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I ?^??.?????^??? ?? ??^????? ^ ISSUED SBBII-WBBKL^ l. k. grist's sons, publishers. J 31 dfantilg Urtcsgaprr: 4'r ">? promotion o( (hij political, JSocial. tjgricuttunat and ?ommrtcial Interests oj the people. . j sc^vme oe*t*a!ic,? established 1855. ~~ YORKVILLE, S. C., FKIDAY, NO?EMBER 1, 1907. N"Q- 88. *jXORTHEK] FROM THE RONANTI i == THE NOVELIZATK CHAPTER XVII. Redeemed. The spot on the bluffs far above the Tongue river, where Colonel Gray and his party had taken refuge, was certainly provided with excellent natural defenses. It was a broad plateau, backed by a lofty wall or rocK, ana having In front precipitous, unscalable cliffs. On one side the descent was almost equally sheer save for a narrow path with room for only one person to advance at a time. The fourth side, however, sloped gently down to the plain below, and this was where danger was to be feared. Still, the place could probably have been held for some time against the force of attacking Indians, had It not been for the fatal lack of water. Under! the circumstances, the exhausted garrison could not hold out for only a few hours longer. Their only hope was that "Horton might be able to reach' General Crook and bring aid. He had been gone now nearly twenty-four hours. It was nine o'clock In \ the evening, a beautiful, clear moonlight night, every shrub, rock and tree tinged with silver. The beauty of the ? tViA luml. I neavens was enuturceu u? nous lines of the Northern Lights, which shifted and trembled In threads of ever varying: color. But superb as the spectacle was. It brought only horror to the hearts of those upon the plateau, for each knew that this probably meant another attack before daybreak. Colonel Gray was propped up agfainst a rock where he could view every movement in the little camp. The brave old man was suffering: grreatly from his wound, but not a word of complaint passed his lips. Not far away, in front of a rudely-improvised shelter, lay Florence asleep upon a pile of blankets, and near by were Dorothy, Helen and the other women, the wives and sisters of the soldiers. Dare and Higgs were also there, and to their credit be it said, that in the presence of this real danger, the manliness in both of them asserted itself and they were quite ready to fight, or do any duty that might be assigned to them. "Water! water!" gasped Florence, moving uneasily and half awaking. Helen Dare bent over her. "Have patience," she said, gently. "Starlight will soon be here." Murmuring the Indian girl's name, Florence, - again sank into a troubled slumber. "Starlight?" asked Colonel Gray, quest ion ingly, of Helen. Tho lnttpr name tn his side. "The child stole Into camp an hour ago, while you were asleep." she said. In a low voice, and heard Florence begging for water. She picked up an empty can. and, saying she would save the broken lily, climbed over the rocks and disappeared." The colonel looked troubled. "If she is discovered," he said, "those Inhuman wretches will look upon her act of mercy a? treason to themselves, and take her life. "And if she falls to return," added Helen, sadly, "or if water is not procured, Florence will never see the sun rise again." "Oh, must I see her die here before my eyes!" murmured the colonel, In powerless grief. Suddenly Florence started up, crying wildly: ^ "Wallace! Wallace! Uncle, don't send him away!" Instantly Dorothy and Helen were at her side, soothing her as best they could. Thanks to Swiftwind's knowledge and skill, the poor woman, who had suffered so much, had recovered from the cholera, and by some wonderful dispensation of Providence, no one else ? had been infected, but she was still very weak, and Helen was not far wrong in what she had said. "Colonel." It was Charlie Sherwood who had just returned from a tour of Inspection and now advanced to the colonel's side. "Colonel, one more is gone. He was badly wounded, but a few drops of water might have saved his life. However. it is perhaps as well." "What do you mean?" Charlie pointed to the shimmering sky. "That means that the attack will not long be delayed. And." lowering his voice so as not to be heard by the women. "when it comes, colonel.God help us! for we've scarcely two rounds of ammunition left." "Two rounds!" repeated the colonel, shocked and astounded. "Yes, and I have given orders to fire only in defense of the women." "That was right." with a deep sigh. "We must protect them to the last. ?? ?TT/%M*/\n i\OW our uiuy impr in run iuu. Charlie hesitated for a moment, and then decided that this was no time to keep anything back. He therefore spoke out just what was in his mind. "Colonel, have you stopped to think that it Is but fifteen miles up this stream to Crook's camp? Horton should have been back here by daybreak this morning." "Don't, don't!" said the colonel, piteously. glancing toward the group of women. "Don't take away the last hope. Crook may have broken camp. At any rate. I'll never give up Horton rntil I see proofs of his death." "What's that?" cried Dare, suddenly, who was peering out from behind a rock in the valley. The exclamation sta'tled the colonel and Charlie, and the latter at once went forward to see what was the matter. 'Keep down, lieutenant." exclaimed Dare, excitedly. Charlie crouched down, and crawled forward until he was at the judge's side. "What is it?" he asked. Dare pointed down the gentle decline that led to the valley. "Look there! No. now it's gone. I v * Lights* C AMERICAN DRAMA. DN BY A. D. HALL. Ah! there it is again! You can see it better when the lights rift." Charlie shaded his eye3 with his hand, and saw what had caused Dare's excitement. "It looks like a white flag!" he exclaimed. They were not very far away, and the colonel heard him. He tried to rise from his sitting posture, but his weakness overpowered him, and he was unable to do so, until helped to his feet by two soldiers who ran forward to his assistance. "What's that?" he cried, motioning the men to support him and lead him a little forward. "I think it's a flag of truce, sir," replied Charlie. These words, which were spoken in rather a loud tone, brought all the soldiers, save those who were acting oKAII# ?tllllliris, tlunuiue auvuv. "Ah!" muttered the cojonel, but, knowing Indian nature as he did, there was little of exultation in his voice. "The rascals want to make terms." "What will you do?" asked Charlie, turning his head, but still keeping his post of observation. "See what they have to say," responded the colonel. "Here, give me something to answer them with." "Will this do?" asked Helen Dare, untying a white scarf which was knotted about her neck. "Yes. _ Tie it to a stick, will you, my dear." And then he turned again to Charlie with much of his old. quick decision. "Keep your eye on them, lieutenant. How many are there?" "About a dozen. They have all stopped except the one who is advancing with the flag." "Here, signal them with this," taking the stick and white emblem from Helen, and extending it. Charlie obeyed. He took the signal and waved It. ' Vrviv ha has stooDed." he said, af ter a moment, "and is beckoning us to meet him." "Give me the flag! I'll go!" cried the colonel. "No. colonel," answered Charlie, respectfully but firmly, "you are not able. I understand what's to be done. Let me go!" "That's right, Charlie," spoke up the little major, approvingly. The colonel, recognizing his own physical weakness, regretfully nodded assent. 'Til mak?- no terms," cried the young lieutenant, "but report to you. Goodby," and then with a bound, he vanished down the slope. "Cover him with your guns, men," commanded the colonel. "If more than one approach him, fire!" Half a dozen of the soldiers advanced to the edge of the plateau and leveled their weapons. At almost the same instant the sentinel who was guarding the narrow pathway on the other side called "Halt!" and then stepped aside to allow some one to pass. "It's Starlight!" cnea neien uarv. thankfully, as the slender figure of the Tndian maiden glided toward them. "Thank God! water at last!" exclaimed the colonel, fervently. "Back to your posts, men! You'll all get your share." "Quick, Starlight!" said Helen, eagerly. "Give it to me. "She is dying!" With a gesture of despair, the Indian girl raised the can and turned it upside down. It was empty! A cry of bitter disappointment broke from all. Helen seized the can and examined It. "See!" she cried. "The bottom has been crushed through, and the child has been sent back to mock our thirst." With rage in their hearts, all recognized that this was true. Then Starlight spoke. "The white chief must yield to my people before the Northern Lights fade in the heavens, or all will perish!" "Before the Northern Lights fade in the heavens." repeated Helen. "What does she mean?" But the colonel understood only too well. "She means," he said, slowly, "that they will attack us again before morning unless we surrender." "Is that it. Starlight?" "Starlight will die with you," was the dull response. "She will say no more." And covering her head with her 1 * -4 T? .lt? ?. ?l-l omnncr TI'ViGQ* DianKtJl, lilt- liiuiaii giii, auiuiiB faults ingratitude was not numbered, crouched down motionless in a cleft of the rocks, prepared to meet whatever lestiny might have in store for her. "He's coming." rang out the joyful voice of Dorothy, who had been watching a little distance off "Charlie is ;oming!" "Thank Heaven, they can respect a flag of truce." exclaimed the colonel, >n a relieved tone of voice. It was not long before the messenger appeared among them. "Well, boy, what is it?" cried the colonel. All listened eagerly for the response, ilthough its significance was already omewhat apparent, from the gloomy expression of Charlie's face. "It looks like surrender, colonel. They have been reinforced by quite a large number from the Little Big Horn, where a fight took place this morning. They were going to attack tonight, but knowing we were strongly entrenched, and fearing a heavy loss for them selves, they held a council and conceded to offer us terms of surrender." For a moment no one spoke. The shadow of doom seemed to settle down upon them. Then the colonel asked, calmly: "Who Is in command?" "Iron Nation, chief of the Brules. He says he will bring1 ten braves to council with you. They will come unarmed If you will guarantee their safety." "If we could hold out a little longer," muttered the colonel, undecided just what was best to be done, "Horton might turn up." Charlie shook his head sadly. "Colonel, I ain afraid that hope is useless. Iron Nation claims that Horton was killed on the Little Big Horn this morning, and, in proof of his statement has given me this," producing a revolver, the revolver 'which a shot had knocked from the scout's hand. "It has Horton's name upon it." A low cry of anguish broke from Helen's pale lips. In that moment her heart spoke, and she knew what this man had become to her. But no one noticed her, so intent were they upon Charlie's words, and i sti keen was the disappointment to all to feel that this, their one hope, had failed them. At once the colonel's mind was made up. I "Signal them to approach," he said, grimly. With a heavy heart, Charlie moved away to obey this behest. i Colonel Gray made a brief speech to his men, telling them that every' man \ must respect the promise which had I been given to these Indians, and that i their safety must be guaranteed. He ordered several of the men to stand In ] front of the women, and then in a dig- I nifled manner awaited the approach | of the delegation. i The time of waiting was not long. Iron Nation, -a man with a lowering, i repulsive-looking face, soon appeared, i followed by nine of his braves. i All the Indians were wrapped from neck to feet in blankets, which they I held closely about them. After the usual salutlons were ex- | changed. Iron Nation took his place in ( front of his men, opposite Colonel i Gray. 1 The latter after waiting for the oth- ( er to begin, took the initiative. "You are unarmed, Iron Nation?" i A grunt In the affirmative was the < only reply. < "Sit," pointing to the ground. I A decided shake of the head. * i "Pipe?" "Urn. No Pipe." < Keeling that there was no longer any ' use in proffering courtesies. Colonel c.mv at ftncp name to the DOint. "What it Ij you want?" Then indeed the Indian spoke. "White chief must give up." "Why?" asked the colonel, affecting: surprise. "We can hold out for days." "White chief speak lie," was the blunt comment. "No eat. No drink. Broken Lily die. Starlight no get water." He pointed to the empty can which lay near him upon the ground. Then he drew a canteen from beneath his blanket, and remarking "Injun much water," reversed it and poured forth the contents. At this waste of the precious liquid murmurs rose to the lips of the soldiers, but Colonel Cray checked them with a gesture. The Indian's action had certainly expressed the situation to a nicety. "Iron Nation," said the colonel, after brief reflection, "do you promise that if we surrender no one shall be harmed. "Me promise. No kill. No scalp." "And our women? They must be sent to their people." "No hurt squaw," with a stiff nod. "Send them away. Injun no want ihoin." "And the men?" "Keep them! Trade pale face for fnjun." These terms seemed fair enough, but ' Colonel Gray, remembering past deeds of treachery, hesitated to trust to the redskins' honor. And yet what else was to be done? Motioning Iron Nation to wait, he ( withdrew a little to confer with Charlie and the other surviving officers. "What do you think?" he asked. "It , seems our only chance." , ."But will he keep his word?" 1 "God knows!" j No one spoke, for all realized the , truth of the colonel's words. I Then the silence was broken by savage yells from the plain below, yells | which gradually grew nearer and < nearer. I Iron Nation heard them?to tell the ] truth, he did not understand just what they meant?and stepped forward a , pace. "White chief say quick," he said, in ( his gutteral tones and then he point- , ed. significantly down the slope. "Injun wants fight!" Colonel Gray turned first to one and then to another of his officers, but no , one apparently had any suggestion to offer. "It's the first surrender of my life," he said, bitterly, "but it must be done." And then he turned toward the chief of the Brule's, who, although his attitude did not evince it, was really wait tnR Impatiently for the answer. "Iron Nation, we accept your terms." "No, no, colonel," exclaimed Helen Dare, impulsively, "don't trust them." And her protest was echoed by the majority of the women. Women possess an instinct which sometimes is superior to man's reason. Iron Nation flashed one look at them, a look full of menace, and then he resumed his former expectant attitude. The colonel, with a sad wave of his hand, motioned the women to silence. "Hush, Rirls! I must, or you will all perish." "White chief wise," remarked the Indian chief. "Must Rive Injun Runs." Slowly Colonel Grey turned toward his men. "Stack your Runs aRainst that rock there," he commanded. One by one, the soldiers moved forward and placed their weapons aRainst the rock indicated. Again the yells rose up from below* and with them another sound?the rush of flying hoofs. "What's that? An Indian on horseback coming up the canon!" "Injuns get mad," put in Iron Nation, threateningly. "Want fight quick." Shot after shot rang out on the still air. "No!" cried Charlie, excitedly, "he can't be an Indian! They're firing on him!" "Iron Nation take guns," said the leader of the redskin deputation, moving forward, followed closely by his comrades. "No!" commanded the colonel, sternly, waving them back. And then he turned to young Sherwood. "What Is it. lieutenant?" , "Looks like an Indian," replied CharHe, breathlessly, straining his eyes to see. "God! how he rides! Ah! he's down! No! he catches his horse's mane! He'll never get through alive! Yes. he turns! He's coming this way!" The excitement had spread to every one there. No one knew just what it meant. But even the Indians were not proof against the prevailing commotion. Iron Nation started forward. "Injun take guns now!" he cried. Scarcely were the words out of his mouth than he and the others of his color made a rush toward the stacked weapons. But they were destined to meet with a paralyzing surprise. Two men rose from behind the rock with guns leveled full In the faces of the Indians. These two men were Dare and Hlggs, who, at the timfe the order to relinquish the weapons had been given, had hid themselves there. Perhaps it Is as well not to inquire j too closely Into their motives, as the | result was so eminently satisfactory. j The Indians, taken utterly by sur- I piise, recoiled, and, as they did so, the j blankets fell from them showing that J underneath they were fully armed. With yells of execration at this per- I fldy. the soldiers, awaiting no order, leaped forward and recovering their < ?uns, pointed them menacingly at the < redskins. , The latter, overpowered by numbers, did not dare to move a finger in the race of what would have been certain death. "Disarm them." cried Colonel Gtfay, * In a voice of thunder. The order was instantly obeyed, and c In the twinkling of an eye. the mis- ^ erable dogs were deprived of their v arms and became prisoners In the bands of those they had planned to 51 capture. Now the beating of hoofs, punctu- '' ated by shots, sounded closer and 8 :loser. And In another Instant a steed, 0 :overed with foam, with one final 8 bound up the incline, galloped Into the e midst of the camp. Its rider flung himself from the sad- 8 d|e and with outstretched hand waved * i paper toward the colonel. "From Crook!" he gasped, and then b daggered back exhausted against the v noble horse who had borne him thus 0 ?afely through peril after peril. ? TT ~ ? KMITA t tty neaven: su, juu bic a. um.v nan!" cried Colonel Gray, snatching at v [he dispatch. p Quick as mortal .fingers could act, lie tore It open and read aloud: a "Recognize no flag of truce. It Is j, i sympol of treachery and death. Hold c jut to the last. Relief Is coming. u Crook." e Swlftwlnd's words had arrived In h time, but not a moment too soon. d Even as the colonel finished a bugle 1 rang out clear and thrilling below, a a sound that announced that succor had :ome. * p Its clarion tones were answered by c delist from the savages below, those " fiends who had been thirsting for the alood of the little party above them for many a long day. But now at last retribution had ^ :ome, and their devilish desires were not to be granted. With shot and sabre cut, Crook's c brave men charged upon them, and b the redskins, taken by surprise, and c ilways cowardly under such clrcum- t stances, fled In all directions. v The combat was short but decisive, r Again the thrilling notes of the bu- E jle cleft the air. ^ With a wild, victorious cheer, an- s swercd by one no less hilarious from o the soldiers on the plateau above, the c :avalry swept up the hill. f Horton was one of the first to grasp o Colonel Gray's hand. r "Thank Heaven, we're In time!" he d :rled, breathlessly, and then his eyes *i swept from one to another, until they inet those of Helen D&re fixed upon f film with an expression that told him v ill that he wanted to know, and which a sppmed at once to raise him to the very f ?ates of Paradise itself. s "Yes." exclaimed Colonel Gray, b trembling all over with relief and joy. 1 "But," glancing about him, "If the dis- s patch had been a moment later we'd b have been in the hands of the enemy." C "The dispatch!" echoed Horton, In c surprise, unable to understand. a "Yes!" cried the colonel, enthuslas- r tically, "brought through that chasm e of death by the bravest man under the f Northern Lights!" c "Who Is he?" And then Wallace Gray, pale with I emotion, was led forward by Lleuten- v ant Charlie Sherwood. r "Do you know him, colonel?" t The colonel gave one look into the a face so like his own. and then his arms r opened. 1 Wallace threw himself Into them, t Father and son were reunited, never c again to be separated. d Only a few words more are needed to close our story. I About a year after the rescue of the 1 little band upon the bluff above the 1 Tongue river, a triple wedding took < place at Fort Terry. The, brides were -s Florence Sherwood, now entirely res- t tored to health, Dorothy Dunbar and f Helen Dare; the grooms, Wallace c Gray, a lieutenant doing noble service f in his father's regiment: Charlie Sher- I wood and Dan Horton. The colonel, his splendid old face beaming: in every lineament, gave the brides away. At the breakfast which followed the ceremony a silent toast was drank by those who had known and loved the man the best: "To the memory of John Swiftwind!" THE END. *? " Among the insects the most intelligent are those of the ant tribe, while next to them rank wasps. Bees come some way lower down the scale. Beetles are hopelessly stupid, but even they are not as bad as butterflies and ( mot lis. , ti) Who can tell the value of a smile? 1 It costs the giver nothing, but Is be- 1 yon;l price to the erring and relenting, the sad and cheerless, the lost and forsaken. It disarms malice, subdues temper, turns hatred Into love, revenge into kindness, and paves the darkest paths with gems of sunlight. A smile on the brow betrays a kind heait. a pleasant friend, an affectionate brother, a dutiful son, a happy husband. It adds a charm to beauty, it decorates the face of the deformed, and makes a lovely woman resemble an angel in Paradise. 1 <5- . V 5> / ' <"'/ HON. GEORGE B. CORTELYOU. Washington. October 29.?President toosevelt was In conference with all he members of his cabinet except lecretary Taft for more than two lours today. The financial situation ifas under consideration. Secretary 'ortelyou shares the view that the enerai money situation inrougnoui he country, especially in New York, s steadily improving. Although he Is verse to making any public statement >n the subject, It is known that he regards the situation with far greater quanlmity than at any time during he last ten days. During the last even days he has deposited in the nalonal banks a sum approximating 50.000.000 and since early in Septemcr, when the secretary began his reekly distributions, nearly $70,000,00 have been deposited, which brings he amount of public funds now In nalonal banks up to over $215,000,000, of .hich about $12,000,000 has been deosited to the credit of government isbursing officers. During President leveland's first term very large mounts of public funds were deposted In the national banks for the delared purpose of relieving the treasry of a burdensome surplus, but nevr before in the history of the country ave such large sums been placed with eposltary banks to avert threatened rouble in times of unusual dlsturbnce In the financial centres. Secreary Cortelyou remained with the resident for some time after the conluslon of the meeting. * THE MONEY CRISIS OF 1907. lecalls Panic of 1873, When President Grant Himself Stepped In. On May 9, 1901, the Northern Paiflc panic prevailed In Wall street, >ut it was confined to the stock exhange and the brokers' offices, and he only visible demonstrations of it rere those pictured by throngs of ushlng messenger and office boys. Jut for the first time in many years Vail street has this week been in posesslon of a great throng, a majority f whom no doubt were Inspired by urloslty, and yet a large minority by right, which impelled them to demand f the Trust Company of America the eturn of their deposits. It was a lemonstratlon new to this generation a Wall street. Something like it was seen for a ew hours at the time of the disaster rhlch befell the old Metropolitan Bank, nd in 1873 long lines gathered in ront of the savings banks, being inpired by fear and at least controlled iy that kind of fear which Is a peril to Ives and property. Upon that occaion, not the secretary of the treasury, ?ut the president himself, General Jrant, came to New York and was In onsultation until long after midnight t the Union League club, a Sunday light, fortunately, for upon that day, very bank being closed. It was not iossible to maintain a run against any >ne of them. General Grant and the Clearing louse association had the situation cell in hand before the president dearted for Washington, and although he business demoralization continued nd Industry remained stagnant for nany months, yet the banks of New fork city were abundantly fortified so hat they were able to stand a supreme bstacle against wide-spread financial lisaster of a kind involving the whole abrlc of the national bank system. What President Grant and the Clearing House association, under the brillant leadership of the late Frederick ). Tappen, accompanied in 1873, the Clearing House association and the itrong men in it in association with he secretary of the treasury believed >n Wednesday that they were abun lantiy aoie aiso 10 uccompu?u. ?? )ther words, abundantly able to proect the national banks, since these constitute the citadel of American fiance. Very likely one of the most beneficial 'esults of this tempest will be a change n the methods adopted by many of he trust institutions, especially the rounger ones. Every experienced banker has known that danger lurked in hese methods. A part of them is curable by legislative action, but it is jelieved that the time has come when here must also be extended to the rust institutions authority similar to hat which the Clearing House asso iatlon possesses over the national >anks and some state banks of this city. In the first place, the experience of he Knickerbocker Trust has demonstrated the danger of conducting a ranking institution without maintalnn a reserve fund, and in such amount is the experience of fifty years in this city has shown to be wise. Trust institutions should be compelled either to return to the original vocation for ivhich they were first chartered in this state, namely, to handle trust funds md to act as trustees, or else if they undertake regular uuuKiug uusm , they should be compelled to conform to the regulations which have been found wise and proficient in the conluct of national banks.?Holland in Philadelphia Press. FARMERS UNION IN REVIEW. Remarkable Growth of the Organization In Five Years. PROTECTION OF PRODUCER ITS OBJECT How th? Union Came Into Existence ?Some of the Things It Has Done, and Some of the Things It Is Trying to Do. ...?? ? I Mimiim ^uu^uiuiiwii, The Farmers' Educational and Cooperative Union of America was chartered under the laws of the state of Texas on August 28, 1902. It is of Texas origin; was brought into being In the greatest commonwealth in the southwest and thence has gone forth on Its mission of good to the farming classes, into all the southern states and many in the west and northwest. The organization was conceived in the mind of Newt Gresham of Point, Rains county, Tex., and was at the time the charter was granted for this, the greatest of all farmers' organizations, 4f> years of age. He had been a farmer nearly all his life. He edited a newspaper a few years, with the varying vicissitudes of the country weekly publisher. Born in Alabama, February 20, 1858, he died at his home In Point, Texas, April 10, 1906, mourned not alone by his nearby friends and neighbors, but bv iiis confreres of the Farmers' Union " iifmw n local union had existence. A monument was unveiled and dedicated to his memory at the grave In the country cemetery near his late home, Sunday. October 6. 1907. That something like the honor due the founder of the order might be made for the support of his widow and ornhaned children, the Farmers' National Union, In convention recently held In Little Rock, Ark., adopted a button photograph of him as the national emblem and ordered that the photograph be sold at 25 cents each for the benefit of the family and for the proper education of the children, four In number. Mr. Gresham was the real founder of the organization. He argued that as other classes and callings organize for their mutual benefit and protection, setting a price on their labor, the farmers should also organize for their mutual benefit and protection, setting a nrlce on the products of their farms. He reasoned, and most Justly, that, as the farmers of all this land were the nrey of the predatory hordes who speculated in farm products, the cotton exchanges, grain exchanges, bucket shops, associations and street buyers, they being protected by both national and state laws In their machinations, their combinations and their schemes to fix the price of the products of the farmer, thereby enriching themselves off the fanners' labor while they grew Doorer year by year, that It was most meet for them, of all classes, to organize in self-defense, for the protection of themselves and families, from bitter want, their children from the blight of Ignorance, albeit this Is a boasted land of schools. He had felt the Iron In his soul. For vears he tolled the long weary years, from the glimmer of the dawning to the deepening shadows of the twilight day by day and year by year, only to see the result of his labor priced by other people and taken from him for their enrichment, while he grew poorer. He had seen his wife and little ones, he had seen the women and children all over the southland forced Into the fields to do the labor of men that starvation might be kept from their doors, the housework of the women left undone, the children growing up without education. He had seen the generous vlelds of Mother Earth of her products in response to the labor of himself and his loved ones ruthlessly taken from them, as was the case throughout all the country by combinations of men who never tolled who never saw, many of them, a growing stalk of cotton, of com or of wheat In all their lives. He saw the farmers, the workers In the hive who produced all the wealth and real prosperity of this great country, deprived bodily of their own by the drones until at last human endurance had reached Its limit and resistance to oppression became a sacred duty. Its Origin In Necessity. This was the origin of the Farmers' Union. Born of dire necessity and * ' 1 ?- *?-- 1 * ? kl/xA/1 rxf 1 9 _ cnristenea in uie uean b uiwu ??. ??, 500,000 American farmers, it is sacred. This organization is banding together the farmers of this nation for the protection and maintenance of their rights and therefore for the preservation of the nation itself, that it may not perish from the face of the earth, swept into the tomb of the dead nations of the ages, destroyed by the greed and graft of the mammon worshipers. Imbued with these ideas and Inspired with a lofty patriotism, Mr. Gresham induced nine other men. all of Rains county, Texas, to Join him, and the charter was taken out in the names of these ten men as follows: Newt Gresham, W. S. Sisk, O. H. Rodes, T. W. Donaldson, T. J. Pound, Jesse Adams, Lee Seamster, J. S. Turner, W. T. Cochran and J. B. Morris. These are the men who put into being. a little more than five years ago, this farmers' organization that now numbers more than 1,500,000 members and is organizing more rapidly each succeeding month. As an illustration of its marvelous growth, I will state that In Texas, the birthplace of the order, nearly 300 new local unions have been organized and chartered during the past month. Many other states are organizing fully as rapidly. We have now fifteen state unions and the work of organization is being vigorously pushed in many other uto tnu While it had Its origin in the south, it is in no wise a sectional institution. Its one great object Is to control the price of the products of the farm?not of one section, but of all sections of the country?whereby the farmers of this entire country in every line of agricultural industry shall themselves control their own property, the results of their labor to their own uplifting and betterment. It is not a partisan, political organization?men of all the political panics belonging to it?neither can it ever become such. It Is an industrial organization?a business organization, if you please and as a business organization j it is necessarily secret. We are, how-1 ever, and must always remain In busl- a ness politics. Many of the states have a already sent committees to tell their si legislatures the needs of the farmers in g matters of legislation. The death of bucket shops and gambling in futures, a; for Instance. They have been uniformly w successful. Many good and wholesome b laws In the interest of the farmers, n; and therefore of all the people, have ti been placed on the statute books by fT and through the advice and Influence ei of the Farmers' Union. a At our late meeting in Little Rock, >r Ark., held September 3-6, of the Na- ai tinnal Union, we elected a legislative u committee of three to attend the ses- A sions of the national congress, where P it Is thought we will be successful as we have been In the state. The names K of these three gentlemen are as fol- hi lows: Ben L. Grlffln, Conway. Ark.; Camp- k' bell Russell of Hereford, Okla., and 01 V, R. F. Duckworth of Barnesville, Ga. u The officers, with their postofflces of " the national union are as follows: President, Charles S. Barrett, Atwater, Ga.: vice president, J. E. Montgomery, Gleason. Tenn.; secretary and treasur- 81 er. R. H. McCullock, Bebe, Ark. Na- 01 tlonal board directors: W. A. Morris, b Sulllgent, Ala.; T. M. Jeffords, Elgin, ^ Okla.; W. S. Miller, Lake Creek, Tex.; I. N. McColllster, Many. La.; and L* S. Wilson. Eden, Miss. d Gambling In Crops Must Go. I( The system of pricing, marketing C( tnd handling crops generally, that have tl prevailed during the long, weary, ghastly years of the past, a system of C| nlunder and profit by and for the ex- a hanges, bucket shops, gamblers In futures and street speculators, must and ^ shall go. We have driven them from most of the southern states "through e] he legislatures, and will put them all a out bv national legislation, especially c] he New York cotton exchange and the q Chicago grain exchange, the chief dens e] ~11 U#nmlno V? a f HflVO OA lftn? ~. >? ail I lie liiiam.co urn. c a, ebbed the farmers. These roots of a! evil from which have sprung' the little |s branches must be destroyed. They are t< a disgrace to the nation, a stigma 4 upon the good name, a stench In the hi nostrils of all honest people. hi This system of these exchanges and tl ramblers pricing the farm products of ai this land and preying upon and de- ft spoiling the farmers of this country Is ft being and will be utterly destroyed K md a new one. and an honest and Just si one will take its place. There Is a c< change coming over the spirit of the a; dream of the great tolling masses, the ft farming classes of this country, whose (r labor feeds and clothes half the people ai of the earth, and justice and honesty rl shall sway the scepter henceforth. p We will build new systems of mar- ? ketlng our farm products by means of h warehouses, grain elevators and cold a storages, a system of our own. This tl Is the mission of the Farmers' Union. 11 Tts flag Is the flag of the nation. Its slms and its hopes are the alms and tl the hopes of the nation, and honor and g honesty at home, as well as abroad, a that characterized It In the olden days b before trusts, combines, conspiracies p and gambling dens brought sharfte and y Infamy upon It. y, The Farmers' Union has set the price e: of cotton four times and we have been w successful In obtaining that price three b times, and we will win the fourth time, ti Th? union price of cotton Is row 15 v cents a pound with a sliding scale up- r< ward of one-fourth cent a month to s> cover warehouse and other expenses of d holding. For wheat the price Is $1 per bushel: for corn 50 cents a bushel; for s cotton seed, $20 per ton. These are p minimum prices, p The basic principles of the Farmers' Union are justice, equity and the gold- fi en rule. The spirit of Its motto Is to a "live and let live." It has no enmity n for nor antagonism toward any leglti- tl mate or honest business under the sun, 1 proposing to simply pursue the even n tenor of Its way, letting all other class- a es, business ana unaeriaicings mai uu u not clash with or antagonize Its Inter- h ests?that Is the farming Interests?do h the same. As stated, an Imperious tl necessity brought It Into existence and d It has come solely by mutual effort and n co-operation to enable Its membership n to control the prices of the commodities h they may have to sell, to price their tl own property, and not permit other tl people any longer to do this for them, w Controlled Marketing. h The plan they have adopted to ac- v compllsh their ends, the new trade system, If you please, Is by "controlled marketing." The means by which the w union proposes to control the markets Is through warehouses In which to ? store and hold their cotton for the h agreed minimum price. Elevators to a hold their grain, cold storage to pre- e serve their perishable products. The n farmers in the northwest, especially In Iowa, are demonstrating the practica- a blllty and feasibility of the elevator plan, for by building and owning co- ? operative elevators, they have driven the grain dealers' associations that have so long robbed them, to cover. In the south, the warehouse system for holding cotton Is no longer an experi- ^ ment. There are more than 1,500 In the different southern states, over 300 here In Texas, and they are full of un- a ion cotton. There are local ware- b houses, owned by union members. In '' addition there are thousands of bales 1 in cotton yards and stored under cover b on the farms. Every bale of this cot- 0 ton Is being held for the minimum price and will be sold for that price. n The bugaboo cry of "supply and de- 9 mand" has ceased to frighten cotton n raisers. They know there Is not cot- to ton land enough In cultivation to meet e the needs of the world?needs that are continually increasing?and further- t more they are preparing to hold, them- t selves, the surplus. If there should ac- o cldentallv be one. 1 As stated, three times, the Union has I fixed and obtained its price for cotton. Ii Each time this price?10, 11 and 12 f cents?was but a Just, fair price based 1 upon the cost of production and the t size of the crop. The consequence is i that union farmers are better able each year to hold their cotton than they t were, the year before. The mortgage t iniquity is dying a natural death, c Farmers are paying as they go. Many c of them, that they may ultimately win t the tremendous struggle in which they f are engaged against greed and graft, 1 have been denying themselves of many 1 things. The "distressed products" the t local unions are largely taking care r of, helping their brother members to c hold for the Just prices. And the ware- 8 houses are advancing money where needed, so you see the cotton raiser is fast getting Jnto position to control a bsolutely the market for his products, nd the same glorious realization is peedily being effected among the grain rowers. The national union meets annually nd specifies, the minimum price for hlch the various farm products can e sold at a fair, living profit. The ational union does not do this arblurily and at haphazard. The deleates being from every section of evry state where the union forces have foothold, the cost of production is ilnutely obtained, with the apparent nd reasonable volume of yields, and pon this basis the prices are specied, only a just and fair margin of roflt being provided for. In a word, the middleman must go. [e Is an entirely useless factor, who as never served any purpose except > rob the farmer by bearing the mar et and then robbing the manufacturer, r the consumer as the case may be, y bulling It. The Farmers' Union beeves and teaches that the farmer aould sell, direct to the manufacturer, le raw material of the farm that en?rs Into manufactures and to the conjmer such as do not, and this is anther means by which It hopes to enale Its members to control the marets. Moving For Oiroct Trado. That they may carry their ideas of Irect dealings with the manufacturers ito practical effect, the Farmers' Unin has had three conferences with the Jtton manufacturers' associations of lis country and of Europe. One of lese conferences was in Washington Ity In 1906, when the Ice was broken nd friendly relations established. The ;cond was held In Vienna, Austria, In lay this year, when long strides were tade toward confidential relations and ITorts for mutual benefits and asslstnce. The third conference has Just losed in Atlanta. Ga_. beinsr held on ictober 7, 8 and 9. At this last conference the spinner and the cotton grower dually came together and perfected rrangements for trade relations satifactorlly for both. They have agreed jgether for the elimination of the mldleman, the grasping speculator who as so long spoiled both. The spinner as approved the price of 15 cents for lis year's crop, middling basis, and dvises the farmer to hold his cotton >r that price. They have told the irmers to ship their cotton direct to fanchester now, or as fast as dered, and they will advance 75 per snt of the price. They have agreed to ppolnt agents In this country to buy >r them, direct from the fanner, havig already appointed some of these gents. They reasonably reserve the ght to buy for less than the 15-cent rice when a poor dupe of a dumper ill sell and when the speculator who as contracted with them for less Is ble to fill his contract, but they urge le farmers to hold their cotton for the 5-cent price. They are Just as anxious to be rid of ie exchanges and the speculating, ambling hcrdes as are the farmers, nd another thing they want is a stale price, not uncertain fluctuating rices, such as have obtained in the ears past, ruinously low at times, rhen the farmer was the victim, and xorbltantly high at another when they ere the victims. With a fixed stale price they will know how to conract their cloths years ahead for the arious markets of the world and can sly with certainty upon an unfailing upply of raw material for his spin- . les and looms. The farmer will have an equal asurance of a fixed and remunerative rice for his toll, a ready sale for his roducts. Several things will result this year rom this agreement. It will steady nd strengthen union farmers and very 'o?? nAn.unlAn fapmapfl In hnMlnff heir cotton for the minimum price of 5 cents. Cotton will be shipped by fariers direct to Manchester. England, nd Lowell. Mass., on through bills of iding right from their own wareouses. Now a few speculators who ave been ridiculing the hayseeds and heir union, and making contracts for elivery at 11 cents and less will be alking around next winter with sumler clothes on and working the free jnch counters. They will be taking he medicine they have been givlpg he farmers these long years, and there rill be plenty and happiness in farm omes, where for. long years, gaunt rant and saddened hearts were to be ound. The Farmers' Union will bring a rholesome, genuine, honest, substanlal prosperity to the farming classes f all the land and then we will see an onest, genuine prosperity prevailing mong all classes and callings and In very avenue of life?aye, of the very atlon itself. Not only a material prosperity, but moral uplifting, a social and educalonal advancement. O. P. PYLE, Idltor National Co-operator. Dallas, Texas. THE CITY OF CANAL8. renice and the Many Islands Upon Which It Is Built. Venire is one of the most singular nd famous cities in Europe and is ullt upon a cluster of islands in the igoon. This lagoon is banked off from he Adriatic by a long, narrow sand ank which Is divided into a number f islands, six in number. Inside of his sand bank and between it and the nainland is the lagoon, a sheet of hallow water. In parts of this narshy, sea covered plain islets have iecome consolidated into ground, firm nough to be cultivated. -? And In the midst of a crowded cluser of such islands, amounting to beween 70 and .80 in number, the city if Venice is built. The chief of these stands is called Isolda de Rialto, or sland of the Deep Stream. The isands, In many places mere shoals, aford no adequate foundation for bulldogs, and the city for the most part Is milt upon an artificial foundation of dies and stones. The Grand canal divides Venice into wn Anna! Darts and is the main tfior tughfare for traffic and pleasure. The :lty Is subdivided by some one hunIred and forty-six small canals or vater streets, and the gondola is used 'or the carriage. Access can also be tad to various parts of the city by and, there being over three hundred tridges across canals. The Rialto, the nost famous bridge, spans the Grand anal. There are also narrow laneg In imong the houses. ? The flounder Is an Industrious flsh, ind lays seven million eggs in a year.