THE FARMERS' UNION 233 



The next step was to absorb the Equity Cooperative Exchange. The 

 way was prepared for this at the annual convention of the exchange in 

 Fargo on January 16, 1926. At this meeting Barrett appeared and pleaded 

 for "one solid organization of farmers." Later a joint convention of Equity 

 and Alliance delegates adopted a series of strongly worded resolutions 

 urging businessmen, labor, Congress, the tariff beneficiaries, and the specu- 

 lators in farm products to take cognizance of the plight of the farmers and 

 to join in the demand that the federal government come to the farmers' 

 aid. One way to help them, the convention believed, was to raise the tariff 

 on wheat, flax, and butter. The convention also adopted a merger resolu- 

 tion which read in part, "Whereas . . . agriculture is engaged in a titanic 

 struggle with the interests who are bent on reducing the farmer to the 

 level of a peasant ... it is essential that all our forces unite for a defense 

 of our economic rights." 3 



This marked the final step in the merger and the beginning of a con- 

 certed effort by the Union to organize the farmers of the agricultural 

 Northwest. The new Union was heralded as "a real dirt farmers' organiza- 

 tion." All funds received by the national body from these states were to 

 be used for organizing and for the Farmers' Union Herald, the official 

 publication of the northwest states. The national body and the Iowa 

 Union each pledged $500 for organizing activities. 31 



Thus fortified, the national Farmers' Union created in 1927 the North- 

 west Committee to facilitate organization work. That year efforts were 

 concentrated primarily on North Dakota because of the good prospects of 

 success in that state. North Dakota, as a large producer of wheat and flax, 

 presented a maximum need for building a terminal marketing agency; 

 it was also a great livestock producer, although most North Dakota live- 

 stock was marketed through noncooperative agencies. Furthermore, the 

 state of North Dakota had already been familiarized with the farmers' 

 program of reform by the Nonpartisan League. Little attention was 

 devoted to Wisconsin and Minnesota, presumably because of the want of 

 money and organizers. In Wisconsin, indeed, there were reversals, due 

 in part to a secession movement, which resulted in the establishment of 

 a new state organization without the approval of the national board. 



30. Fargo Forum, January 16, 1926; Farm Market Guide, February, 1926. 



31. Ibid., December, 1925; February, 1926. 



