The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1872-09-12
ADDRESS
Of Capt. ThOs. B. Wade before
the Farmers Club at Wales
Station.

PUBLISHED By ORDER OF THE CLUB
GESTLEMEN In the agricultural
clubs which have heretofore beer
established in this county, attention
has been directed chiefly, If not
wholly, TO the various modes OF
crop culture. The great benefits to
be derived from cooperation and
organized resistance to the vast and
varied rings and combinations,
which initiate with damaging effect
and powerful force directly against
the entire agricultural interests of
the country, seems to have been
kept in the background, or entirely
| ignored while much valuable time
has been consumed (not perhaps
without some beneft) in the dis
cussion of abstract theories upon
farming, or the actual results of va
rious experiments of prominent
farmers.
In order that the necessity Of or
ganizing the great agricultural
classes into clubs for the purposes
of mutual protection and defence
against rings and mOnOpolies, may
be clearly apparent, I propose to
examine carefully whether farming
under the present regime is profita
bic or otherwise; and if unprOfita-
ble, to inquire what influences ope-
rate against it to produce this effect.
In speaking of the farming class
es, 1 wish to be understood to in
clude all those who till the soil as
well as the owners of the land.
Is farming profitable2
If we take the testimony of all
engaged in this business, whether
farmers, Croppers, or laborers, the
universal cry is, unproftaJEs. There
is no conflict in the testimony, but
all assert that they can scarcely
make a living by practicing the
most rigid economy and labOring
with all the energies Of mind and
body. If this united testimony is
unworthy of credit, what do we
gather from observation? Farmers,
with a few exceptions, live in rude
buildings, very economically fur
nished. Their clothing is generally
coarse and cheap, and very many
engaged in agricultural pursuits are
unable to furnish their families
with decent Sunday suits for going
to church. Farmers are cOntin-
ually being sold ou: by the Sheriff,
the expenses being greater than the
profits. Farmer after farmer is
sinking under the pressure of debt.
Our newspapers are almost filled
with Sheriffs advertisements to sell
out broken farmers, and we hear of
many others tOttering upon the
verge of bankruptcy. Our young
men are fleeing from the farms as
from a pestilence, seeking more
profitable employments in the
towns and cities-none leave the
towns for the farms, but the cities
and towns are thrOnged with refu-
gees from the country. The con-
clusiDn is irresistible that farming
does not pay.
When we turn our eyes to the
towns and cities how different the
prospect! Here upon every side
we see Unmistakable evidences of.
prosperity and wealth-impOsing
and costly business houses, hand
some residences, elegantly furnished
ladies attired in costly silks and
satins, men clothed in the most
costly apparel, sporting good watch
es and costly and dashing equipa-
ges, smoking fine cigars and drink
ing costly wines and liquors. From
these evidences we very naturally
conclude that the occupations of
cities and towns are remunerative.
is it not singular that when the
vocations Of merchandising, law and
medicine are so crowded as to al
most depOpulate the farms, that
these pursuits should still be prof.
table? What becomes of the teach
ings Of political economy in regard
to the laws of competition, supply
and demand?
Let us examine this subject
1 think that it would be a fair
estimate TO say that tour re-
tail merchants could handle all the
goods that are ordinarily consumed
by the countries adjacent to our
county towns. In such towns VIC
frequently find twenty-four mer-
chants. Now the county will not
consume any more goods if sold by
twenty-fOur merchants than if they
were only sold by four. But the
question is asked, how can twenty
four men and their families live and
prosper upon a BUSINESS that it
would require only four TO transact?
The merchant who understands his
business adjusts this difficulty by
the price that he puts upon his
goods. 1t is very clear to him that
he must sell his goods for such
price as will cover the original cost
at a foreign city. the expenses of
transportation, his house rent, his
municipal taxes and his family ex-
penses. He dare not sell for a less
price than this; for if he does he
will sink money and must inevita-
bly, fail.
Now, the agricultural classes, who
HFe Tue pElnclpaI consumers OF JneSe
goods, are required to pay in the
prices of these goods a sufficient
amount to cover the expenses of
twenty families more than il they
would if only four the requisite
number, were engaged in the busi-
ness. Hence the heavy per cent.
usually charged upon first cost
The same principles apply tc
wholesale merchants. Twenty fam
lies more than necessary being en-
gagged in the business in any given
city, the enormous ana extravagant
living expenses of twenty families
are charged in the price of the
goods to the retail merchant, and
thus the living expenses of forty
families more than necessary to do
the business is charged in the price
of the goods to the consumer.
These principles apply with equal
force to the commission merchants,
who have formed themselves into
v,ovuasrfr} rinrrc onoinek fha NOR