Tuesday, September 1, 1903.
12
THE PROGRESSIVE FARMER
An Appeal to the Fanners of North
Carolina.
Office Secretary,
N. C. Tanners' Alliance,
Raleigh, N. C, Sept. 1. 1903:
To the Farmers of North Carolina.
Brethren: It was my privilege to
attend the mass meeting of farmers,
and others interested in the tobacco
situation, at Rocky Mount the 21st,
and I was so impressed with the
spirit of organization that prevailed
anions all the people at -that meeting
that I feel constrained to send this
appeal to the intelligent farmeers of
the State urging them to take action
at once in effecting a strong organ
ization among themselves.
The meeting at Rocky Mount was
addressed by strong men represent
ing different professions, callings and
vocations, yet there was but one
opinion expressed by them, and that
was the necessity of organization
among the farmers of the State.
Lawyers, doctors, editors, mer
chants and warehouse men vied with
one another in advising organization
and co-operation among the farmers
of the country for their mutual ben
efit and protection.
Hon. B. H. Bunn, of Nash Coun
ty, a former Congressman from that
district, said: "Organization is nec
essary to success. If you unite you
can succeed." He was very emphat
ic in what he said along these lines.
Hon. R. A. P. Cooley, of Nash, de
clared he was in thorough sympathy
with the movement. He said: "If
you can't be organized you are not
men of your word. When men have
been driven to it they will do what
they say." The local editors of the
News and Observer, and the Morning
Post of Raleigh, and the editor of the
Nashville Graphic spoke and advised
organization, as did every speaker
who addressed that large gathering
of farmers. The farmers appreciate
the spirit of help and co-operation
that was there manifested. Several
prominent farmers at that meeting
told me Alliances could be reorgan
ized in Edgecombe, Wilson and Nash
Counties now. This same feeling
prevades other counties. The time
for active work seems to be at hand.
This appeal is sent to you for the
purpose of soliciting your active co
operation in our efforts to reorganize
the Alliance and make it a strong
factor in unifying the farmers and
bringing them in closer touch and re
lationship one with another. I am
sending copies of this to other gen
tlemen of influence in your county
with an abiding faith in your and
their good judgment and desire to see
the farmers of your county and the
whole State come together in a
strong organization, controlled by in
telligent men, with only a desire to
better the condiition of the farmers
of the State mentally, morally, social
ly and financially, placing them on
the highest planes of citizenship
where they will command the confi
dence and respect of all well intended
people.
The State Alliance, at its meeting
near Hillsboro recently, took an ad
vanced step toward the reorganiza-
tioh of the Order by arranging for
one or more lecturers to engage in
active wo rk during the year. . The
meeting was harmonious and every
one present predicted a bright fu
ture for the Alliance.
Many of the" editors of the State
have published encouraging editorial
notices of that meeting and advise
immediate reorganization of the Al
liance. I should be glad to quote
many of the encouraging things said
about the Alliance by these editors,
but have space for only one article.
The following is taken from the
Morning Post :
"Our friends of the Farmers' Al
liance had a splendid session at their
annual meeting Wednesday, with ev
ery evidence of growing influence
and opportunity for good. There
never was so good an opportunity for
"real uplifting work on part of those
who till the soil as is now presented,
and only through thorough organiza
tion can the best results be obtained.
Another healthful and most promis
ing feature of the present organiza
tion is the fact that intelligent and
successful farmers dominate its man
agement and direct its councils. A
glance over the names of those pres
ent and conspicuous in the control
of affairs will satisfy all that there
is not a politician among them, that
class who would farm the farmers
rather than counsel and aid in de
veloping the farms of the State.
This is well and encouraging."
Brethren, can it be possible that
these people who are not directly con
nected with farming are more inter
ested in our own welfare than the
farmers themselves are? If it is true
that they are more interested than we
are, or if they see more clearly the
necessity of organization among our
selves than we do, then indeed we
are in a bad state and should awake
ourselves from the lethargy that has
come over us, and look squarely at
the situation that confronts us.
The lawyer, the doctor, the mer
chant, the manufacturer, may all be
willing and anxious to help us, but
unless we are willing to help. our
selves, their help can avail us but
little. The farmers themselves are
the source of their own strength,
and from their own exertion deliver
ance must come.
Other people can encourage us and
give us their moral support;
they may be willing to hold up
our hands in the fight; but unless the
farmers stand firm and perform their
part well the battle will be lost, and
no man can forsee just what tne re
sults would be.
The present low price for tobacco
may be the signal for a battle royal
between manhood and mammon; be
tween right and might; between just
ness and greed; therefore it should
be known clearly on which side every
man stands. He is not for us is
man stands. He that is not for us is
against us.
The farmers of the State are the
last people who should make war on
capital rightfully manged; but when
it is converted into a grinding pow
er and made to crush the hopes, op
portunities and industries of the peo
ple, it should be speedily forced into
its right channel. Now is the time
for the manhood of the State to
stand out clear and distinct, refus
ing to be bled by the monopoly.
If, as is claimed by some, the
American Tobacco Company has
enough tobacco on hand and does
not want to buy more at present,
the farmers should not endeavor to
force their tobacco on them, but en
courage independent buyers, if such
can be found, to come into our midst
and pay living prices for their prod
ucts. True, the American Tobacco
Company has acquired and crushed
other factories until they seem to
have a monopoly in the bright tobac
co markets, but that should not deter
our people in their resolution not to
sell at a sacrifice. If the American
Tobacco Company does not need the
tobacco now it will need it later."
Let the farmers refuse to put their
tobacco on the .market, -and refuse
to sell at a price that is not remun
erative. This will require nerve and
backbone, but with grim determina
tion the farmers can hold on and be
come masters of the situation if they
will organize and co-operate with
one another.
While the present low prices di
rectly affects only the tobacco grow
er, it indirectly affects all farmers
If the tobacco grower is forced to
abandon or materially curtail -the to
baceo crop, it will ofcourse enter in
to growing cotton or some other crop
in competition with the farmers who
are now growing those crops, and
without organization and unity of
action, the fate of those farmers
may soon be the same as that now
threatening the tobacco farmer,
hence the necessity of all farmers
standing together in solid phalanx
whether they grow tobacco or not.
This article has been written hur
riedly to meet the pressing demands
of the hour; hence much has neces
sarily been left unsaid that could,
with propriety, have been included
Details as to the best thing to do
and how best to manage can be work
ed out later. The thing to do now is
to organize; to come together as a
band of brethren determined to
stand together and to give to one
another such support and encourage
ment as will come through co-opera
tion. I would not advise a hasty or
unjustifiable step ; but it seems to me
the time for action is now upon us
and further delay is dangerous. I
shall esteem it a favor if you wil
give me a list of your neighbors and
their postoffice address who will join
with you in this movement. Also
the names and address of any per
son of influence in your county to
whom I can send a copy of this let
ter, who would likely take hold of the
WHAT IS LIFE?
In the last analvsis nobodv knows
but we do know that it is under strict.
law. Abuse that law even slightly,
pam results. Irregular living mean
derangement of the orerans. resnlti
in Constipation. Headache or Liver
trouble. Dr. King's New Life PiUs
quickly readjusts this. It's front.lp.
yet thorough. Only 25c. at all drug
stores.
Popping of
lamp-chim
neys is music
to grocers.
Macbeth.
If you use a wrong chimney, you lose a
good deal of both light and comfort, and
waste a dollar or two a year a lamp on
chimneys.
Do you want the Index ? Write me.
Macbeth, Pittsburgh.
g"B ANGUS CATTLE
FOR SA1E LOW !
All ages of Registered and High Grade An
gue Cattle. Male and Female.
One Splendid Family Milk Cow, 4 years
old; In calf bv our Registered Bull. Price,
30.00; worth S50.C0
One Flint-class Black mare Mule, 7 years
old, weight 1,200 pounds; very active and
quick. Price, $160 ; would be cheap at $200.00.
Two Fine Dorset's & Shropshire Rams.
Low price $8.00 each ; fine fellows ; worth
double price named.
COTTAGE iVALLET STOCK FARM,
RANDOLPH, VA.
cartridges and shot shells
are made in the largest and
n ...
factory in the world.
AMMUNITION
of U. M. G. make is now
accepted by shooters as
"the worlds standard" for
it shoots well in any gun.
Your dealer sells it.
The Union Metallic
Cartridge Co.
Bridgeport, - - Conn.
n
CALDWELL SCHOOL.
The Third Annual Session ol Jewell
School begins September 1, 1903 It is a qu
inexpensive school. In a healthy lallv'usic
Board and tuition $8.00 a month, music
52.50a month.
For other Information, adde8, EJ L
MATTIE J. fcfc
Lemon Springs, Moore CountTV
vnli GOULD
buya waponthat had evermuldn,t K
2P3 Electric S ee IW e
any difference wliat .-tand any
it Wheels of any tl'f".hia on
l dtH of tire. M. they a buy
Electric Wheel Co., Box 93. Quincj,