Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1873-08-18


ture, Inviting Cooperation
Of All Farmers.
The Purpose Of the MOyement-InfOrm-
alton as TO Hotel and Railroad
= Fares, Etc, Etc.
The farmers of East Tennessee, in
convention assem- bled, on the twenty
eighth of May last, have, through their
appropriate committee, of which Colo
mel c. w. Charlton is the worthy chair
man, invited the farmers of Middle and
/ West Tennessee to meet them in a gen
eral convention at the State capital, on
the fifteenth of September neXt-the
time of assembling has since been
changed 70 the sixteenth of September,
in order TO enable delegates to leave
home on Monday, fifteenth-and they
/ have also requested the bureau Of agri-
culture to assist in giving shape to so
| important and well-timed movement. l.
/ therefore, as president of the bureau,
representing the sentiments of the other
commissioners, appreciating the imme-
diate good effects upon the agriculture of
| the State, and the ultimate good effects
upon the prosperity of the farmers, do
( most heartily unite in urging upon the
/ farmers OF the State TO send their best
representative and practical men, at
least one or two from every civil district
! if practicable; and if not from each dis
! trict, then send as large a delegation as
| possible from each and every county to
represent you In this proposed cOnven-
ton. The idea is to form a estate
! Farmers association" AS to the objects
of such an association, take the liberty
Of quoting from the excellent address of
Colonel John G. Burch, before the Press
association of Tennessee, making such
| slight changes in the wording as to make
/ it suit the Farmers associatiOni
fThe objects OF such an association
are the preservation Of a thorough and
homogeneous organization of the farm
ers in the State; for better promotion
of those common and individual inter-
Is which can only be subserved by
systematic and intelligent cooperation;
to bring about a more kindly and fra
from actual acquaintance; and the prop
er and persistent maintenance of that
most important of all interests, which
it is our mission to represent; to en-
deavOr to arouse that esprit dit corps,
which, as farmers proud Of our most
honorable and ancient calling, we must
feel. Such associations exist in other
States, and there is no good reason why
he farmers of Tennessee, equal in abil-
ity and influence to those of any other
commonwealth, should not be associat-
ed together in q compact and homOge-
neous body, whose status should be the
most elevated, and whose power shall
be irresistible. AS it Is, we are
wasting our strength-if, indeed,
we are aware of it at all Like
the reeds in the fable, we are dis
united, and consequently weak and inn
potent; like them, we might be, did
bond Of sympathy, fraternity and or
ganizatiOn unite US, of invincible pow
era power which would compel respect
and be OF such dignity that no petty leg
islatOr would haye the effrOntery, as has
been the case within our remembrance,
to sneer at our demand of simple Justice.
calling it an necessary gratuity pro-
posed for the benefit of them foiraers' ~
"All human society, government,
laws, religion and education rest on the
principle and practice Of associated eff
fort" The theory Of a grange, or far
mers' association Of any kind is as sound
as that of a church or college, or any
other organization in human society.
Let US 90 back to first principles:
EVERY man, woman and child has the
right to do every lawful and moral act
that will promote the weIl-being of such
person. This is personal liberty, for the
equal and common pursuit of happi-
ness. But what one farmer, his wife,
sons and daughters may lawfully do for
their own benefit, two families can do,
or ten, ten thousand, or ten million. !
The right of association for any good
purpose is alike unquestioned and un-
questionable. 1t is simply the aggrega- |
ton of mans physical and intellectual |
power, aided by whatever capital he 1
may possess" Thus says the Atlanta |
Ca Plantation. and it ought to be |
received as good authority.
Our good purpose in this movement is |
to bring about concert Of action and uni /
ty Of purpose among the farmers of this
State, having as the end in view, the |
general advancement Of agriculture, for /
the good Of every class; for from this |
source every human being draws his
sustenance and support; and whatever
contributes to the prosperity of this vast /
and important interest, contributes d. /
rectly TO the good of the whole people;
and since the financial support of the
State rests upon the producing interests
of the State; and since upon their abili-
ty TO pay, and to continue to pay, rests
not only the sOlvency of the State, but
its existence, it is certainly q good move
which seeks to lift the dark cloud which
at present threatens the very existence
Of the farming population and their in
terests.
This cloud can only be removed by de-
yising measures which will establish
more equitable relations, in the eX-
change OF our labor for other labor than
now exists, "either by eievating our
own prices or by using such means and
powers as we may possess in combined
action to make other profits, salaries
and wages more nearly correspond with
ours, believing, as we do, that the prices
of farm products should ever be a basis
for the establishment OF all other prices,
emOluments and pay; and that the pres
ent disparity in prices existing between
farm products and products of all other
AdAtDA AACb I-NNE EeAl1 VIZ AgfFl9e Ae~eS "
is one great source of oppression to the /
Iarmer;" also to establish the true
and just line between producer
and carrier, and fix the fair
per centum Of commission as between
the producer and the middleman, and to
take such steps as viii secure to the State
thoroughly competent and honest men
to fill the various ofices-thOse who will
legislate fairly and impartiaIy as be-
tween this important interest of ours and
all others, and men who cannot be
bought up in the interest of these mon-
ster monOpolies whose usurpations and
exaetions Il is cur duty and mission to
throttle. For every dollar extracted
from the treasury Of the State or ration
by the influence Of mOnopolies and rings
has to be repaid by agricultural labor,
since the revenue has to be raised ulti-
mately from the products of the soil.
Therefore, In view Of these facts, and
the importance of the movement, I /
would again urge upon the farmers in
every civil district 10 be represented;
also every grange of the order of pat
rons Of husbandRy, every farmers club,
or farmers organization, by whatever !
name, to send delegates, and let every /