Newspapers / The Carolina Union Farmer … / Jan. 11, 1912, edition 1 / Page 5
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Thursday, January ii, 1912. THE CAROLINA UNION FARMER L Carolina should not be satisfied with less than ^ hundred new marketing warehouses this year. To change the present suicidal market ing system is the most important task that con fronts the tillers of the soil, and there is no Way out except through co-operative mak- ketinp o Report of State President, H. Q. Alexander (Continued from page i) eomes before the body. While your president believes in this charter and can see no possible baini and much good that can come from its adoption, yet he will not attempt to influence fbis convention, except by stating reasons for ^he faith that is in him. And when the Con- '^ention has acted the will of the majority will be his will as an officer. Early in the year a mass meeting of tobacco fanners was called to consider the problems *-bat confront them. This was followed a few Weeks later by a joint convention of the to- ^eco farmers of Va. and N. C., and again by ^ third convention in August. As a'result of ^ ^hese conferences and the splendid organiza- hon that had preceded them, we find the to- ^cco farmers building dry prizeries and pool- tobacco where it had never been attempted ^ ore. But he is fighting a gigantic and ^^srtless monopoly, the American Tobacco ^ rust. This Trust, like a monster octopus, has thrusting out its tentacles and grasping ^^rything that could contribute to its greed, a quarter of a century it has gathered in ^ hard earnings of the tobacco farmer, his and children, until we find today an an- ^||al income of more than 50 millions, to men ^ ^ ^5 years ago owned less than a quarter *^^hlion. Did they earn that money? Is ^^ghtfully theirs, or does it belong to the Women and children that have been sys- robbed of the products of their ^ After a trial in the U. S. Supreme Court over five years, which is in itself a Tob^^ ^ reproach to our Government, the And cco Trust is declared guilty of violating criminal statute but no penalty is imposed now listen, “Ye Gods and little fishes," Trust is allowed to prescribe its own conforming to the law. To protest St rist the proposed plan of dissolution, the Council sent a committee to New York, ^^‘"ber 30th. uf history he noted case that an}’’ voice had been Th ^ uourt in behalf of the tobacco grower, de ^ bad been made by the so-called in- Pcndcnt tobacco manufacturers against the Case Court may have construed it as a cat dog," hence the absurd ending ^bout to be imposed on the inde- ^bis ^^^’^f^^fnrer and grower alike. At poj "^^bing the case has not been finally dis- cqj^.^ I believe that the State Union in with the National Organization, breai^. thing possible to secure the of this damnable monopoly that preying upon our people, cotton farmer is swallowing a bitter ^nio bis own mixing. The State ^ ftnd other factors have called mass meetings and used printers ink to arouse the public interest on the all-important question of the price of cotton. But the price has con tinued downward. Of course no one can say that the discussion of this question from the rostrum and through the public press has not done good. I believe that_^it has stimulated farmers to hold cotton off the market and in fluenced business men to come to the aid of the farmer. One thing has been demonstrated beyond a doubt; the absolute necessity for warehouses in every county. I have received many appeals from counties that had no bonded warehouse for storage; and hence they could not borrow money on their crop. .j The grain and stock and trucking farmers and fruit growers are more fortunate. They are raising something to eat and food crops are high. But they should have a more direct method of selling, which also calls for a ware house or storage room. They are now receiv ing only 35 to 40 cents out of each dollar paid by the consumer. Middle men and transporta tion get the other 60 cents. The State Union, through the News Paper Committee, has purchased from the stockhold ers, the Carolina Unipn'Farmer and it is now the property of the Union. But the Commit tee will render a report. I will close this report with a few suggestions that I believe will be for the good of the organization. That there should be no abatement in our efforts to promote the interest in an education adapted to rural life: an education that will fit our boys and girls for the life that they must live. That 'we should continue to teach co-opera tion by precept and example; what it is; what it means; what it does; to the end that our people may substitute the beneficence of co operation for the warfare of competition; that the public may be delivered from the middle men, capitalists and monopolists who would make the, laborer work for the least and the consumer pay the utmost. That we should promote the spirit of true fraternity through out our order; always placing the common good before private interest. Factional divis ions will never obtain if you will “Let no mean jealousies pervert your mind: A blemish in another’s fame to find; Be grateful for the gifts that you possess Nor deem a rival’s merit makes yours less." That the State Union should adopt the charter and establish a state central warehouse as a shipping point to supply county ware houses that can not buy in car lots. That the County Unions should spare no efforts to secure county warehouses. This is absolutely necessary if we are ever to build up a permanent system of co-operative selling and buying. That the tobacco counties should erect dry prizeries and prepare to pool their tobacco, which is co-operative marketing. That the grain, stock, fruit and trucking counties should eliminate the middle men by co-operative selling (and buying) through the county warehouse; and as a necessary adjunct to success, that their crops be well graded and packed. And that all union farmers use the columns of the Union Farmer to let their brethren know what they have for sale or exchange. That all farmers determine now and for all time to raise all food crops for men and beast. We must do this if we are ever to succeed in our calling. . We will never be able to control the marketing of our money crops as long as they are pledged for the payment of bills for supplies. -a ^ That all farmers adopt scientific methods of farming that will not only conserve but build up the fertility of their soil. This is the per manent, rock basis of all successful agricul ture. And as a very important adjunct there to, that more and better stock be raised on all farms. That we quit buying high priced ready mixed feitilizers, which impoverish the farmer and enrich the fertilizer trust; ever keeping in mind the statement of the National Yearbook of Agriculture that two thirds of the money spent for commercial fertilizers is a total loss. Deep plowing and the rotation of crops, grow ing legumes to fill the soil with nitrogen and humus, with the aid of phosphates, lime and potash, and cotton seed or cotton seed meal, will give more profitable results, both in yield and in permanently building up your soil. Do not sell your cotton seed but exchange for meal if you can get an equal exchange. That all cotton farmers hold their cotton just as long as possible and if the price re mains under ten cents until planting time next spring then reduce the acreage at least fifty per cent and plant food crops. I can not indorse the holding plan devised by the committee ap pointed by the Governors’ Conference at New Orleans. It is really not a holding plan but a plan to sell on “call." The farmer lets the cotton pass out of his hands and in doing so he yields to the enemy his strongest weapon of defense. I will say just here that the farm- ing class should work out their own salvation instead of depending on other classes to do it for them. If we will raise a living at home, abolish the credit and mortgage* system, pro vide warehouses for co-operative selling and buying and then feed the market only when it gets hungry, we can sell bumper crops for higher prices than we now receive for an average crop. I suggest further that every man keep him self well informed on the current political is sue of the day. It is safer to do your own thinking than to let some lawyer politician do it for you. I presume that every man here believes in a Democracy, since a Democracy is a government in which the supreme power rests in the hands of the people. Then let every man study.and advocate the Initiative, Referendum and Recall, as this is the only way in which the people can rule effectively. That if we want to be free from the dom ination of professional politicians, we should stand for and advocate state wide primaries for all offices instead of conventions which often defeat the will of the majority of the people. That every man should study the Torrens System of registration of land titles and that we press this question on the minds of the
The Carolina Union Farmer (Charlotte, N.C.)
Standardized title groups preceding, succeeding, and alternate titles together.
Jan. 11, 1912, edition 1
5
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