Newspapers / The Carolina Union Farmer … / Dec. 19, 1912, edition 1 / Page 5
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Thursday, December 19, 1912.] THE CAROLINA UNION FARMER Pa^e Five 'j never before in the history of our government. Theft in high places and under the guise of the law is as openly condemned as the petty thief. Greed and graft are no longer condoned. Men who are moulders of public thought and leaders in public action are proclaiming that justice must be ^ done all classes if we are to conserve our form of , government and promote the welfare of our people and the prosperity of our institutions. The farmer ^ will be an active participant and beneficiary of the ^ many reforms that will touch the people during j the next few years. I will not attempt to describe all the reform measures that in my judgment should be adopted in North Carolina, but will merely mention those that are the most essential to progress and prosperity. An equalization of the burdens of taxation that will as nearly as possible relieve the poor and place the burdens of taxation on the rich. It ■ w6uld not be a burden to the man who would pay it out of his abundance. Land laws that will so regulate land ownership as to prevent land monopoly, and aid and encout- age every white man in North Carolina to become a home-owner. The Torrens System of registering land titles, not only to secure the holder in his titles but to make land an economical credit asset. A State-wide legalized primary law for all par ties, reinforced by a rigid corrupt practices act, to the end that candidates for all offices may be chosen by the people and not by political bosses and the corporate interests. The adoption of the initiative, referendum and recall, that the people may have the power of direct self-government, to be used if needed. At least a six months’ term of free schools with course of studies adapted to our vocations, and supported by a compulsory attendance law that will secure to every child the opportunity to bur geon out all there is within it. Amending the farm-life school law so as to en able counties to establish schools without a bond issue, or with a much smaller outlay for equip ment than is now required. More rigid enforce ment of laws to protect our forests from fire. The use of all able-bodied State convicts in good road building. The securing of just and equitable freight rates for North Carolina. The enactment of any legislation that may be necessary for the establishment of co-operative rural credit associa tions or farmers’ co-operative banks, and the ap plication of the Rochdale system of co-operation in our business corporations if the stockholders so elect. I consider some form of co-operative rural credits a necessity to our greatest prosperity and to our commercial independence. If time permitted, I might mention many other reforms of greater or less importance. I appeal to all men of all classes to loyally sup port all righteous causes. Be governed by princi ple rather than by prejudice or policy. Recognize the importance of the common good over self- interest. Be true to yourself and to all men and live the religion that you profess. Labor to promote the peace, prosperity and per manent success of the Farmers’ Union, the organi zation which we all love. Let every member work zealously and unselfishly for the promotion of ev ery co-operative enterprise which promises reform of the present methods of marketing and distrib uting farm products and the costly system under which manufactured products are sold and dis tributed. Let PROGRESS be the slogan of the Union. Progress in promoting a system of education that will give the rural classes a longer term of school and a course of study that will better fit them for their life-work. Progress in establishing and maintaining co-operative enterprises of what soever kind will benefit the community. Progress in establishing better bethods in business, in marketing and in buying. Progress in develop ing all the resources of North Carolina, the greatest State in the Union. Progress in bringing about a better • understanding of our mutual interests, and thereby promote a more fraternal feeling between country and town. Progress in establishing “Justice, Equity, and the Golden Rule’’ between all men and all classes. Progress in securing progressive legislation for North Carolina along all lines necessary to estab lish and maintain a government that is in reality “of and for and by the people.’’ To this end I pledge my earnest service wher ever God may call me to labor. Fraternally, H. Q. ALEXANDER. REPORT OF EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE. To the North Carolina Farmers Union in Conven tion Assembled: We, your Executive Committee, beg leave to submit the following report: After the election of officers at our last Annual Convention in Wilson last December, the Com mittee, composed of W. B. Gibson, of Iredell County; I. P. Coggins, of Chatham County; W. H. Moore, of Pitt County; W. G. Crowder, of Wake County; and C. C. Wright, of Wilkes County, or ganized by electing W. B. Gibson, Chairman, and C. C. Wright, Secretary. Acting under the au thority vested in the State Council by the Wilson meeting, that body chose the Executive Commit tee to be the Warehouse Committee, and a large part of the work performed this year has been done while acting in that capacity. A complete and detailed statement of the work of the Ware house Company will appear in the report ade by the President of that body. Your Committee through a Board of Audit and Finance has examined the books, vouchers, files, claims, etc., etc., of the State Secretary-Treasurer, the State Business Agent and the Carolina Union Farmer and find these various offices in most ex cellent condition, the books neatly and well-kept, the funds all accounted for, and these officials careful and painstaking in the faithful discharge of their duties. The Union is to be congratulated upon having in its official family those who are performing arduous labors at meagre salaries. A full and itemized account of all the receipts and disbursements of the current year are shown in the report of the Secretary-Treasurer. The State Business Agent will include in his report the busi ness transacted through that department during the year, and the Newspaper Committee, through its Secretary, will give an account of the receipts and expenditures of the State Official Organ. It is, perhaps, worthy of note here that the work of the Executive Committee for the present year has cost the State Treasury the sum of $206.52 less than that of a year ago. In reviewing the work of the year, it has occurred to your Committee that in future it would be well to confine the work of the Lecture Bureau largely to addresses before County and Local Unions in executive session, these appointments to be arranged in consecutive order, and in these meetings discuss the principles of co operation as they have been successfully applied to business enterprises here and in other coun tries. Your Committee would further recommend, in view of the approaching session of the General Assembly of the State, that in order to secure the enactment into law of our measures that will be presented to that body the selectidn of some repre sentative or committee whose duties shall be to look after the order, but that instead of having a committee at considerable expense to the organi zation, it is the opinion of your Committee that our interests can best be subserved by having one man on the ground all or a part of the time, giving him a mailing list and authority to call in counsel when needed. Let this Legislative Secretary keep in touch with the membership back home and let them write their representatives concerning their needs and desires. This plan would, in our opin ion, be productive of results, and from a financial standpoint commends itseif. We would also recommend that the State Union at its present session elect its delegates to the next Annual Meetings of the National Union. We would further recommend that the mem bers of the Order exercise great care in disclos ing the non-Union people any facts relative to the business plans of the organization. In conclusion, we are pleased to state that while the labors of the Committee have been arduous they, too, have been pleasant, characterized by harmony and feelings of good-will and brotherly love among the individual members thereof. We may ’have made mistakes,—“to err is human,”— but if so, they have been mistakes of the head and not those of the heart. The old year has been kind to us; while our State has just passed through an unprecedented political campaign, our organization has emerged therefrom without the smell af fire upon its garments. And now in the closing hours of this old year, may we re-consecrate and re- didicate ourselves to the great task which lies out yonder in the future before us, and may the bless ings of Him who went about doing good abide with us through the new year. Respectfully submitted, W. B. GIBSON, Chairman. C. C. WRIGHT, Secretary. I. P. COGGINS, W. G. CROWDER, W. P. MOORE, Executive Committee. Raleigh,-N. C., December 10, 1912. LOCAL NOTES. The Prize Phonograph offered to the Local Union sending us the largest number of subscrib ers before December 10th, was won by Perry’s Lo cal, No. 1717, Coleraine. The nearest competitor was Toisnot Local, No. 1067, Elm City. Old Trap Local stands third. The following is the standing of the ten Locals with the highest score: Perry’s Local 1717 101 Toisnot No. 1067 64 Heritage No. 2186 57 Old Trap Local 55 Leesburg, No. 1328 (Tenn.) 53 Bethel No. 2203 49 Carter Local No. 2146 41 Allen’s Chapel (Tenn.) 37 Buck Eye (Tenn.) 1387 37 Mr. W. S. Overman, of Elizabeth City, sent us a large list of new subscribers this week. This is only a newly organized territory and the Union down in the coast counties seems to be progress ing nicely. Mr. I. P. Coggins, of Bear Creek, N. C., gave us a list of new subscribers last week which repre sented every member in his Local. How many Lo cals in the State have a subscriber to the Union Farmer for every member? Dr. W. R. Fulghum, representative of the Union Farmer in Nash County, did some good work dur ing the Convention and as a result, turned into this office a large number of new subscribers. Mr. Fulghum is a regular agent and is doing some good work for the paper in Nash and adjoining counties. She was teaching in a country school, as the book tells, and must needs know civil government. Here is what she says of it: “Of all unexciting things in earth or heaven, give me a public school text-book on civil govern ment! Getting supper would be mad dissi pation compared to the mental anguish of im bibing such dust as that! To think of being obliged to waste one’s fair young life over that, when there are such things to read as Keats’ poetry and George Elit’s novels! If I’ve got to teach that civil government. I’ll resign and turn politician or evangelist, whichever pays ' best.”—Ohio Educational Monthly. - f / ' +
The Carolina Union Farmer (Charlotte, N.C.)
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Dec. 19, 1912, edition 1
5
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