to quit.
Notice to quit Is not Invalidated by
a mistake In the Christian name of the
tenant. If he or his family on receiving
it understood it to be intended for him.
When a term ends at midnight, April
30th, a notice that the tenant quit on
May 1st is good.
A tenant who denies his landlord's
title and asserts ownership to the
property himself, is not entitled to no-
tice.
union man who loves Ills cause, and
who loves his wife and children better
than he docs the News, advise the
News to discontinue their subscrip-
tions. Some one may say that the
great papers are not dependent on the
farmers for support. If not, then let's
"try it a while. When the business man
finds that a paper is not reaching the
furiner, he will at once withdraw his
advertising patronage. Then what?
Brother Editor, you know what!
Now, Brother Farmer, if you want
your cause to be effective, strike every
time you get your iron hot. We have
had many jessons taught us, and some
of them were too grievous to bear. It
is now time that some one else learn
this lesson. Why not? We are all only
human. Shall the hand say to the foot,
"1 have no need of thee?" Now if every
union man will Just change from thoso
criticising papers to the Mercury-Pass-
word, it will not only add thousands of
names to our cause, but it will be pat-
ronizing ourselves by sending good
news all over the country—news of in-
terest to the producing masses, backed
by an editor who fearlessly stands by
his constituents.
Our county president 'has changed
the time of our Lee County Union
meeting from January 11 and 12, to
January 4 and 5, 1906. We would like
to have some good speaker with us at
that time. My Impression is that Bro.
A. M. Colwick would be a welcome
visitor at that time. He has made a
very favorable impression on our peo-
ple. We need an organizer badly. God
bless the Mercury-Password.
J. S. ARNOLD,
Secretary Cold Springs Union, No.3046,
Lexington, Texas.
GOOD ADVICE.
A Georgia Union man puts it this
way:
"Non-Union brother, Just stay here
for a little while and have some com-
mon sense. Tou know that the world
Is growing richer, and we, as farmers,
are getting poorer every year, and
we know that the great business world
is organized for their own good. They
are traveling along easily and getting
rich, while we are getting poorer. Get
up and go to work and help us win
this fight!
"Do this, and you will feel better;
your family will get along better, and
your country will feel your help. Your
neighbors will like you better. You
may say the farmers wont* stick, but
that is not true.1*
FEARS GROWTH MAY BE CHECKED
Knowing so well the fact that we are
all so eager to see our name in tho pa-
per, I have withheld, but it appears
that most all who want to have had
their say, I venture a line or two.
Our local (Cold Springs, No. 3046) is
progressing nicely. Two new members
last Saturday. We were taking on
new life under President Calvin, but
we fear the action of the National
meeting will check our spirits and re-
tard our work. We were hopeful that
a national council would suffice. Now
that the wishes of the "boys at the
forks'" are not heeded, we will have to
roll up our sleeves and go after the
office hunters.
It appears a little strange that a
man would not have self esteem enough
to keep out of a position where he'knows
he is not wanted. Let us have a Farm-
ers' Union, or else let us have an edi-
tors' union, or some other kind of a
union, and not call It a farmers' union
at all. It has been demonstrated long
enough that we must attend to our own
business if we would have It attended
to properly. 8uch steps as those taken
nt Texarkana gives papers like the
Dallas and Galveston News, good room
for criticism. Right here let the Union
make a point. Inasmuch aa the News
feels disposed to criticise the appear-
ance of a farmers gathering. Let every
ENDORSES COLQUITT'S PLAN OF
TAXATION.
Many newspapers in Texas are fall-
ing in with Mr. Colquitt's plan to sep-
arate the objects of State and county
taxation. For the present, while such
public utilities as railroads, telegraphs,
telephones and lnterurban electric rail-
roads remain in private hands, the plan
might work very well. There could be
no moral objection to such separation
of objects of taxation, while the above
public utilities remain in private hands,
provided that the assessment dt such
public utilities was confined to that
purt of their wealth represented by the
value of their franchises—their exclu-
sive privileges in their rights-of-way
—and provided further that these fran-
chises would yield sufficient revenue
for the State's needs, without taxing
anything else.
Approximating the stock market
value of the above named privately
owned public utilities In the State of
Texas at $400,000,000, and the franchise
value of the same at sixty per cent of
the total, or $240,000,000, a tax rate of
1 per cent on the franchise value would
yield $2,400,000 to the State treasury.
And that would not be an onerous or
unjust tax, considering that these util-
ities would no longer contribute to
county taxes, and the further fact that
they are enjoying special privileges,
not possessed by any others, which is
contrary to the spirit of democracy,
unless they are compensated for.
If Mr. Colquitt is desirous of secur-
ing for the great State of Texas a real-
ly simple tax plan, the above should
fill the bill. One official, sitting in his
office at Austin, with the stock mar-
ket quotations before him, could assesj
every privately owned public utility
tions. In the State in one day. The
same official could collect the taxes
on this assessment, instead of the
cost of collection of the State's taxes
being over 6 per cent of the taxes col-
lected, it need not exceed one-fourth of
one per cent. •
As the State would no longer be di-
rectly Interested In local taxation, It
could safely leave that function to the
various counties and municipalities in-
terested.
With State taxation confined exclu-
sively to the franchises of privately
owned public utility corporations, and
with home rule, or'local option. In tax-
ation, secured to the counties and mu-
nicipalities. a tremendous stride would
be taken in the direction of true de-
mocracy, which would redound to the
benefit, progress, prosperity and glory
of the State.
Mr. Colquitt would abolish the occu-
pation tax. In this he is clearly cor-
rect. No man should be penalized for
making an honest living. The burden
of taxation should be laid, not accord-
ing to occupation or thrift or posses-
sion, but according to the pecuniary
benefits received from society. In other
words, privilege, not labor, or Its pro-
duct—wealth—should be taxed. Of
course tho tax on privilege would be
paid in the form of wealth, but to the
extent that It was paid, society would
be compensated and privilege curtailed.
The public utility corporations, be-
ing exempt from county taxation, could
bear a higher tax rate, and property
assessed by the counties, being exempt
from State taxation, could also bear a
higher tax rate, or an Increased as-
sessment, as the case might be.
Out of the discussion of the vital
question of taxation, which Mr. Col-
quitt lias projected, great ultimate
good should accrue to the grand old
State of Texas. A. FREELAND,
Mt. Pleasant, Tenn.
COUNTY UNION MEETINGS.
Garland Co. (Ark).—Jan. 6-8, Moun-
tain Valley Local.
San Augustine Co.—Jan. 6, at Ma-
cunt Local.
Polk—Jan. 11-12, Caney Creek.
Johnson—Jan. 6. Lee's Academy.
Anderson. Jan. 11, Sulphur Springs.
Garland Co., Ark.—Jan. 6, 6, Moun-
tain Valley.
Angelina—March 30-31, Tram Grove,
9 miles north of Lufkln.
Eastern Comanche County, Okla-
homa—Jan. 9, Lawton.
Bosque—Jan. 6, Meridian.
Fhlls—Jan. 6, Marlln.
Menard—Jan. 19. Nine Mile.
Coryell--Jan. 5-6--Mt. Pleasant.
Lonoke Co. (Ark.), Jan. 8, Brownsvllft.
Trinity—Jan. 11-12, Massie Creek.
Little River District—Jan. IS, Highland.
Arkansas Co. (Ark.)—Jan. 4-6, DeLuse
Local.
Coleman—Jan. SO, Coleman City.
Bandera—March 9-10. Wallace Creek
school house.
Dallas. Jan. •—Commercial Club
rooms, Dallas.
Rains. Jan. •.—Union Ridge Local.
Crawford Co. (Ark.), Jan. 12, 18.—
Twenty-fifth DisL, L T.—Jon. 11,
fiunnt
Jackson Co., Ark.—Jan. 9-10, Litch-
field.
Sebastian Co., Ark.—Jan. 11, Greeo-
wood.
Jasper, Jan. 6.—Pine Hill.
Nineteenth District, I. T.—Jan. 13,
Rush Springs.
Henderson—Jan. 18-19, New York.
Day Co., Okla.—Jan. 12, Pack Sad-
dle.
Limestone Co., Jan. 12-13.—David
Prairie, Near Thornton.
Gillespie, January 13. Fredericksburg.
DRAUGHON'S
A Chain cf 26 Colleges.
Elsewhere will be found an adver-
tisement of Draughon's Practical Bus-
iness Colleges, located at Fort Worth,
Denlson, Waco, Tyler, Texas; Okla-
homa City, and Little Rock, Ark.
A chain of 26 colleges located in IB
states; established 17 years: Incor-
porated, $300,000.00 capital; seventeen
bankers on Board of Directors—
Draughon's chain of Colleges secure
positions for those who take guarantee
course or refund every cent of money
paid for tuition. For catalogue ad-
dress J. F. Drauglion, Pres't., at any of
the above places.
Our special December offer for clubs
of eight has been extended to Jan. 81.
IT'S RELIABLY REPORTED
That 5,000 men out of a population
of 80,000,000 control all the wealth of
the United States. Is it any wonder
that we have such abject poverty when
a few have such immense wealth, and
that the independent middle class that
we have been so proud of is fast disap-
pearing in our blessed country? (8top
right here. This is your "Uncle Johney"
of the Rio Grande Woolen Mills Com-
pany of Albuquerque, New Mexico,
writing an advertisement inviting you
to use the opportunities that you still
have, and to do so before it is too late,
so don't be deceived.)
Have you satisfied yourself as to
hew this wealth has accumulated in a
few handa? Have you thought why
you have these labor organizations on
one hand and the trust on the otheri
why you have the Farmers' Education-
al and Co-operative Union of Ameri-
ca? If not, don't call me a "Calamity
Howler," or a pessimist until you have.
I will tell you how it's been possible
for a few to own so much. That is,
will give you two good reasons, and
prove them. (There are many mere,
but these are the principal ones.)
First, it's because they have taken ad-
vantage of the invention of the great
maohines and have owned them, to
prove which, I will call your attention
to the fact that labor to-day only re-
ccivee 13 per cent of what it produces.
Then where does the other 65 per cent
go? It goes to the machine owners,
and proves that this is one way that
they got into their great wealth.
As you know that we have had a
most phenomenal production in the
past 100 years, the next great reason
is the fact that they have combined
with this the banking system, which
has been that they have borrowed the
money you have deposited, without
security, and many times without in-
terest, with which to operate these
machines, and in many instances they
themselves have been the bankers, as
is evidenced-by failures where once in
a while the game is exposed.
The following is the report upon the
recent Chicago failures, made by Sec-
retary Shaw, Associated Press dis-
patch, taken from Morning Journal*
Albuquerque, N. M.
WILL NOT PROSECUTE.
"Chicago, Dec. 28.—Secretary Shaw
arrived from Washington on private
business. In an interview he practical-
ly declared there would be no crim-
inal proceedings growing out of ths"
closing of the Chicago National Bank
and the Home Savings Bank in this
city. He said John R. V.alsh did not
take a dollar dishonestly. He did no
more than many other bankers in tha
United States are doing all the time."
(Do you want any better proof of what
I am telling you than this?)
You have furnished a largo part of
this money with which your raw ma-
terials that you have produced has
been bought, and with which they have
gambled, the money to manufacture
and distribute; have - furnished the
market for them, and what have you
got but shoddy, adulterated stuff, and
the proEpecta of one of the greatest
financial crisse that we have been up
against, as is evidenced by the many
failures in all parts of the United
States.
Now, here is our remedy. Own ths
machines that make for your life's ne-
cessities and take the 85 per cent
yourselves that has gone to the few
and made millionaires of them. Then
invest your money- (what you can) in
your own industries' securities, where
there is no speoulation because they
are working for you and making prof-
its ori actual inveetmente instead of on
watered steeke. This is simply what
we are now doing with wool, and if you
will oo-operate with us we will quick-
ly do the same with eotton and leather.
This is what will be presented to
your National Executive Committee
for their consideration on Jan. 4 by
us. Then take advantage of your op-
portunitiee. You have a grand organ-
ization of members, so that if you will
provide a large ssfe deposit for your
stored up products (money, and that
ie all it is to you) that will be sseurity
for your deposits that no bank is now
giving. You will have a million peo-
ple or more to join you in the effort,
and do away with the present-frenzies,
give safety to millions of hard-earned
dollars and use them to facilitate ths
movement of your orops and keep you
from being forced upon the market and
over supply ail at ens time. In fast,
use the system, for our benefit that
has been ueed for our exploitation
heretofore.
Wo ask that svsry Local take thia
up and sss for themsslvss if every
word is not gospel truth. Then when
your secretary gets our plans and your
National committee's report you will
know if they are what yew want, and
will only do it beeause they comprise
only the beet known and well proven
Advanced business methods.
Lefs fight together to live, Instead
of fighting each ether to die—eo-ep
erate inetead of compete and stop tuf
niehing the ether fellow with the
munition to blew your heads off
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Southern Mercury United with the Farmers Union Password. (Dallas, Tex.), Vol. 26, No. 1, Ed. 1 Thursday, January 4, 1906, newspaper, January 4, 1906; Dallas, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth186224/m1/4/: accessed April 19, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; .