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FARMER
Vol. VII.—No. 7.
RALEIGH. N. C.. FEBRUARY 13, 1913.
One Dollar a Year.
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Farmers’ Union, Taxation, and tbe Six Months’ School Term
Why is it “ Statesmanship ” to Use Inequitably-Levied Money for all Other Purposes But a Crime
to Use it to Give a Decent Chance to the Children of the State ?
Raleigh, N. C., February 8, 1913.
Whereas, The supreme need of our farming
population in North Carolina is a six months’
school term for all our country boys and
girls so as to give them an even chance with
boys and girls in other States instead of hay
ing as new the shortest rural school term in
the Union. Therefore, be it resolved by the
Joint Legislative Committees of the North
Carolina Farmers’ Union and the Wake Coun
ty Farmers’ Union in session assembled:
GIVE US MAJETTE-THORNE BILL OR
PROVE SOMETHING BETTER.
1. That we recognize and endorse the bills
introduced by Senator Thome and Representa
tive Majette, and prepared after conference
with representatives of the State Department
of Education, of the Farmers’ Union, the
North Carolina County Superintendents’ As
sociation and other civic and religious bodies,
as the only practical plan yet proposed for
realizing^the six months’ school term. To all
men who profess to favor this reform there
fore, we urge that they prove their faith eith
er by supporting the present bill or by formu
lating some other plan and proving it more
practicable.
ing our farm boys and girls their rights. If
certain counties are paying an unfair share of
the State taxes, then they are paying an un
fair share to support the University and the
State Colleges, to support the Corporation
Commission, to support the Attorney-General
and the Supreme Court, to pay the State of
ficials, and for ever3rthing else that the State
helps. And the farmers of North Carolina
will never understand why it is statesmanship
to spend inequitably levied money for these
purposes but a crime to spend inequitably
levied money to provide a decent chance in life
for the children of the State. Moreover, the
farmers will never understand why money
could be found only yesterday for establishing
eight new high-salaried State offices, with
never a whisper of equitable levies, while last
night both bankruptcy and the scandal of un
equal assessments were the answers some mem
bers gave to the demand of the farmers and
the cry of the children.
LEGISLATURE WILL NOT PROCLAIM IT
SELF INCOMPETENT.
REFORMED TAXATION FAVORED.
Resolved 2. That we are in favor of a just
and equitable system of taxation for the pur
pose of securing this and other reforms, and
we insist that adequate inheritance and in
come taxes be levied, and that provision be
made for listing solvent credits, personal prop
erty, and for adequately assessing the vacant
lots, large tracts, and urban and rural lots held
for speculation which now so largely escape
their due burden of taxation.
INEQUITABLY-LEVIED MONEY AS AN
EXCUSE.,
Resolved 4. That despite our disappoint
ment in the activity of some, we believe in the
wisdom, statesmanship, and patriotism of the
great body of the members of the General As
sembly, that they are not incompetent, and
will not proclaim themselves incompetent to
meet this supreme issue about which our peo
ple are stirred from Currituck to Cherokee,
and where failure would be a disaster to the
State.
Resolved 5. That a copy of this resolution
be sent to each member of the General Assem
bly, and that we give adequate recognition to
all who show themselves the friends of the
farmers and the farm boys and girls in this
supreme crisis.
Adopted in executive session in Raleigh,
February 6, 1912.
Resolved 3. That we favor an equalization
of assessments among the counties, but we re
sent, repudiate, and warn our people against
the specious and unwarranted attempt to use
this excuse to dodge the supreme issue of giv
H. Q. ALEXANDER, President.
E. C. FAIRES, Secretary.
W. B. GIBSON, Ch’m Ex. Com.
North Carolina Farmers’ Union.
CLARENCE POE, Chairman,
Wake County Committee.
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