Southern Mercury United with the Farmers Union Password. (Dallas, Tex.), Vol. 25, No. 29, Ed. 1 Thursday, July 20, 1905 Page: 4 of 8
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MJU lilttJIM MJJiu;ottX AND FAKMKK8 UN [OX PASSWOHtr.
United with the
FARMERS UNION PASSWORD.
Weekly.
MILTON PARK, MANAGER.
Published every Thursday
Farmers Union Publishing Co.
by the
One Dollar per year. In advance. Half
year. 50 cents.
.Entered at the Dallas. Texas, postof-
flce as n-.ail matter of the second class.
Main Office: 213-21r. Commerce St.
(comer Lamar. Gaston Build'ng), Dal-
las. Texas
CHanye of Address—Subscribers re-
questing a change of address must give
the OLD as well as the NEW address.
Advertising rates furnished upon ap-
plication. Address all communications,
and make all drafts, money orders, etc..
payable to the
FARMERS UNION PUBLISHING CO..
DALLAS TEXAS.
vester company by Rodney n. Swift.
a stock holder and former heud of the
experimental department of the Mc-
Cormlck branch of the harvester trust.
Swift alleges that since Sept. 30, 1902,
certain railway companies have been
grunting rebates to the harvester coin-
trust. The totai rebates paid amount-
ing to more than $1,000,000. That any
of these wealthy lawbreakers will go
to the penitentiary, or even to Jail, Is
not at ull probable, for the statutes are
not made for the rich and respectable,
but only for the poor, the needy and the
disinherited. Interesting revelations
are in prospect, which may serve to
open the eyes of sotie of that class of
farmers who frown upon any effort to
curtail the autocratic "vested rights"
of the predatory few.
With an official organ whose every
expression would be under the control
of a few officials, and all other union
papers (except those of local circula-
tion) crushed out, and no county not-
local nor district union permitted ac-
cess to the lists of secretaries—thus
practically prohibiting the locals from
communicating' with the unions in oth-
er sections, and then the union press
muzzled as In Louisiana—under such
a regime, desired by a certain official
cabal—pray what more would be nec-
essary to make bosalsm absolute? Hut
the rank and Hie will sit down on this
Ion officials. Its board of directors,
published regularly, Is composed of
head officers of the Farmers' Union.
The Co-Operator is given ali the offi-
cial printing, without other printing
firms having a chance to bid on same.
It further enjoys a monopoly of bene
fits by having access to the addresses
of local secretaries, which Its bureau
of stata officials specifically forbids to
other Union papers. Every facility
for promoting Kg financpH—and all the
moral Influence" which paturally fol-
lows from Its being the '"organ of the
officials" lf given almost exclusively
to the Co-Operator. Yet the last State
Union specifically and positively for-
bade such a policy!
The question Is, will the Farmers'
Union In state convention at Waco
approve this conduct of these officials?
Individually ami collectively, are not
these state officials guilty of violating
the plain command jt the State Union,
In their exclusive support of this de-
facto official organ?
THE RUSSIAN REVOLUTIONARY
MOVEMENT*.
It Is (dated on apparently good au-
thority that the revolutionary spirit
has permeated the Ilussiuii navy to
or the Union at headquarters. Local
secretaries In this county have received
from headquarters a great many sam-
ple copies, circulars, subscription
blanks, and so on, together with the
most urgent requests for aid in ex-
tending the circulation of "Our Official
Organ." though it is well known
(thunks to the good work and wateh-
fulness of ths Mercury-Password) we
have not now and are not likely to
have any such thing as an "official or-
gan." I believe a proper airing of this
matter would be worth a great deal to
us In curbing the ambition of such fel-
lows us 'Old Pot' and his gang. All
such work tends to destroy the confi-
dence of our people In the Union, and
when the Union has been destroyed, the
la-it hope of the farmers for Just and
equitable prices for their produce will
be gone, at least for a great many years
and probably forever. Your corres-
pondent says, *1 will write something
startling for your Journal at an oppor-
tune time, If you desire it." I hope you
will desire It, and that the 'opportune
time' will come soon. I hope the broth-
er will send In his 'startling news.'
Turn on the light!"
It does us good to see that the Mer-
cury-I'assword is ringing out loud
such an extent that when the Black j against the credit system, and calling
Your paper stops when your time j Program at the slu e meeting-with a
expires. Look at your label, and re- decisive thud that will conclusively dem
new promptly, so as not to lose an onntrate and forever settle the
issue.
We take pleasure in correcting any
and 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 copy not taken out.
Secretaries will please write us for
special terms to agents.
and forever settle the fact
tfiat the union will not tolerate boss-
Isin. and that the organization must
and will be controlled, not by a few,
but by the great body of the member-
ship who sustain it and constitute Its
real strength. Then will the uiilon
grow and prosper as never before.
And Eastland county endorsed
Fort Worth amendments.
the
When writing our advertisers, don't
forget to say you saw their ad in this
paper.
The attitude of the Mercury-Pass-
word is being endorsed pretty much all
along til*? line.
The Farmers' Union is already over-
supplied with farmers who farm with
their tongues.
The "gag-law" folks are keeping as
fjuiet as oysters about their pet scheme,
a la despotic Russia and Turkey.
Help us double the circulation of
the tried and true Mercury-Password
tills summer. Think of the good this
Will do!
Don't stay away from your local
Union and depend on others to do all.
We are all enlisted In a common cause.
Help make the meetings Interesting.
When writing for publication don't
crowd your lines, writes on one side of
the pappr only, and don't forget that
we are obliged to "boil down" nearly
every communication. If you also
write the business office, use separate
sheets.
The Investigation of the statistical
bureau is not confined to cotton: the
tobacco producers allege "leaks" In that
department also. Hut the fait that
Chief Statistician Hyde Is to conduct
this investigation is not particularly
encouraging.
About the only way to completely
guard against the giving away of de-
partment crop reports to favored brok-
ers in advance, would be to publish
the reports as they are received, in-
stead oi' periodically. Unless this pol-
icy is adopted, the people will certainly
demand that the crop report system be
abolished in toto.
The Mlneola Operator man Is blos-
soming into quite a humorist. The
richness of his sarcasm lies In Its spon-
tanlety. It is wholly unconscious. In
a sketch of Editor J. L. Barron of the
Union News he says: "Like the Opera-
ator editor, he lias no ambition, other
thah to see this great movement sue.
ceed." In his blundering eugerncss to
throw u bouquet at himself while
handing one to the Georgia editor, the
modest "Operntor" editor certainly suc-
ceeded (unconsciously) in handing him-
self a delicious chunk of Irony. The
more serious he tries to be the funnier
be becomes.
If Dallas County Union "reconsider-
ed," it was only to reaffirm Its atti-
tude more positively and unanimously
than ever. Even Hro. Shaw himself
saw his case was hopeless, and quit
voting and finally "took French leave"
before the meeting adjourned! His
paper ignores the Dallas county meet-
ing completely this time—Just like it
used to ignore the entire Farmers' Un-
ion movement!
PHYSICIAN, HEAL THYSELF!
Tiro. II. ]•'. Duckworth, secretary-
treasurer of the Georgia State Union,
complains that the commissioners of
Pike county (On.) refused the Farm-
ers' Union the use of the county court
house for their meetings. Uro. Duck-
worth indulges In such choice phrases
as "hlgli-handed," "egotistical," "czar-
like," etc., in expressing his indigna-
tion at the action of the county offi-
cials. Urn. O. P. Pyle comments on the
conduct of the Georgia commissioners
in terms very uncomplimentary, affirm-
ing that the despotic officials will long
be remembered. All of which Is good;
but why leave Texas to find an exam-
ple of "high-handed," "czar-like," ar-
rogant over-riding of authority and
common decency? The present Texas
executive committee of the Union has
furnished an example of autocratic dis-
regard of (lie rights of the common
people that will be long remembered.
The Texas executive committee delib-
erately shut the door of the committee
room in the faces of duly accredited
delegates of Hunt county Union and
refuseil to receive their proposition for
an adjustment of a matter In dispute,
on any terms of ofticinl or fraternal
nature. And Bro. O. P. Pyle is one of
the executive committeemen of Texas.
We should always sweep well before
our own door before pointing out the
brick bats nnd matted grass in our
neighbor's yard.
We believe in every man sticking to
his trade. If you are a farmer, be the
best In your, neighborhood. If u news-
paper editor, be as good one as your
Intelligence and opportunities afford.
But do one Job at a time. No man can
push a pencil and a plow at the same
time. It requires brains to mnke a suc-
cessful farmer: editors have been
lenown to succeed wonderfully with
nly a limited supply of brains, rein-
forced by unlmlted gall, and the favors
•f official patronage.
While each member of the Mercury-
Password staff was reared on a farm
and Is as familiar with the various de-
tails of farming as the average person
engaged in farming, still no one of them
represents himself as a farmer, and no
editorial In the Mercury-Password hus
ever set up any such claim. For a
newspaper editor to represent himself
M a farmer, when he is not, is the limit
•f hypocrisy. We are engaged In pub-
lishing a newspaper ,not in running a
HAVE WE AN OFFICIAL ORGAN?
The Farmers' Union ndopted by an
overwhelming majority at the last state
meeting a resolution prohibiting the is-
suance of an official organ. Evidently
the sentiment of the jvoters within the
Union Is overwhelmingly and unaltera-
bly opposed to a publication of such a
nature. The wish expressed for an offi-
cial organ emanates from only those
who have something to "unload" on the
Farmers' Union, or else individuals Ig-
norant of what Is involved In a matter
of this kind. Time was when the Pass-
Word was the only newspaper publish-
ed In the Interest of the Farmers' Un-
ion. But the proposition to have it
endorsed as the official organ of the F.
E. and C. U. of A. was Invariably dis-
couraged by the publishers. We have
never had any ambition In this direc-
tion. We have never believed that any
individual or firm should be given a
monopoly of opportunity and benefits
with the Farmers' Union. We have nev-
er admitted to ourself that we were too
deficient In mental capacity or moral
courage to make an honest living. If
given ar. equal showing with others,
consequently we would scorn a propo-
sition as editor on salary of any paper,
which necessarily carried with It no op-
portunity for advancement or the ac-
quiring of a proprietary interest in the
business. No self-respecting and capa-
ble newspaper man would enter Into a
contract as official editor, subject to
the censorship of on executive commit-
tee composed of men wholly Ignorant
of the publishing business. You will
search in vain through the long list of
notable newspaper editors for one nnme
made prominent by laborious and con-
tinuous service as official scribe for
any organization or Institution's publi-
cation. Offlclnl editors of long service
are Invariably men of mediocre ability.
No, excuse us; no one connected with
the Mercury-Password desires to be
rated as fit only for an official position
on a stated salary. Of course, such a
position has Its attractions to men not
equipped for successful competitive
work. But we shall oppose the Farm-
ers' Union providing an easy Job for
Its soft-headed members. Indeed, it is
contrary to the principles of the organ-
ization for a discrimination in favors
to be made among members. The good
things ought to be equally distributed,
so far as possible.
The solution of the problem of Issu-
ing official announcements nnd items of
Interest to the Farmers' Union is In
having broad-minded, honest and capa-
ble officials, who will send to all news-
papers making a specialty of matters
affecting the Union movement, dupll
cate copies of such officlul articles.
We have observed no discrimination
on the part of Bro. J. S. Moore, sec-
retary-treasurer of Indiahoma State
Union. His monthly financial state-
ments, and other officlul announce-
ments, are sent to all representative
Farmers' Union papers desiring them.
We regret to say it is different in Tex-
Sea s-iuadron met the rebel ship Knluz
Potemklne, near Odessa, the Russian
i admiral, after a little parleying, satled
1 away without a shot. The fact was
that his men refused to fire on the rev-
olutionists. If this be true, the end of
Russian absolutism is near at hand. It
is evident that the "underground gov-
ernment" has active representatives In
every walk of life. For instance, three
young ladies—noted In aristocratic cir-
cles for their wit and beauty—one of
them a princess—were found to be rev-
olutionists. One being arrested, the
others committed .suicide. When even
the women of the "upper class" become
so deeply Imbued with the re%'olutlon-
ary spirit, "something Is going to hap-
pen."
The most colossal system of abso-
lute despotism In existence at the pres-
ent time Is not powerful enough to
crush out the spirit of freedom. De-
spite their wonderful system of secret
espionage, despite all their red tape and
passports vfhereby every move of every
person in the empire is regulated, like
th? soldiers of an army, the relentless
despots who have so long sought to
suppress every aspiration for a freer
life by Intimidating or exiling the
brightest and bravest men and women
and maintaining the most narrow and
rigid censorship of press and speech,
despite a system unequalled for stamp-
ing out rebellion, the spirit of rebellion
grows and spreads, until It threatens
the very existence of Russian absolute-
Ism. After all, the world does move;
the common people demand an ever
widening sphere "of Individual freedom,
and all the power of thrones and Im-
perial bureaucracies, all the magic in-
fluence of traditional customs and of
established Institutions upon minds
which "the powers that be" have sought
to protect from contact with progres-
sive thought, all, all has been In vain!
The onward march of human advance-
ment can be checked for u. time, but
It cannot be permanently obstructed.
The laws of human progress are more
potent than the Czar and all his min-
ions.
nttentfon to the fact that the ware-
house is only a convenience but not a
remedy for depressions In the cotton
market. It ought to be patent to even
the dullest mind that the producers'
power to dictate their own prices Is
strong Just In proportion to their free-
dom from commercial and legal obli-
gations.—Farmers' Journal.
A GREAT HUMORIST.
Hro. "Old P—" Pyle. promoter and
editor, is clearly entitled to the blue
ribbon as the harlequin of the Far-
mers' Union. For example: In his
encomium of Bro. J. L. Barron's char-
acter (see last week's Co-Operator)
Bro. Pyle Indulges In comparisons
which, in conjunction with facts stat-
ed by himself, must establish his own
fame as a humorist, or reflect on the
personality of his "double." Promoter
Pyle comments thus: "Like the Co-
Operator editor, Bro. Barron has no
ambition. * * * He could have
been elected to a state office of the
Georgia State Union, but declined. He
wanted his friends to have the honor."
Think of that! Just like 'Operator
editor, he neither seeks nor accepts
offlceC?) Yet 'Operator Pyle has
sought and held office every day of the
official existence of the Farmers Un-
ion. He hit the earth running for
office the moment his number twelves
landed Inside the Union enclosure, and
is still at It. As an Inveterate seeker
after the honor and emoluments of
official position, he Is a corker. By
•always keeping boosters on tap, he
now holds four separate offices as
president, two separate offices as ex-
ecutive committeeman, and Is a stand-
ing cnndldate for official promotion in
either the county, state or nation.
Farmer's Union, truck associations, In-
surance companies, cotton associa-
tions—either Is desirable in his eyes,
all presldences look good to him. But
hear the funny mnn! He says that he
has no ambition, other than to see this
great movement succeed." Evidently
by the Pyle concept, success is meas-
urde by the number of offices the
movement afTords the 'Operator editor.
No ambition! ha! ha! Give him the
ribbon; clearly he is the Union's chief
joker!
MORE AGRICULTURAL TEACHING
NEEDED.
Maxwell's Talisman makes these
sensible suggestions: Occasionally, but
not often, we find instructors and of-
ficials In our agricultural colleges who
still have the old Idea that an educated
man is unfit for farm work, and at-
tempt to attach to the agricultural In-
struction the Idea that the student is
being fitted for professional agricul-
ture Instead of better farm work. No
greater mistake was ever made. The
best work today being done by our
agricultural schools and colleges is
where the student is taught not only
the scientific part of agriculture, but
the practical as well. The sootier the
above kind of instructors are replaced
by persons having a real liking for
farming affairs, the better it will be
for those Institutions, The practical
side should not be sacrificed for the
scientific.
Our common school system needs,
as.never before, instruction along the
lines of agriculture and kindred sub-
jects. Dr. A. R. Hill,, of the Univer-
sity of Missouri, in commenting upon
tls matter, says that the reason so
many of the farmers' boys, when far
enough advanced In education to enter
college, choose law or medicine or some
other profession, is because our school
system is wrong and the high school
never speuks about agriculture.
Four years spirit in the average high
school is apt to wean the boy away
from tilt; farm, even if he entered sim-
ply with a view of Increasing his intel-
ligence and preparing himself In a
general way for his life work. This
defect i an best be remedied by the In-
troduction into our schools of courses
in agriculture, horticulture and man-
ual training, and by mnking them solid
courses in the hands of a teacher who,
In addition to good scholarship, pos-
sesses a sound knowledge of the science
of agriculture, or Is himself proficient
in the use of tools.
term; nor are we running for office, i as. In fact our Texas secretary-treas-
Any newspaper editor who sets up false urer has never been able to prepare an
claims as a farmer, and aeeks to curry
popularlty omong farmers on such de-
ception in order to boost himself into
Is unworthy of the confidence of
members of the Farmers' Union.
acceptable financial statement, even
quarterly.
Notwithstanding the Texas Union
has gone on record ns opposing an offi-
cial organ, to all Intents and purposes
one exists Just as thoroughly as It Is
to have such a publication.
A SHAM IS8UE.
The Farmers' Journal of Abilene,
which Is notable for Its uniform level-
headedness and clearness of vision,
says:
"Of course we must keep the Union
out of partisan politics (nnd It won't
be very hard to do), but Just why a
Union paper, right at this season of the
this oft year, should fill page after page
with letters received from different
writers scattered over the different
states and Territories all at the same
time, and all on the one subject of mak
In* the Union a business organization
Instead of a political one—this is some-
thing that only newspaper men nnd
politicians can see through at a glance,
There are many sure enough evils the
'Co-Operator' might belabor without
making one out of straw. Ask them
next time to write on subjects connect
ed with marketing. That's a live issue,
a very live one, now and henceforth."
HAS THE UNION DONE ANY GOOD?
While many persons, some in the
Union and some outside, are asking
what benefit has the Union been to
the average farmer, we would call at-
tention to one single Item, which Is
more than compensation for all the
money and time spent in and for the
organization from its lnciplency to the
present. We refer to the reduction se-
cured In the Texas cotton freight rate.
Though the reduction is only 6 cents
per 100 pounds, and looks small and
mensloy, In the aggregate it amounts to
more than J750.000 saved to the Texas
cotton growers alone this year. Seven
hundred and fifty thousand is more
than ten times what It hus cost to get
Union Into Its present conditions—and
Its mission has hardly begun. Were all
the farmers in Texas, or even three-
fourths of them, thoroughly In line and
working together In the Union, we
could not only secure a reduction of
*1 l>er hundred on cotton
rates, but we would effect a
ten-fold grenter saving In buy-
ing in bulk through our business agents
nnd selling our products in like man-
ner. What we could secure through
wholesome legislation by selecting the
right kind of men to make and execute
the right kind of laws, Is beyond our
conception.
LOUISIANA
DEPARTMENT
Louisiana 8tate Union.
V* President. Bernlce.
"J* Bullard, Vice-Preaident. Belmont.
a Sac.-Treaa.. Tannehlll.
William#, State Organiser. Grand
Cane.
Ambrose, Chaplain. Ruston.
Al Conductor, Doyllne.
rtios. McCain. Doorkeeper, Brown.
w VK COMMITTEE.
}Jl T ^Wil. Chairman, Dnhbprlv.
W. H. wise. Secretary. Bernlce.
W. L. Parker, Paragon.
i m ' £ui?r,l.'Kon' BJenvliW. Rt. 1.
I. N. McCollIster, Rattan.
De Soto Parish Union, La., met at
Smyrna last week and elected officers
as follows: E. P. Sims of Cook, Pres.;
B. F. McGee of Mansfield, V. P.; Joseph
J. Poag. Smyrna, Sec.; Rev. J. C. Price,
Mineral, Chaplain; W. II. Porter, Mans-
field, Cond.; Alonzo Johnlken, Pelican,
D. K.; and J. H. Williams, Smyrna,
Lecturer. Next meeting, Evergreen,
neur Pelican, Oct. 4.
man. They should have in every case
man. They should have the right to
recall the officer the moment he be-
trays his trust."
On account of State Union at Lit-
tle Rock, Ark., Aug. 1 to 4, the I. M.
& S., Cotton Belt and Rock Island
railroads announce a rate of one fare
plus 60 cents for round trip. Nearby
points, one and one-third fare round
trip. These liberal rates insure a well
attended State meeting.
WHO IS A SUITABLE MAN?
I want to congratulate you on tho
splendid fight you are making for Un-
ionism and the protection of the princi-
ples of the organization. I certainly
endorse the referendum Idea, for with-
out It the Union would be a failure.
We have fixed the referendum solidly
In our Louisiana constitution, and
many other good features. Our July
meeting at Wlnfield was a success. I
think our order will take on new life
now.
Dori't let up on those fellows who
want to cut off the men who pay the
money to keep up the Union. A
square deal" Is all we ask, and we
can't have It without a say In. the fun-
damental laws which are to govern us.
Let such men as Bro. Yarbro kick.
There are plenty of men who believe
they are able to do their own thinking
and voting, too. I have my eye on one
of your Texas leaders—he wants to be
National President when the National
Union Is organized. He is too ambi-
tious to be safe. We want a man for
that place who has the good of the or-
ganization in view rather than his own
personal preferment. Who is the right
man? Would like to hear the views of
the Mercury-Password readers.
JASPER BOYETT.
Tannehlll, La,
DON'T SHIELD 'EM.
From "Southern Farmers' Union."
One clause of the constitution of the
Farmers' Union of the state of Louis-
iana provides that any editor who may
be a member of the union shall not
pass adverse criticism upon any official
of the Union. The people of Texas and
especially the farmers, are not yet
ready to muzzle the press. The offi-
cial acts of any officer are always, or
ought to be. open to the closest scruti-
ny. This is true in civil government,
and should be the rule in the Farmers'
Union. No faithful officer fears criti-
cism. The unfaithful ought to have
their short-comings exposed.
"WHAT 18 THERE IN IT FOR ME?"
"Say, what Is there in it for me?"
Is the question before all the people.
It's as broad as the land and the sea,
Reaclie* counter and hamlet and
steeple, .
The man who is pleading the law,
As the man who is giving the pill,
Is looking around 'With awe.
How large he can make out his bill.
The plain, hoi\pst farmer raises his
truck.
With an eye for the future, remem-
ber, •
And by fair dealing—not luck—
He should have plenty of cash by
December.
While the merchant Is "selling out
cheap,"
It's a sham, nearly all, don't you see?
And the buyer and seller alike,
Say, "What Is there In It for me?"
But the most dreaded thing in our land.
And from which we ought to be free,
Is where men in authority stand.
Whispering, "What is there in it for
me?"
The man of the cloth Is no better,
The most of his preaching's for fee,
If not, he will say in a letter,
"What Is there in it for me?"
'Tis a fad we have got on the brain.
On this we most all do agree.
But what shall we do to refrain
From "What is there In it for me?"
There Is you and your friend and the
rest,
And myself in the number, you see,
From morning tiy night looking out
For "What is there in it for me?"
LUMBER RATES COMPARED.
As promised in last week's Mercury-
Password, we herewith give the aver-
age freight rates per 100 pounds on
lumber in carload lots as charged by
Texas railroad lines, as fixed by ruling
of the Texas Railroad Commission.
Compare these figures with the rates
In other states as given below—note
the unreasonable disparity in lumber
rates:
In Texas the average rate Is 18 %c
per 100 pounds.
In Illinois the rate for 150 miles is
10c per 100 pounds; for 200 miles, 11c;
270 miles, 12>4; 450 miles, 14c.
In Missouri. 150 miles, 10c; 200 miles,
8%c; 250 miles, 9%; 400 miles, 12V6c.
In Arkansas, 50 miles, 4c; 100 miles,
5c; 200 miles, 7c; 250 miles, 9c: 300
miles, 32c.
In Mississippi, 50c miles, 4c; 100
miles, 5c; 200 miles, 6c: 250 miles, 7c;
300 miles, Sc.
In South Carolina, 50 miles, 3Vic; 100
miles, 4 Vic; 200 miles, 5«4c; 250 miles,
5%c.
In Iowa, 100 miles, 6c; 200 miles, 8c;
400 miles, 12>4c.
What are the people here for, any-
how, except to fatten the Texas rail-
roads?
RESCINDED FORMER ACTION.
BLAMES THE EDITOR8.
If you toot your little tooter and then
lay aside your horn there's not a soul
In ten short days will know that you
were born. The man who gathers
pumpkins Is the man who plows all
day, and the man that keeps a hump-
ing, Is the mnn who makes it pay. The
mnn who advertises with short and
sudden jerks, Is the man who blames
the editor because it never works.
The man who gets the business has a
long nnd stendy pull, and keeps his
trnde and papers from year to year
quit" full. Ho plans his advertisement
In thoughtful, honest way, nnd keeps
forever at It until he makes it pay.
He has faith in all the future, can
withstand a bankrupt shock, and like
a man of Scripture, has his business
built on rock.
WANTS THE "STARTLING" NEWS.
A staunch Union brother at Colmes-
neil. Texas, wrltna as follows: "I have
Just rend 'A Slick Scheme Exposed,'
In the Mercury-Password of July 6 and
would like to know the name and ad-
dress of Its author. 'Old Pot' and his
paper have not many friends in these
to have a
PROSPECTING IN CANADA.
Before leaving Indian Territory t
promised many members of the F. E.
nnd C. U. of A. that I would write the
Mercury-Password from Western Can-
ada, if you will allow me space for a
description of this country. I arrived
at Red Deer June 24, bought a good
pair of horses, harness and wagon, and
I nm ready to start out land hunting.
I find that I can drive a wagon to a
plnce where I can get free land. The
Bosque County Wheels Into Referen-
dum Column. Pricing Present Crop.
Bosque County Union met In regular
session at Meridian July 7 and passed
several important resolutions. We.
agreed to set the price of our present
corn crop at 50 cents per bushel, and
oats at not less than 25 cents per
bushel. Each local in the county was
requested to concur in this resolution.
Delegates elected to attend the State
Union: R. A. Eubank and Frank Gan-
dy; alternates, I. H. Dawson and J. E.
Cummack. The offices of county bus-
iness agent and door keeper being va-
cant. J. E. Cammack was elected busi-
ness agent and Robert Summers, door
keeper. Business agent was instructed
to attend the business agents' meeting
at Waco Aug. 7.
A call was Issued for a two days'
encampment of the entire membership
of the county to be held at Jordan
schoolhouse on July 28, 29. Our county
organization is now busy building the
Union. Bosque County Union rescinded
its former vote on the new constitution.
As the vote now stands It is a unani-
mous rejection of the Fort Worth doc-
ument. .T. E. Cammack, Secy.
Walnut Springs, Texas.
TEMPER AT HOME.
We have peeped into quiet "parlors"
where the carpet Is clean and not old,
nnd the furniture polished and bright;
into "rooms" where the chairs are plain
with seats of wood or rawhide, and the
floor carpetless: Into "kitchens" where
the family live, and the plain, simple
meals coeked and eaten, and the boys
and girls as happy and cheerful as the
mocking bird that sings outside.
And we see it is not so much wealth,
or learning, or clothing,or servants, or
POPULAR TALK ON LAW.
Landlord and Tenant.
Few landlords and perhaps fewer
tenants realize the extent of their
rights and obligations, even where they
have agreed to the terms of a lease and
affixed their signatures thereto. Per-
haps a still smaller number of tenants
who occupy leased premises on verbal
terms, or upon practically no expressed
conditions, understand the law govern-
ing the relation existing between them
and their landlords.
Every farmer 1s either a landlord or
a tenant; this makes some plain talk
on the subject desirable.
There are two terms usually found
in leases that perhaps need simple defi-
nitions before proceeding to use them.
These terms are "appurtenance" and
"easement." An appurtenance is that
which belongs to something else;
something accessory to something else.
.It is always something of less Import-
ance than that to which it appertains
or belongs, as, "\rees are appurtenant
to the soil. An easement is a right or
privilege which one has in the estate of
another, distinct from the ownership
of the soil, as where one owns a right
of way over land of another, or where
one has the right of fishing in another
man's stream.
Now, whatever is appurtenant to
leased land goes with it; so that, if one
rents a piece of ground, and nothing
is stated to the contrary in the lease,
everything appertaining to the soli
goes with the soil, as houses, barns,
fences, trees, shrubbery, etc.; but not
things of a temporary nature, not be-
longing to the soil, as agricultural 1m-
prements, domestic animals, etc. Then,
too', this Is so In the case of a sale or
a lease, whether the lease or deed so
states it or not. _ A mere verbal lease,
not specifying the appurtenances, will
be sufficient to entitle the lessee to their
possession and use. Under no circum-
stances may the lessor, after the lesseya
has taken possession, enter to remove
appurtenances, and his attempt to do so
I makes him a tresspasser and lays him
: liable to an action for trespass. Where
! one has leased premises to another and
falls to give him possession of all the
premises leased, including the appur-
tenances, the lessee is under no obli-
gation to accept a part, but may aban-
toll, or leisure, town or country, rank . ,, „
or ...tie «, ton, and temper «,« j'
makes life Joyous or miserable, that
renders homes happy or wretched.
Learn to apply the dear old golden rule,
learn to rememBer that others have
The cases that have arisen have
grown out of the difficulty in determin-
ing what is appurtenant and what Is
not appurtenant to the soil. For In-
feellngs, remember children are not A man'eased a milt There
grown; remember that old people are j approach to 't 'romjhe l.tgh-
yet young; remember the difference j °th£ *225?^
and learn to see things from different longing to tne lessor.
view points.
DIRECT LEGISLATION.
"We believe in direct legislation,'*
says Tom Watson In his magazine for
June, "putting the power of making
laws and choosing rulers back In the
hands of those to whom it belongs—
and the election of oH officers by the
people.
"The people should not be made to
await the pleasure of the Legislature
or of Congress. They should not be
kept In Ignorance of what the law Is
until legislative acts become known
through the newspapers. They should
have in every case the right to Initiate
land in the vicinity of Red Deer is a
rich black soil, two to three feet deep, those laws which they want, and to
with clay subsoil. Red Deer Is an up- ; veto, through the referendum, any law
to-date western town, with a popula- . which they do not like.
tlon of 2,500. The people hereabouts "When an officer whom they have
seem healthy, happy and prosperous. | elected shows by any vote or act that
W. H. Wllllscraft, secretary of the - "
Farmers' Co-oper
colony, Red I they should not have to wait Ull ths
The courts held
that an approach to the mlU from the
highway being necessary to the use of
the mill, such right of way, or ease-
ment, passed with the mill. In another
case, where a mill was leased and ths
lessor owned other property adjoining,
through which the water passed by
which the mill was run. it was held
that the lessee of the mifl had, as an
appurtenance to the mill, the right to
a sufficient head of water in the dam
upon the adjoining land belong to his
lessor.
The tenant is entitled to natural ac-
cretions to the premises as where, by
a change In the course of a river,
ground was added to leased premises
which fronted on a river.
Where one leases a house, he is enti-
tled to the lot, outhouses, fences, trees
and things of a like nature, appurte-
nant thereto.
Many landlords are not aware that,
unless the provisions of ths
more right to enter the premises of
their tenants than have strangers. A
landlord who enters and attempts to
remove a plant, or make alterations,
even though the alterations are to his
mind beneficial to the premises, or to
put up signs, is guilty of a trespass,
where under like circumstances a
stranger would be guilty.
If the tenunt abandons the premises
before the expiration of his term, the
landlord has a right to re-enter. But
where the landlord claims there has
been forfeiture for the non-payment of
rent, he must, before a re-entry, be
sure to comply with all the formalities
of the law, as, by making a demand
for the amount of rent due, on the last
day. on the premises, and at a conven-
ient time before sunset. If the tenant
has agreed to pay taxes and has not
done so, before the landlord can re-
enter he must demand the payment of
the taxes within the period required by
law. In other words, the landlord, be-
fore re-entry for a breach of contract,
must be careful to comply with the
statutory and common law require-
ments In his state. The landlord may
enter to make repairs when he has
agreed In his lease to make them, or
he may enter to demand rent that is
due. In a Kansas case it was held that
If after the tenant had refused to pay
the rent and had begun to move, the
landlord moved out the rest of the ten-
ant's thlng3 and took possession, the
tenant had no cause for action.
Where one has given a lease to an-
other without excepting any rights or
privileges to himself other than the
payment of the rent, he has practically
sold and conveyed the premises to the
tenant for the time stated In the lease,
and he has no more right to interfere
during the term of the lease with the
tenant's peaceable enjoyment of the
premises than he would have to enter
the premises of one to whom lie has
given a deed.
THE NATIONAL COLORED FARM-
ERS' UNION.
Houston, Tex., July 1st, 1905.
A charter has been obtained at
Washington. D. C., for the National
Colored Farmers' Progressive Union
of America, and among other pur-
poses, the 3d article of the Charter
says under the head of "Purposes:''
"The purposes of the National Colored
Farmers' Progressive Union are to or-
ganize the colored farmers of the
United States for the mutual benefit
and protection In the growing of farm
products and the sale thereof, and for
the improvement in cultural, harvest-
ing and marketing methods and to
work in harmony and co-operation
with the white Farmers' Union In all
the States, where the same can be
done to mutual advantage."
This cannot be done in a better or
more effectual way than by securing
members of the White Farmers' Un-
ion as organizers, wherever this Is
practical, for as such, they more fully
realize the need of having the colored •
farmers organized Into colored unions,
and such unions, through their execu-
tive committees placed in working
harmony with the Farmers* Educa-
tional and Co-operative Union.
We have appointed Mr. Andrew J. 4-
Carothers (who is a member of the
F. E. & C. Union) as National super-
intendent, as we know him to be fully
qualified to manage the general or-
ganizing of our order, and we earnest-
ly ask the hearty aid of all White
Farmers' Union Organizers, and would
be glad to have them commissioned to
organize Colored Unions. We also
would be glad to have ministers,
teachers and other competent colored
men to write for a commission to or-
ganize.
Please address all your letters to
Andrew J. Carothers, Gen'l. Supt., Bo*
445, Houston, Texas, as he Is authoriz-
ed by us to issue these commissions.
Very respectfully,
J. H. ALEXANDER.
G. H. ALEXANDER,
*T. B. CLARKE,
V. G. BANKHEAD.
,V. N. ALEXANDER,
Ex. Com.
Friendly papers please copy.
A REFERENDUM ADVOCATE.
I desire to say through the columns
of the Mercury-Password that Bro.
W. E. Yarbrough need not hope against
hope, for quite a number of referen-
dum theorists will be in evidence at
Waco Aug. 8, enough at least to show
him that the membership of the F. E.
and C. U. of A. of Texas compose the
court who shall decide all questions on
constitutional amendments. Broth Y.
seems to infer that none but those ot
his kind ire honest. Surely the brother
would not have us believe that all oth- — —^
ers are dishonest with' themselves.
They n<ay be mistaken, but is it not
quite probable that he himself is not
right. Many of us know that the Mer-
cury-Password has been faithful to
contend for the Individual rights of the
membership under any and all circum-
stances. I am sorry, but not surprised,
to know that some have crept into the
Farmers' Union, as was the case with
the Grange and Farmers' Alliance, who
can be Induced to turn the crank for
those who have an ax to grind. The
"referendum" will give us recourse to
the court of last resort, 1. e., the local -
Unions. J. M. BOWEN,
Keltys, Texas.
/
TOM LAWSON HAS TOLD YOU
HOW TO DO IT.
Dear Brother:. New since you have
heard from Tom Lswsen, what do you
think shout owning the trusts? He
hss told you the plain, naked truth
and its whst you hsve known all ths
tims. But, it's something funny, ws
sll wsit until somsons comes along and
telle us snd solicits us to do for our-
sslvss co-operstivsly what ws hsvs
been making millionaires out of by al-
lowing thsm to own snd monopolies
ths msehinss.
Mind you, things sre not dsns by
hand any more, so your "Uncls John-
ey" went* you to hsve his plans fsr
COOPERATIVELY OWNING THE
WOOLEN* MACHINERY. Thsy srs
net up in the sky, thsy srs net seme-
thing in the future, but ARE HERE
AND NOW, wcrking practically and
successfully.
Writs fcr free booklet snd if it dont
plesss you (by gedi) don't hsvs any-
thing to do with it.
RtO GRANDE WOOLEN MILLS CO.
(Co-Operstive)
/
vs, N. M.
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Southern Mercury United with the Farmers Union Password. (Dallas, Tex.), Vol. 25, No. 29, Ed. 1 Thursday, July 20, 1905, newspaper, July 20, 1905; Dallas, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth186200/m1/4/: accessed July 6, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu.; .