Newspapers / The Progressive Farmer (Raleigh, … / Sept. 29, 1886, edition 1 / Page 1
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THtfim INTERESTS OF OUR PEO THER CPA SI DERATIONS OF STATE POLICY. f : j . ',. ' Vol. 1. K ADDRESS TO THE FARMERS OF NORTH CAROLINA. By The Forsyth County Farmers Club. At the first regular ryeeting of the Forsyth CountjFarmers' Club, held in inston, 2s and composed of representative farmers of our county, the following resolution was unanimously adopted: Resolved, 1st, That a committee, com posed of one member from each club here represented, be appointed to pre pare an address to the farmers of our State, presenting the object and pur poses of this organization, to the end that we may secure their co-operation in promoting the same. The plan of organization adopted in our county is very simple, yet we believe sufficiently comprehensive to serve as a, basis for an effectual and permanent organization of the farmers of our State! Briefly, it establishes township clubs, from these the county club is organized and from the county club a State Association is to be established. The township or subordinate clubs are the foundation of the whole struc ture, the county and State organi zations to be representative bodies, the ratio of representation being impartial and uniform throughout. Membership is restricted to such persons only as are practically engaged in agriculture. This organization is intended in no way to interfere with the relig ious opinions or party affiliations of its members. No fees are imposed. All the proceedings of all the clubs are open to the public. We have nothing to conceal. ITS OBJECT. The object and purpose of this organization, in the language of our constitution is '-to improve the con dition of the farmers and to promote the interests of agriculture" The under signed committee, appointed in pur suance of the resolution quoted above, beg respectfully to submit briefly for your careful and earnest thought some of the considerations which prompted this movement. The agriculturalists of this coun try constitute 51 per cent, of all those engaged in the various occu pations and pay 80 per cent, of the taxes of the country. Last year our" domestic exports amounted to $720,000,000, of which $530,000,000, or 73 per cent, of the whole, were the products of agriculture. What is done by the Government to encour age and foster this great source of its wealth and power? What is done to uphold and strengthen the hands of those who feed and clothe its sixty millions of people and the products of whose labor and skill constitute the very life of its commerce? How does it compare with other govern ments? In 1885, France, for the promotion of her agricultural inter ests, appropriated $20,000,000;. Bra zil $12,000,000; Russia $11,000,000; Austria $5,000,000 ; Japan $1,000,000 and the United; States gave $650. 000 to the support of our National Department of Agriculture. During the past six . years, from 1881 to 1880 inclusive, our government has appropriated $2,482,700 (about one ninth of the amountgiven by France in one year) and a sum about suffi cient to pay for the eggs which were imported into this country in 1885. . . . The legislative branch of our gov- ernment should be the guardian power to which we should look for encouragement and protection. Of whom is it composed? Of the 401 members of the House and Senate of the U. S. Congress only eleven farmers are found on the roll! One representative to every 697,317 per sons engaged in agriculture. Every 10,708 physicians have a represen tative in Congressevery 294 Bank officials have one every 188 Rail Road officiate ihavc one every 209 lawyers and professional office hold ers have one; or to state it differently : the 7,070,493 agriculturalists of the country have only 11 representa tives in Congress, while the physi cians have 8; Bank presdents 15; Railroad officials 11; ard the law yers and professional office holders have 307; or twentyyfight times as many as theaHftnilists. On these remaltle facts we have no com mem to offer. They should speak hii terms'moV) eloquent than any language we couM employ. In 1880 we had in our Seate 480, 187 persons engaged in all kinds of occupations. Of these, 300,937 were engagad in agriculture, or 75 per cent, of the whole. It is not only the occupation of three-fourths of the people in the State belonging to our industrial classes, but it is the great foundation on which rests the hope, the prosperity, the glory and the very life of "the State. It behooves every citizen, therefore, of whatever condition or relation, to aid and encourage by every honor able means, the healthful growth and development of this great indus try. Especially is it incumbent on the farmers of the State to bring to its support all the available forces which have or may be supplied by experience, by research, by indus try, education, science and legisla tion. We recognize the stern fact that the farmers ot the country must arouse themselves to a true compre hension ot the situation. In matte of public concern, affecting their interests directly, the farmers of the South esneciallv must be more vigilant, do more of their own think- ing, rely ! more on their own judg merit and stand more manfully and loyally by their own interests. The most conservative in character and the most powerful at the ballot box, of any one class of our people, we should strive to preserve and foster j that harmony of action between all the great interests ot the countrv that is so essential to our prosperity and happiness. We should elevate and dignify Our vocation and thusf build up a higher type of manhood and womanhood among the masses.) And how are these desirable ends'N to be accomplished? Manifestly and ) only by co-operative effort. Co-operation is the watchword! of the age. It is the mighty powe that is moving the world the very essence of progress. We must not cannot longer ignore this power ful agency, so effectually employed by all other interests for their pro motion and advancement. It is a law of Nature a law of God that mti-it be systemized, consolidated and directed by organization. Ail classes and all interests, except one, throughout the civilized world recog nize its potency and are fostered, encouraged and strengthened and protected by it,and that one is agri culture the - greatest and most important of all. Miners, printers, mechanics, artizans, professionals, merchants, tradesmen, manufactur ers, speculators, shippers, bankers, railroads, each and all have their organizations. They each have a common principle of action. They each know that "in union there is strength." We, as farmers, are seg regated, isolated,' divided and a help less prey to all who may take advantage of us. Without organi zation we cannot co-operate and without co-operation" we can have no system,' without system we can have nothing. Look at the miser able character of employed labor in our State to-day. ' Utterly unman ageble and almost, worthless and dailv crrowinr worse. The South is the only agricultural community in -tho civilized w6rIdAvTIeT controls and shapes the policy of the land owners. Why.' dimply because there is no co-operation of effort on the part of the farmers to direct and control it: ' Under the' so called; tenant sys tem, our lands are butchered and destroyed and bur sons are thus driven from theold homestead with all its endearing associations to seek a home elsewhere. With such a WINSTON, N. O., SEPTEMBER State of things need we wonder that our sons seek the villages, towns and cities, to avoid the slavery ana drudgery of contacTwith such aoor with all its attendant trials ana vex ations? With such a state. Nf things need we wonder that many of our most enterprising farmers, owners of tine lands, should take their money and their families to the towns to educate their children? With such a state of things need we wonder that to a large majority of our farmers life is burdened with care, and "vex ation of spirit" instead of the bright, cheerful, hopeful, happy existence that God designed it should be? Without system, without co-operation, without organization, how can we hope to command or enforce respect for our rights? With classes, communities, states and nations, as with individuals, they must show that they respect themselves before they can hope or expect to enjoy the respect of others. We often complain, and justly, that our rights and interests are ignored, but do we put forth any effort to prevent it? Take, as an illustration any of the great questions of indus trial economy in which vve,as farmers, are directly and vitally concerned, questions which in their dignity rise above considerations of a mere partizan character, and how are the views and wishes of the farmers to fi ndcjs preiisioaomd Jmv-injluen ce ? jlany of us believe that our pub lic road system should and could be. vastly improved We believe, too. that our convict j labor should be employed on the T public roads "ot "the btate, thereby! removing it from the field of com- petition with honest free, labor, and ; confining it to a work so greatly j needed in the State and where it j would be a direct relief to every tax payer ot the State. But how are we to formulate our v i e w s a n d i m p ress them? By orga n (Zed action. Airain : We believe that the time has arrived when North Carolina should have an Agricultural College, where the youth of the State may acquire practical knowledge and be fitted by proper training for the vocations they may fill in the vari- ous branches of industry. We believe that the Land Scrip Fund donated by the general govern ment, for that purpose should now be applied as directed by the Act of Con gress and thus give us an institution where the farmers may give their children that practical, industrial training so greatly needed among them. But how and by whom is is this to be done? It must be done by the farmers of North Carolina and in the ;same way that it. was done in Mississippi, Missouri, and other States whose fund, like ours, was given to their University in dis regard of the rights of the farmers and in violation of tTie Act oi' Con gress. We must demand4 its trans fer from the University to . a school which in truth : shall be for the industrial training of our youth. i i if . . i ' : . . Airain: we oeneve our iaxe Department of Agriculture coul and should be made more usetui tro the farmers of the State by whom and for whom it was mainly estab lished. But how and by whom is this to be done ? Suppose that forty thous and, twenty thousand, ten thousand farmers in the State should, in their organized capacity, "agree touching these things, or any other question affecting their interests andpfits, who can doubt that their wishes would be respected Humiliating-aS is the confession compel us to say that we are largely to blame for many of the grievances of which We comnlain. : '' 'V But apart from all this, do not the concerns ot tarm me, or ran husbandry, matters with wnicn we are in daily and constant contact, j aemana the tostering aia oi (oper ation? Should we not learn to profit by the experiences and knowledge of others? Should we not improve our 29, 1886. lands, our stock, our crops and all our systems of work? Should we not strive to relieve the farming com munity of the ufeadly incubus and curse of the mortgage system? How.are all theseVrtfttcrs to which we have so briefly Veferred to be accomplished? WouM we have bet ter labor, better tillage, better sys tems, better crops, better stock, bet ter roads, better education for our children, better laws for our protec tion, better and more comfortable homes; would we lift the aspirations of our boys and girls to a higher plane of thought and "of action; 4-u - 4.' i j i the rising generation and to a higher regard among all other classes ;i would we make the world feel as well as confess that honorable labor is manly and elevating; then we must accept the lessons of nature of God of the experience of the world in all the departments of human effort for ages past and avail ourselves of the only agency by which it can possibly be done : BY CO OPERATION AND ORGANIZATION. The farmers throughout the whole countiy are organizing. Notably i the movement assuming prominence j in South Carolina, Georgia, Tennes see, Arkansas and lexas. The farm ers of the North ;iud North-west are growing stronger daily, through the organizations of the - Grange" and I the - banners Alliance. Wo all have jtho same grand object in view, viz.: imp.uve ine iuiu hum hi uie j Farmer to have a "Farmers' liar farmer and to promote the interests , vt Dinner" t n,rw ntml nnint t n iiikyiii If ti tiji ' We appeal earnestly and with con- uueuce toxtne oeiier juugmei.L 01 ,the farmer of North Carolina to organize atonce their township I "I . , c.uus, neir yumy cuius, men uieir State Association, and let us think, jlwork ami act together for our com - 'mon irooil and foil the advancement of ali the interes 3rfts of our good old J State. v x, pu,M.u.,e u. t..e iu..uwu.g Resolution passed y the Convention, lr Committee ,repecttully request tie press of the State to publish the above addre ss. Resolved, That thje Committee be rnstructed to furnish, a copy of said. tidd ress to the papers of our State, 'and to the Southefi Cultivator, At lanta, G-a., and respectfully request the publication of the same'.' A. A. Crater, j ! John D. Waddell, Jr.,! A. E. Pfafp, j i ' John Holder; ? ElXiAR LlNEBACK, J. II. Reich, 1 1 W. C. Lassiteb, R. L. Cox, Thomas R i no( - ! ; - E. T. Leh3IAn? President. T. J. Valentine, A. W. BeveL, Vice-Presidents. E. C; DciLLjSeeretary. '! : - Cohimittee. OUR FARMERS'" CLUBS. '" s Zl . . r ; hat our Farersare Doing and ftow' he Work of drganizing is progressing, " little davie palling into line. Editor' Progressive Farmer: I . . i xl . Ta.: farmers of Jerusalem township, held .w . r "p -v - n tt& 11th inst., a Farmers Club waorganized. ; A. temporary organ ization was effected by electing E. "ft. Morris chairman and T. S. Butler Secretary. ; Permanent Officers : W. II. Hob- sori, President; T. S. Butler, Vie The Constitution and By-Laws, as ssued Iw the Progressive Farmer, were unaniniously ; adopted, ; We meet in pur club room at :l jerusiilem , old church every two weeks, on Sat urday at two o'clock, p. ra., sharp. We had a most harmonious meeting and are greatly, encouraged at our; hopeful and auspiciou$ , begihning, The Progressive Farmer shall hear President: E. S. 31orris,Srcretary; y'fi?I'KX wu,er conpiiewo lejirn, H. L. Foard, TreasUiir. -U? ready, to fall into line, i Executive Committee; II. F. Lefler, v l,iust ftarte organization, m KsAnt. W F Picklftr and must have a jrrand Farmers' No. 34. from us. We hope soon to see our county thoroughly organized and take position by the side of Forsyth in the noble work of elevating the agricultural interests of the country. E. S. Morris, Sec'y. Sep. 20, 1886. MOUNTAIN CREEK FARMERS' CLUB. This club now numbers 64 mem bers and is in a prosperous and healthy condition. One of the reasons of its success is the very great help they derive from agricul tural literature. They take the Progressive Farmer and other first class agricultural lournals J BLACK JACK TOWNSHIP CU B. This is the name of a new club recently formed in Richmond county J. TI. Robinson President and W. Roberts Secretary. CHEEK S CREEK FARMERS' CLUB. This club, as we learn, recently organized at Pekin, in Montgomery county, is made up of first class j material and promises to do well. President, R. Rush, Jr.; Secretary, J. II. Turner. We hope to have some notes soon irom these new clubs for the Progressive Farmer. FARMERS HARVEST PINNER. Wh.lt h,s hocomo Of tho nmnoai- j tion of tw) of uur c!ubs maJe sJonie j wecks through The Progressive I . ... . - i in t.htt fnnntv whom nil tho oluhe j r.,inifl nnmt tm,H,oi. with th,,;,. ' W-v VVVVUVI T 1 til lliVl I Jil III" ; iies am, ,(l the d ? 8uch ft ; hering would do good. It is a - ita, sllrostioll ln 8Cveral cotin- , ties in the State jt has been thc CUs tom fop vnnr . fnr thl, f.irmprft ,lf ti, : ,.,f anM.x , n. 1 u.x : 'i..,. i ures? speaking &c. jt is pleasant M f t 1 t tt ill n n1 n n w.niAn ; (luri ntnc whoit .year is looked to j with more 1)ca;;urable anticipations i than thp Farmers Harvest Din ner." It should be a fixed institution ' j in every county in the State. What say the clubs of Forsyth f.nnntvv Shall w hani itv ? PITT in motion. Our friend Mr. Andrew Joyner, j of Greenville, Pitt county, writes us that a movement is on foot to organ-, i ize a County Farmers' Club, and : that the farmers of that count' are moving in earnest. Keep the ball in motion. ! CLUBS IN CATAWBA COUNTY. ! Mr. F. L. Herman, one of the live : farmers of Catawba county, writes 1 us that the club at Hickory, which was organized last Spring, the first organized in the county, now num " bers forty members, with the follow-.-j ing officers: J..W. Robinson, Presi- dent; F. Ii. Herman, Vice-President ;; J. P. A. Herman, Secretary; W.L.! lm TJCasurerJ ' L' Low? j meets once a monin, uuu uiuiii iiiicitst is iiiaiiiiesLeu in i the proceedings, Three or four clubs have DeCn oriranized since, and stn j are being taken to organize a County ' I Inh ANSON COUNTY FARMERS CLUB. We see by the Wptlesboro Intelli gencer, that the township clubs of old .Anson have organized a County Club. Let the good work ro on until every county in the State is State Convention, as soon as. prac ticable. 1 ' , ' Tho t - Green vilte : t Reflector -5 says there is.an unusual amount of bil ious fevt-r in that section this fall and the eases are much more diflicult -to, control than in former , seasons, r requiring double the amount of medicine.
The Progressive Farmer (Raleigh, N.C.)
Standardized title groups preceding, succeeding, and alternate titles together.
Sept. 29, 1886, edition 1
1
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