FARMERS ORGANIZATION
HOLDS STATE MEETING
M^ork of Organizing Farmers U
nions Will be Pushed.
Something About What the Union
Proposes to do For the Bene
fit of the Farmers.
The first Arkansas state conven
tion of the American Society of
Lquity, a farmers’ organization
of national scope, was held in the
house of representatives at Little
Kock Thursday of last week. The
convention was attended by farm
ers from different sections of the
state, as delegates from the county
organizations or unions of the so
ciety. Several unions were rep
resented and a marked degree of
interest was manifested in the
meeting.
The Gazette publishes the fol
lowing account! of the meeting:
Yesterday’s convention had
been well advertised throughout
the state by the different county
papers and the local unions which
did not send a delegate were rep
resented by letters stating the con
dition and progress of the work
of organization in their several
sections. While the American
Society of Equity is perhaps not
very well known in this state out
side of its own organizations, nev
ertheless, the fact remains that the
farmers of Arkansas have laid the
foundation for a protective society,
the influence of which may be
widely felt in the future.
Prior to the opening of the con
vention the members of the socie
ty called at Governor Davis' office
to talk with the governor. The
delegation was greatly disappoint
ed, however, to learn that the gov
ernor was in Russellville.
HISTORY OF THK SOCIETY.
The American Society of Equity
was first organized in Inianapolis,
Ind., December 24, 1902, by J. A.
Everett, for the purpose of “se
curing to the farmer his rightful
dues from the products of his la
bor.” The society is said to be
strictly non-political, and has ex
tended, in the two years of its ex
istence, until local organizations
are now formed in over half of
the states of the Union, and rep
resent a membership of over one
million.
'Fhe greatest growth of the soci
ety has been in the North and
ISortliwesr, tnougn rne iariners oi
the South are now organizing, Ar
kansas standing among the tirst in
the southern section. There are
at present local unions in nearly
every county in this state, whose
members number about 25,000.
There are no state officers of the
society, the chairman of each uni
on being a vice president of the
national organization and report
ing to President Everett in India
napolis.
SEVENTEEN DELEGATES PRESENT.
There were seventeen delegates
from different parts of the state at
the convention and the business of
the meeting was chiefly confined
to hearing the reports from the
delegates and discussing plans for
the further extension of the local
unions throughout the state. It
is the desire to have a union in
every township in each county.
society’s work outlined.
T. C. llardcastle in a short ad
dress to the convention outlined
the work before the organization
in this state. He stated that the
society in Arkansas was only a lit
tle less than a year old, but in that
length of time its growth had been
steadily but surely spreading
among the farmers in every coun
ty.
“1 see in the present organiza
tion,” ho stated, “a great help for
the farmers of this state. I feel
that the movement means some
tiling when I find that there are
here today men who have tra\eled
as far as Ashley and dohnson
counties to attend a con\ ention
called for the purpose of consider
ing j)lans for their betterment as
a class, and to extricate themselves
from a condition in which they
feel they should not be.
“The farmers are the only work
ing elass that are unorganized,and
they are compelled to fight daily
an organized class of men, who
are organized against them. 'N e
supply the food for the world and
yet are compelled to accept the
price which the organized consum
er is pleased to give us. W e do
not intend to oppose any particu
lar class of men or to tear down
any organization, but we propose
to build ourselves up to the level
of other professions, for farming
is coming to be a profession. Nor
will we be influenced byT politics
in our effort to be recognized, for
we are and will remain strictly
non-politieal.
“The farmers work longer, do
harder work and get less pay than
any other class of men. I hey
must then take the products of
their labor to the markets and ac
cept the price that somebody else
sets for them. The doctor, law
yer. merchant, machinist and oth
ers, with whom the farmer doc8
business every day, have their fix
ed price for the products of their
labor and the farmer must pay it.
Then why isn't the farmer allow
ed the same privilege, instead of
being forced to accept the price
which the man at ‘‘the other end
of tin* wire’ dictates i
“We want organization among
the farmers to conduct our own
business. We must have a mini- j
mum price for our products and ;
get it. We want organization |
among ourselves so that when the |
supply of cottun is short we will
get the price that we deserve. i?et
a minimum price and stick to it
and we shall get it. The farmer
supplies the world and can get
anything he asks for if within
reasonable bounds.
FARMERS CAN HE ORGANIZED.
Some say that the farmers can
not be organized, that they will
not ‘stick.’ But the farmers of
the West have been successful in
organization and the farmers of
this state can do the same. The
organized farmers of the great
wheat belt last year demanded one
dollar a bushel for their wheat.and !
they ‘stuck1 until they got, and
we can do the same with our cot
ton. Estimating the supply and
then set the price and stick to it.
“Iu order to perfect our socie
ty’s organization we must have
unions in every township. We
already have them in every coun
ty. And in order to present the
purpose of this organization to
the farmers of the state, we must
have a state organizer who will go
from place to place organizing lo
cal unions among our men.”
STATE OHUAMZER ELECTED.
Mr. Hardeastle then further ex
plained the benefit which a state
organizer would be to the society
and expressed a desire that the
convention consider the matter
that the organization might be
pushed as speedy as possible.
The convention then proceeded
by vote to elect a state organizer,
with the result that James Free
man was chosen to this position.
Mr. Freeman, who resides at Coal
Hill, was the organizer of the first
union in this state and has been
m close touch with the society
since its foundation. It is his in
tention to begin in the near future
the organization of unions in the
townships of each county.
It is probable that the next
state meeting will be held some
time during the coming winter.
---__
Buy your mortgages, deeds and
legal blanks at The Journal office.
ARKANSAS STATE NEWS
Items of General Interest Gathered
Fresh From the Columns of
the Daily Papers.
A *.>.>,000 hotel is to f>c erected
at Clarksville.
Automatic telephones are being
installed at Jonesboro.
Columbia county is out of debt
and has nearly $9,000 in the treas
ury.
A company is being organized
to bore for oil near Eureka
Springs.
Dan rown, a negro, was killed
at Eudora by another negro over
a debt of $1.50.
Dios. Hunt, a farmer, was shot
from ambush near Pocahontas,
but uas not seriously hurt.
One hundred families from Eu
rope are en route to Jefferson
county, where they will locate.
rp_l
A u i \ o ree decrees we re
granted at the recent session of
chancery court in Walnut Ridge.
hile working at his gin near
Harttield, William Terry had his
right hand and arm mangled to
the shoulder.
A sample of what is known as
African limbless cotton was exhib
ited recently in Plumerville. It
contained 45 bolls.
A heavy wind and rain storm
passed over Ileber last Friday,
doing considerable damage to
fences and outbuildings.
“Hilly*’ Silas, a wealthy recluse
of Ozark, is being tried for his
sanity for making a will and leav
ing $1,611.50 to a poor washer
woman.
Clarence Willis, the 9-year-old
son of Mr. and Mrs. R. H. Willis
of Dumas, died from a wound in
flicted accidentally with a 22 cali
ber rifle.
Senator W. S. Amis of Rison
says that the sentiment in favor
of the segregation of the taxes for
school purposes appears to be
growing.
Jake Beck, a timber man, was
shot from ambush while inspect
ing logs near Terrell. He was
taken to Jonesboro and died from
his wounds.
Judge John B. Ckaplineof Mon
roe county, who will soon retire as
county judge, will remove to Flor
ida after a residence of forty
years in Arkansas.
Frank Crump, a negro boy
about Id years old, was accident
ally killed near Morrilton by the
discharge of his shotgun as he was
getting over a fence.
Henry F. Kirkpatrick, a Hot
Springs detective, attempted sui
cide Saturday morning by taking
laudanum, but was saved by the
heoric work of physicians.
The badly discomposed dead
body of a white infant was found
in a small box at Pine Bluff by an
old negress triday. Ihe idenity
of the child is a mystery.
An election was held in Howard
court Friday on the question of
the removal of the county seat
from Center Point to Nashville.
Nashville won and the seat of the
county government will be moved
> that place.
Ebenezer Bourland of Ozark
as received from T. M. Cunning
ana of Joplin, Mo., a check for
P2.50 as his share of a debt of
100, which Cunningham wrote
lat he owed his father Dubart
ourland, forty years ago.
\ B. Gaines of Ilot Springs
robbed of $J,000 in diamonds
a the fourth floor of the Jefferson
iotel in Loui8 October 0.
l,-s (iaines was aroused from
eep by the entraco of the thief,
ho escaped before the alarm
mid be given
Real Estate Bargains
For Sale By
CRAIG & HENDERSON
No. 1. 80 acres good land 1 rn from
Newark, on railroad; 40 acres cleared:
23 in cultivation; good bottom land
and a bargain.
No. 2. 80 acres good bottom land 4
miles N.-E. Newark; half subject to
overflow, balance above highwater:
40 acres in cultivation. Fine land and
a bargain.
No. 5. 140 acres good land J mi. N.
of Paroquet; 50 acres in cultivation;
2 good houses on farm with good
pumps; 60 acres in pasture; excellent
cotton land and good timber on land
not in cultivation. Can be bought for
ten dollars an acre.
No. 6. Half interest in 250 acres
cane pasture land 4 mile from Jack
sonport; under fence; finest cane land
on White river; very cheap.
No. 7. 48 acres 4 mile from Paro
quet; 35 acres rich river bottom land;
15 acres above overflow; good timber.
A bargain.
No 10. 40 acres good timber land
2 miles from Newark; would make fine
cotton land.
i>o. Ji. 2 acres or land and good
4 room bouse in Paroquet, all under
fence and well improved. Big bargain.
No. 12. Nice 5 room residence and
4 lots near Methodist church; one of
the most beautiful places in Newark.
Very cheap.
o. 15. Bid acres fine land in the
famous Big Bottom country; makes a
bale of cotton and 75 to 100 bushels of
corn to the acre. Fine farm and in
a few years will be worth 10 thousand
dollars, but if taken at once can be
bought for about half that amount.
o. 17. Two nice residence lots one
block north of public school building;
nicest residence property in town and
a bargain.
o. 18. 400 acres tine Big Bottom
farming land; 200 acres in cultivation;
4 houses on place; makes a bale of cot
ton to the acre, well improved farm
and a genuine bargain if taken at once.
o. 21. 279 acre farm adjoining
Paroquet, 40acres in cultivation, 20
acres in pasture; one 6-room frame
and one 2-room box house on place.
Good well, two pumps, three barns,
two good orchards of 5p bearing trees;
land not in cultivation has good tim
ber.
No. 22. 75 acre creek bottom farm,
with 55 acres in cultivation; one 4
room and one 2-room house; two good
barns and other out buildings. Makes
half bale of cotton and 30 bushels corn
to the acre; two miles from Newark.
No. 23. 87 acre creek bottom farm,
two miles from Newark with 67 acres
in cultivation; two 2-room houses
with good chimneys; everlasting wat
ter; makes half bale cotton to the
acre.
No. 24. 20 acres half mile north of
Newark, 15 acres in cultivation; excel
lent location for truck or poultry farm.
o. 25. 11 acres half mile north of
town; good 5-room house, barn, orch
ard, good out buildings and two wells.
56. 160 acre farm with 40 improved
good orchard of 300 trees, good 7 room
frame house and good barn; everlast
ing spring.
57. 117 acres creek bottom land 2
miles north of town; 35 acres in culii
vatlon; good hill land, grows 40 bush
els corn and half bale cotton per acre,
59. 2 acres ground and good 5 room
house in north edge of town; good im
provements and tine water.
60. 10 acres in northeast part of
town, all under good fence; good 3
room box house with brick dues; good
well of water, barn, garden; orchard
of 75 bearing trees of apples; also
pears, peaches and grapes.
REGISTERED
Walkover Mens Shoes
Sold Only By
FRED. D. WHITING,
Newark, - Arkansas.
7
no. 26. 140 acre farm, 80 acres in
cultivation; good timber on land not
in cultivation; three 2-rootn houses,
good well and spring, 24 acre orchard.
Located 8 miles north of Newark, l
mile from Black River Academy, mile
from church and in wood neighborhood.
Small creek runs through the farm.
no. 27. One block beautiful resi
dence lots just nortli of school build
ing. Very desirable property and a
bargain.
no. 39. 40 acres timber land 6 mile*
southwest of Oil Trough store, good
white oak timber; Price $60,
no. 4('. 80 acres timber lahd on
Repartee creek, half river bottom and
half upland; line tract of land and
lias good timber on it.
no. 41. 55 acres bottom land on
Black river adjoining railroad; very
high and seldom overflows; all in tim
ber, fine piece of land and a bargain.
no. r>:i. 80 acres Big Bottom land
24 miles from Newark; 60 acres in cul
tivation, 3 acres in alfalfa; grows bale
of cotton to the acre.
no. 37. 2 acres nicest residence
property in north part of town; good
well and garden on place.
55. loo acre farm 3 miles north of
town, 140 acres in cultivation, 20 acres,
good timber, no rocks, 5 room log
house and 4 room frame house, good
well, and nice young orchard.
No. 28. 12 acres tine Big Bottom
land,mile and a half from Newark,all
in cultivation: makes bale of cotton
per acre.
No. 29. 10 acres half mile north of
Magness; 3 room house, good barn and
orchard.
no. 30. 529 acres tine bottom land;
mile river front on Itlack river; 300
acres under fence; 200 acres tine cane
land; valuable white oak timber on.
land.
No. 31. Block of nicest residence
property in Newark, near schoo
building.
No. 32. Block nice residence prop
erty in west side Newark, 1 block from
school building.
no. 42. 8 acres timbered land 3 mi.
north of Newark; good hill land and
nice location for small fruit farm.
no. 33. Block residence property in
north part of town; 80 bearing apple
trees on place; choice residence prop
erty.
no. 34. 40 acres timbered land in
Big Bottom, half mile east of Akron.
Very cheap.
no. 35. 99 acres 2 miles north of
Newark, 70 acres in cultivation, 2-sto
ry 5-room house, good outbuildings,
barns, 20 acre pasture and line youn
orchard.
o. 36. Nice 5-room residence 2
blocks from depot, very desirable lo
cation.
o. 38. 40 acres timbered land on
Village creek, 2 miles from Newport,
tine land; valuable white oak timber
on place.
43. 360 acres good bottom land, 280
acres in timber; 80 acres in timothy;
good 4 room house; good barn and out
buildings; good orchard; 100 acres in
pasture; improvements good; located
3 miles from Newark; a tine stock
farm. Price five thousand dollars.
45. 2 room house and 1 acre land in
north edge of city, at a bargain.
46. 3 acres nice residence property
i n B Afl i ro ( if oi t • V^on n ♦ 1 f ti 1 1/
tion, and genuine bargain.
47. Good 5 room house and 1 acre
land in west edge of town: convenient
to school; desirable location; cheap.
48. 80 acres in the manganese belt,
2 miles northwest of Cushman;healthjr
location; springs in abbndance.
40. 40 acres timbered land 8 miles
north of Batesville in the manganese
belt; soil rich from mineral.
50. 2 acres tine residence property
in north part of town; 4 blocks from
school building; line orchard of about
75 bearing trees; nice location.
52. 14(X) acres tine river bottom land
on Black river, lying on both sides of
railroad; over 200 acres in cultivation;
400 acres in pasture; good timber, 1
miles river front, railroad station and
switch on place, all good farming land
and has natural drainage, fine for cot
ton, and would make as tine stock
farm as any of its size in the South.
52. 240 acres tine land in the famous
Big Bottom country, half mile from
Newark; makes a bale of cotton and
00 to 100 bushels corn per acre; 25 acres
in alfalfa yielding 7 to 8 tons per aero
every year.
54. 120 acre farm, 55 in cultivation,
and under good fence, good six room
house and a 2 room house, good bam
and plenty of water, located ti miles
north of town.
CRAIG & HENDERSON
Newark, - Arkansas.