THE INDUSTBXAL AND EDUCATIONAL INTERESTS OF OUR PEOPLE PARAMOUNT TO ALL OTHER CONSIDERATIONS OP STATE POLICY.
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DIRECTORY OF FARMERS' OR
GANIZATIONS. KOBTH CAROLINA FAR3CKRS STATE ALLIANCE.
President S. B. Alexander, Charlotte,
N C
Vice-President T. Ivey, Ashpole, N.C.
Secretory L. L. Polk, Raleigh, N. C.
Treasurer J. D. Allen, Falls, N. C.
Lecturer Dr. D. Reid Parker, Tnmty
College, N. C.
Assistant Lecturer D. D. Mclntyre,
Laurinburg, N. 0.
Chaplain Rev. Carr Moore, Towns-
iUe, N. C.
Door Keeper W. H. Tombnson, Fay-
etteville, N. C. m
Assistant Door Keeper R. T. Rush,
Mt. Gilead, N. C.
Sergeant-at-Arms J. S. Holt, Chalk
Level, N. C.
State Business Agent W. A. Darden.
EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE OF THE NORTH CARO
LINA FARMERS' STATE ALLIANCE.
Elias Carr, Old Sparta, N. C, Chair
man; Thaddeus Ivey, Ashpole, N. C; F. S.
Johnston, Ruffin, N. C.
THE NORTH CAROLINA FARMERS' ASSOCIATION.
President Elias Carr, Old Sparta,
Edgecombe county.
B. F. Hester, Oxford, Secretary; S.
Otho Wilson, Vineyard, and W. E. Ben
bow, Oak Ridge, Assistant Secretaries.
VIRGINIA STATE ALLIANCE.
President G. T. Barbee, Bridgewatar,
Virginia.
Vice-President T. B. Massey, Wash
ington, Virginia.
Secretary J. J. Silvey, Amissville,
Virginia.
Treasurer Isaiah Printz, Luray, Vir
ginia. Lecturer G-. H. Chrisman, Chrisman,
Virginia. "
Asst. Lecturer J. S. Bradley, Luray,
Virginia.
Chaplain Wm. M. Rosser, Luray,
Virginia.
Door Keeper B. Frank Beahm, Kim
ball, Virginia.
Asst. Door Keeper G. E. Brubaker,
Luray, Virginia.
Serg't-at-Arnis C. H. Lillard, Wash
ington, Virginia.
State Business Agent S. P. A. Bru
baker, of Luiay, Virginia.
EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE.
E T. Brumback, Jas. E. Compton and
Geo. H. Chrisman.
COUNTY MEETING IN VIRGINIA.
MofcNT Clinton, Va., April 19, '89.
Mb. Editor: I beg leave to submit
the following for publication:
According to appointment a regular
meeting of the Rockingham County
Farmers' Alliance was held at Pleasant
"Valley Va., April 13, '89. There was a
good attendance, and one had only
to cast his eye over the body to be
convinced that the Farmer's Alliance
is begining to mean something in Vir
ginia and that it already embraces in
its membership much of the most solid
material in the State.
The same may be said of the dele
gation from Pendleton county West
Va., which is operating with Rocking
ham county Va. We were so fortu
nate as to have present with us the
President, the Secretary and the
State agent, of the Virginia State Al
liance. A committee on trade arrangements
was appointed as follows: Prof. G.
H. Hulvey, F. K. Harnesberger, Maj.
Geo. Chrisman, Ex-Senator Geo. B.
Keezle and Col. Milton Taylor.
The Business Committee reported
as follows:
; Resolved, That we deem it expedi
' ent at present to authorize our Busi
ness Manager to make the best ar
rangements he can with local mer
chants for staple articles, allowing one
rate of per cent wholesale, and noth
ing for retail customers; and that
members of the Alliances obligate
themselves to buy under such contract,
as far as practicable, and in striet com
pliance with the secrecy and other
requirements of this Alliance.
Resolved, That a standing commit
tee of five good business men be ap
pointed to advise with Business agent,
and share with him the responsibility
of such contract as may be made, and
to suggest improvements on this ar
rangement at the next regular meet
ing of the County Alliance.
Resolved, That the President nomi
nate suitable men for the above com
mittee. Resolved, That the several Alliances
inform the Business agent as early as
possible, what kinds of twine and how
much they wish to use.
This report was adopted, and the
delegates appointed to constitute the
committee referred to in Resolution
2nd, are G. H. Hulvey, Geo. B. Keezle,
T. K. Harnesberger, Milton Taylor
and J. A. Herring.
The following resolutions were
adopted:
- Resolved, That a Trade Card, for
use of members in dealing with mer
chants, be adopted.
Resolved, That the different Al
liances shall use the same form of
Trade Card.
Resolved,. That a committee of three
be appointed to draw, up a .form of
Trade Card. ' .
This committee, consists , of Pr. D.
A. Bucher, Prof. GL-"H Hulvey and
State Secretary J. J.' Silpey.
The committee- on Trade Card re
ported and their form was adopted.
On motion 'the 'Secretary was or
dered to have printed , and, to distrib
ute, to the several Alliances, the Trade
Card blanks, paying for Eame out of
county funds.
The following resolutions were read
and adopted.
Resolved, That the - Rockingham
County Farmers' Alliance now in ses
sion, tender to the ladies of Pleasant
Valley and vicinity our appreciation
and acknowledgements for the-kind
hospitalities which they have just dis
pensed with such a lavish hand to the
members of this body. . ,
Resolved, That these resolutions be
recorded with the minutes of this
meeting and copies be forwarded to
the editors of our county papers and
The Progressive Farmer, with the
request that they publish the same.
Mount Crawford Va., was selected
as the place for holding the next meet
ing. Time for meeting second Saturday
in July, at 10 a. m.
Frank Rolston, Pres.
E. W. Heatwol, Sec'y.
FROM CURRITUCK COUNTY.
Poplar Branch, N. C, April 29, '89.
Mr. Editor: It has been sometime
since you heard from our Alliance,
No, 1,250. We are still gaining
ground. We now number 74 male
members. We now have a" new Sec
retary for the County Alliance in the
place of Dr. W. B. Ferring. G. W.
Williams is Secretary now, and our
Secretary made a statement in our
Alliance last meeting that he has not
seen in The Progressive Farmer any
thing about any of the Alliances in
Currituck county being paid up, and
we would like to see it in your next
paper thaVour Alliance has been heard
from and show that we have paid our
dues up to date April 1st, as our
Secretary has his receipt up to date in
full from the Secretary of the County
Alliance, and we want to hear from it
so as to know that we stand good with
the State Alliance, for that is what we
are working for. We are a part of
that grand army and we want to do
our part in this grand work. Our
members are becoming more and more
interested in the cause. Our old men
are interested, and also the young
men. The young men have even
gone to work and bought horses and
are farming, and say they have no
need to go West or to cities. They
say there is room here in North Caro
lina to give every young man and old
man employment without going West.
D. W. L.
FROM WASHINGTON COUNTY.
Washington, N. C, April 19, '89.
Mr. Editor: As Woodards' Alli
ance No. 1174 has no regular corres
pondent, its Secretary will endeavor
to gather up a few items for your val
uable paper. With this I inclose one
dollar for the Alliance Organ. So
far I have had the pleasure only of
receiving a sample copy now and then,
which is always highly appereciated,
most especially when I see in its col
umns how the Alliance is on the boom
all over the State, increasing in
strength and number. Such tidings
meets with a ready response from
Woodards Alliance. Yes, she is not
asleep, but is up in good spirit, march
ing in the front rank, bearing with it
good material such as will stem fhe
flood and overcome all adversity.
Woodards was organized seven
months ago with 11 charter members ;
now it enrolls -113, having initiated
120, granted 8 dimits, received one
by demit, and only 4 on the list that
are behind with their dues, and we
can vouch for them.
Until recently our Alliance has been
meeting every other Saturday, with
good attendance. Generally some im
portant work is accomplished, subjects
discussed and resolutions acted upon.
At our last meeting, the subject of
subscribing to the State Agency
Fund was brought up, and after be
ing discussed at some length, was'
laid over to be more fully discussed
at our next. The disposition among
the members is to take stock, but
prefer using the funds we have on
hand first, in consequence of which
the Treasurer and Secretary is to re
port on the financial state of Wood
ard's Alliance at its next meeting.
Much credit is due our wnrt.bv
President for his faithful efforts in
carrying on the good work. He is
highly esteemed by all its members,
KALBIGH, N. C.V
a worthy citizen and a 'f practical
fanner, withNan unbounded store of
hospitality as has been well attested
by the writer. ! - '
The Alliance of Beaufort county
has not failed to accomplish a plan of
co-operation in buying supplies, Mr.
E. W. 'Ayers, one of Washington's
beft and most honorable merchants,
having offered terms that was ac
cepted by the County Alliance; which
resulted in an agrement for the Alli
ances of the county to trade with Mr.
Ayers. The agreement first being
made for only six months, and now
with an experience of fire months it
has proven so satisfactory that at the
last meeting of the County Alliance
it was unanimously agreed to renew
terms with Mr. Ayers. At which,
Mr. Ayers being waited upon by the
Alliance, he expressed much satisfac
tion with his experience as an Alli
ance merchant and would accept a
continuance of their trade with pleas
ure. Much could be said that would
add force to what has been accomp
lished by the Alliance through its
trading arrangement with Mr. Ayers,
but perhaps space will not admit. It
is sufficient to know that it is freely
admitted by all, both Alliances and
outsiders that great savings has been
accomplished through the Alliance
work. Yes, thousands of dollars to
the county, and that for the short
space of only five months, And i this
is only a stepping-stone to what we
anticipate when the fund is raised, as
it will beK which will add commercial
standing to our noble order, and .may
God speed the work. With success
to The Progressive Farmer,
Fraternally yours,
. J. M. C, Sec'y.
PETTIGREW'S BRIGADE.
Machpelah, N. C. May 10, '89.
The blame for the loss of the bat:
tie of Gettysburg on the 3rd of July,
has been falsely, by a good many peo
pie, thrown upon Pettigrew's Brigrde.
When the History of the battle shall
be properly written it will be shown
that if any troops deserve to be called
" the heroes11 on this occasion are those
who have so long been slandered. But
it is not necessary to wait for a vindi
cation. The history of the Brigade
during the remainder of the war is
their own vindication and much stron
ger than can be made in any other
manner.
A few days after this battle we find
them placed by Gen. Lee as the rear
guard to his army, on the principal
route of retreat, which would never
have been done had they behaved as
falsely represented at Gettysburg.
Here at Falling Waters the gallant
Pettigrew received mortal wounds and
no one has ever intimated than the be
havior of the troops was anything but
what it should have been. In all that
retreat never for a moment was it
thought necessary to send them to the
rear to guard the prisoners or the
wagon train, but they took their place
in the most responsible position with
out any apprehension as to their con
duct on the part of their commander.
At Bristow Station when A. P. Hill
"put in" two brigades against two
corps of the enemy, and .where the
slaughter was as great perhaps as in
any battle of the war. One was Cook's
N. C. brigade and beside it was the
old Pettegrew Brigade under the gal
lant Kirkiand; the behavior of troops
was never better. Through the Wil
derness campaign it saw service equal
to any in the army. At Reains Sta
tion when the brigades of Anderson
(G&), Mahone (Va), and Scales (N. C.)
(what brigades stood higher in the
army) failed to dislodge Gen. Hancock
from his entrenchments on the Peters
burg & Weldon Railroad and the
second attack had to be made, Gen.
Lee sent in troops whom he knew
would accomplish it, and who were
they ? Cooke, Lane and the old Petti
grew brigade under the command of
the gallant McRae, with the 2nd N.
C. Cavalry, dismounted under Col.
(Gen) W. P. Roberts. Gen. Lee was
not disappointed, and he wrote a let
ter to Gov. Vance commending the
activity of the North Carolina troops
on that occasion. They captured (I
think) as many prisoners as they took
men into the fight. To the close of
the war never was anything alleged
against them, and the troops enjoyed
the confidence of their commands and
commanders to a great degree. Now
Mr. Editor when we see the true
position which the Pettigrew Brigade
holds in the annals of the army of
Northern Virginia, will not some men
who have styled themselves historians
be more properly considered as writers
of fiction ?
Very respectfully,
Wm. A. Graham.
MAY 21, 1889.
SOCIOLOGICAL VIEWS OF
- FARMING AND FARMERS
ASA CLASS.
The j Lamentable Lack of Proper
General Information of the
Masses Engaged in
- ' the Industry.
No. 7.
py Maj. K. L. England, of Hyco, Va.
One main reason why agriculture
has not nourished is the want of m
formation necessary for its successful
conduct. The oldest of all the nidus
tries, it has not, as might reasonably
have neen supposed, kept pace with
other industries, in the thorough
equipment of its followers, for sue
cessfUl work. In the first place, the
occupation is one of the most com
plex,and requires more extensive in
formation than almost any other which
has ever engaged the mental and
physical powers of man. To under
stand thoroughly the science of farm
farming, the husbandman ought to be
a geologist, so he- may know some
thing fabout the soils on which he is
cropping, their formation, constituent
elements and adaptation to particular
crops and their proper preparation
Xherefor. He ought to be acquainted
with botany, the science which de
scribes and classifies plants, their char
acters, properties, -peculiarities, etc.
He should know something of chem
istry so as to enable him to properly
prepare and apply manures best suited
to soil! and crops. He should know
enough of biology to enable him to
properly select and care for his stock.
And enough of architecture to plan
and arrange his farm buildings, and
enough of topographical engineering
to lay ; off the drainage, so as to re
lieve, the soil of excessive moisture
and prevent the washing and gulley
ing of the hillsides. And all the bet
ter, ithe knows enough of masonry,
carpentry, blacksmithing, wagon and
farm implement manufacture, to en
able K!m to select the m best and most
improved- implements witE which to
carry on'the work of the farm.
What wonder, when we note the
multiplicity of qualifications above
enumerated, that so few attain to suc
cess and eminence as practical farm
ers! It p not necessary, however,
that the successful farmer should be a
graduate in all the sciences above
named, but their knowledge will the
better equip him for his work. Much
can be learned by observation, in
quiry and reading by persons who
theoretically know nothing about the
sciences. And this brings us to the
practical part of the subject.
ORGANIZATION AND ITS ADVANTAGES.
The assemblages of farmers in coun
cil, club, society, Institute, Grange
and Alliance made obligatory by the
organization of all other industries
constitute the best schools in which to
gain and disseminate useful informa
tion among the masses engaged in
husbandry. Here the best informed
relate their modes and experience
how they achieved success here and
failed there to the learners, to enable
them to start right, keep in the right
track and to escape errors which would
be inevitable to the uninstructed. The
old way of " Every man for himself
and the devil take the hindmost," is
being discarded for,
LET US PLAN TOGETHER, PULL TOGETHER
AND SUCCEED TOGETHER,
which we suggest as a motto for a live
Alliance.
THE PAST.
In the early days of the world,
progress in the industries, arts and
sciences was slov, mainly because the
serf was stolidly ignorant, and the
baron or ruler as ignorant in many
respects as their vassals was far more
concerned and engaged in predatory
activity and conquest than in efforts
for the good of the masses or.welfare
of the State.
But in time the yoke of oppression
was thrown off, and the people of
nation after nation became free; new
institutions were organized, new ac
tivities sprang up, and new ideas, sen
timents and habits prevailed. The
social revolution deposed robber kings
and bandit barons, to the relief, ad
vancement and improvement of the
people, industrially, socially, intel
lectually and morally.
DIVISION OF LABOR.
One of the first notable changes in
a free society, as distinguished from
serfdom, was that labor became diver
sified and specialized, to meet de
mands which grew and widened, as
intelligence created new wants," hence
the division of labor became a recog
nized principle in sociology.. For, as
society advances, intellectually and in
dustrially, it sub-divides, step by step,
I into many parts, and establishes sub-
industries and occupations of the peo
ple, separate from the . civil govern
ment, but in harmony therewith.
Industry, so soon as disenthralled and
freed, set to work for self-control, in
developing agencies, by which the
processes of production, distribution
and exchange are conducted; and it
is only when these subordinate agen
cies encroach upon each other, that
the government properly becomes the
arbitrator in the settlement and ad
justment of disputes between the
different classes of its citizens.
That wonderful success has crowned
the organized efforts of men in trade,
commerce, manufacturing, mining,
etc., is evidence of their efficacy,, and
are objects for example to the tardy
industrial masses, still unorganized, or
at least partially so. Union of thought
and concert in action are necessary in
an age of combination and concentra
tion, to effect great "purposes and
beneficent results. And it is but
reasonable, that where the social and
industrial units have properties and
interests in common, that the social
aggregates which they form will have
opinions in common, and a concensus
of power sufficient to enforce them.
The industries are now all being
organized, and the better the units are
informed and educated . to thoroughly
comprehend the objects, motives and
wants of their several organizations,
the more efficient they will become in
aiding their units in the accomplish
ment of their purposes and in secur
ing the beneficent results for which
said organizations were formed.
THE CHARACTER OF THE AGGREGATES TO
DETERMINE BY CHARACTER OF
THE UNITS.
An organization of intelligent, en
terprising, thrifty units will soon be
felt as a power for, good in behalf of
any industry to which they belong
and serve. But to expect the effects
of intelligence from an ignorant,
thriftless people, or wise conduct from
inferior citizens,-is -just as futile as to
look for the generating of useful, ser
viceable power by a so-called per
petual motion humbug, for there is
nothing or useful in either.
The farmer must be educated in his
calling to make him competent to
manage organizations which have for
their main objects the improvement of
the industry and the betterment of its
followers.
Remedial measures for the better
ment of any industry ought first to
be formulated in council and should
receive the concensus of the popular
opinion before the aid of legislation
is invoked to enforce measures agreed
upon. The desire to gee the greatest
return for labor and expenditure on
crops is laudable and should not be
interfered with. The removal by law
of restrictions or oppressions, coming
through other social organizations,
which prey upon or hinder that labor,
is a legitimte object which the civil j
laws honestly and impartially enforced
can and will successfully accomplish.
But farmers can, by wise and con
certed action, aided by just laws,
work out an industrial revolution
without direct interference with or
encroachments upon any other busi
ness, and thus accomplish great and
lasting good for thei r industry and
themselves.
Snowden, N. C, MBy 8, 1889.
Mr. Editor: The Alliance in this
immediate section is moving along not
so fast as we could wish, but I think
surely and steadily, but slowly. Our
Alliance has gathered into its fold
nearly all the available material in its
neighborhood. Some few of the farm-
ers still remain outside; it may be be
cause they like the plan of " Our
grandfathers' days ". better. Such
management of farms business will
not do for this progressive age.
Our (Snowden) Alliance was or
ganized by Dr. Sorrell, on the first
day of last October, with eight mem
bers; we now number thirty, have
lost during the time one member by
withdrawal and one by "dimit, he
having moved nearer to 4 another
Alliance.
We have not accomplished as much
as could be wished in raising money
for the State Business Agency Fund,
but expect to put in our mite in a
very short time. We have started a
subscription amoDg our members and
it is being signed with alacrity when
presented. The weather has been so
unpropitious for the last two months
or more that the attendance of the
members has not been as prompt as
we could wish.
The delay in forwarding our contri
bution may be excused for several
causes. The first and most potent is
the want of money in this section,
No. 15
caused by our farmers heretofore de
pending almost entirely on one crop,
viz: Indian corn, which produces
money only at one season of the year
and the continuous low prices and the
terrible mortgage system, with its
natural shylock principle of taking
the last pound of flesh, have left them
at the end of each season with noth
ing to spare and really many of them
in debt.
I am pleased to see that they are
changing: their plans and adontirnr
I new ideas; diversifying their crops,
pianung less corn, more small grain
and grapes and paying much more at
tention to stock-raising,' and though,
last, but not least by any means, they
are trying to live without the great
mortgage incubus, and as far as in
them lies are trying to " pay as they
go," thus lopping off many expenses.
Although not a prophet or the son of
one, I think the vista ahead looks
bright for our farmers, especially the
Alliance men. The order has been of
great benefit in this section, although
yet in its infancy.
Bro. Sewell told us, when here last
autumn, that Col. Pickett would fol
low him and give us clearer views of
our order. He has not yet put in as.
appearance and some of our brethren,
are anxiously waiting his arrival in
our midst; we would be much pleased
to see him and any other of our cham
pions in the great cause, who could
give us more information and rouse up
our energies to the great and good
work before us, and we hope you, Mr.
Editor, through the columns of yeur
very valuable paper will still continue'
to urge our cause to the front and let
us know who, among our so-called
Representatives and Senators are our
friends and the farmers of North
Carolina will soon put men in the
places of our, enemies, who will fil
the seats at our capital, and then we
will have no man "so-called," but
real live representatives.
With my best wishes for the iuc
cess of our noble cause and its fearless
exponent TheProgressive Fabilkr,
remain, Fraternally yours, '
Carlos.
NOTES FROM GUILFORD
COUNTY.
Alliance No. 1507, Mt. Pleqjaxt
Academy, Guilford Go.
Mr. Editor: The same revival
spirit that has worked up the farmers
of hundreds of other sections is being
felt considerably around here. On
the 17th of January, 1889, just seven
men met at the Academy and pledged
their means, energies and prayers for
the bettering of the moral, intellectual,
and social and financial cenditions of
the farming class in this community.
The officers chosen are : Pres., D F.
Bennett; Vice-President, David Coble;
Secretary, Jno. C. Amick. Since then
the regular meetings have been every
two weeks. There has been a marked
increase of interest. Our membership
has increased to thirty-eight; bur
meetings are well attended all kinds of
weather. Already much benefit finan
cially has been derived from the
movement. But this condition has or
should have the fourth position among
the objects of the Alliance. If we look
after the ohter three moral, intellect
ual and social with care, in propor
tion to their importance, for the
movement not to accomplish great
good will be an impossibility.
Please allow me a little more space
to inform your readers somewhat of
this part of the world. Southeastern
Guilford is certainly well supplied
from the hand of Nature. It is un
surpassed for its beautiful forests,
principally of oak and hickory, and
also for its abundant water power. On
every hand you find creeks and brooks
and rills and springs, soil gray mostly,
well adapted to the growth of tobacco,
but for some very wise purpose not
many of the farmers cultivate the
filthy weed. And if anyone does hot
believe a man can live without it,
surely these kind people can convince
him that he is mistaken. Careful at
tention is paid to the orchards and
gardens. No section more healthful
can anywhere be found. Most of the
people are of German descent. Some
of them take a great deal of pains in
educating their boys and girls in Sun
day and secular schools. ' Fearing that
you may not desire to hear from us
again, 1 desist. Fraternally,
J. S. Williams,' Cor. Sec'y, -
Life's heroes and heroines are tftbse'
who bear their own burdens bravely
and give a helping hand to those
around them.
Hasty words often rankle in jhe
wound which injury givea, and 4oft
words assuage it; forgiving Cure3, and
forgetting takes away the scar.