Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1883-07-28
FARMERS CONVENTION.
THE MONTGOMERY COUNTY ASSOCIATION
ORGANIZED.

The Farmers Convention met as
announced in the Circuit Court room
Saturday at IL o'clock. Vice-Presi-
dent Slaughter opened the meeting.
He read the bylaws of the Middle
Tennessee Farmers Association and
made the following address:
Gentlemen and FelloaO Citizens.
Though the objects of this meeting
were named in the published call re-
questing your attendance here to-day,
| will again briefly state them:
On the 9th of June last convention
of Middle Tennessee farmers was held
at Nashville for the purpose of effect
ing an organization, which was termed
the Middle Tennessee Farmers Asso-
citation.
The organization was effected by
the election of a president, secretary
and treasurer, and one vice-presi-
dent from each county within the
middle division of the state.
As East and West Tennessee were
both represented in this meeting by
representative farmers, it was agreed
and determined to call a state conven-
ton of farmers to meet at Nashville
on Tuesday, September II, 1883, for
general consultation upon various
subjects connected with the agricult-
ural interests of the state, and for the
purpose of inducing complete and
permanent organizations within all
counties throughout the state.
The vice-presidents of the associa-
ton were directed to take such steps
as were deemed necessary for the
proper organization of their respect
i've counties, and this meeting was
called mainly for that purpose.
The farmers of East Tennessee have
for some time past possessed an or
ganization, and those of West Tennes-
see met at Jackson on the 4th of the
present month for that purpose.
/ have for many years past felt a
deep interest in the matter, and wish
it were possible to impress upon the
minds of every farmer in the union
the great importance to themselves of
a complete, thorough and permanent
organization.
We may undertake to state upon
paper or verbally the various benefits
to be derived, but they can only be
properly seen or fully appreciated
after being realized through the me-
dunn of organization.
do not mean to say that organiza-
ton to-day will bring these benefits
tomorrow, or next week, or next
month, but just so certain as proper
organizations are effected, properly
cultivated and permanently main
tanned, they will come sooner or later
in many forms to ourselves or our
children.
Neither do l prentend to say that
organization alone Will produce these
benefits, but do say that organization
and cooperation properly effected,
and then rightly cultivated, zealOusly
guarded and permanently maintained,
will be worth millions in the way of
financial wealth, independence, social
standing, influence and intelligence to
the great agricultural masses of the
state
Although the agricultural interest
of the world is the principal and only
reliable foundation upon which must
rest every other class of business, trade
or profession, and upon which all
others must depend mainly for the
sustenance of life and wealth, far
mers as general rule are less appre-
ciated socially and otherwise than are
those of any other honorable trade or
profession. They have less influence
in the management of state and ma
tionai affairs; less laws enacted for
their benefit; are more imposed upon
by mOnopOhes, rings and spectators;
are more deprecated upon; have more
stolen from them, with less laws to
protect them from depredators and
thieves; have less knowledge of the
quantity produced of their own pro-
auctions, or the prices that it may
bring; are more dependent generally
and possess less power to obtain their
just demands in any manner than any
other class of business men.
Why is this? Simply because there
is no union, cooperation or unity of
action in existence among them.
Whilst other business classes of any
responsibility possess their organized
unions, and through them are enabled
to exert their influence effectually in
having certain demands complied
with, the farmer must fight the rug
ged battles of life unaided, even by his
own kind.
Whilst with proper cooperation
and unity of action, which may be
obtained through organization, the
farmers can make themselves as a
class the most independent and pow
erful of the union, with power suffi-
cient to control, if they SO desired it,
both state and national legislation.
they are in their present disOrganized
condition the weakest and most de-
pendent, unable to control the enact
ment of a single law in their favor.
These are facts that the farmers
themselves with due consideration
must acknowledge to be true.
Now the questions are: How can
all of this be properly remedied =?
In what way can the farmers as
class make themselves properly appre
ciated and respected?
How can they obtain their proper
proportion of influence in the man.
agement of state and national affairs
How shall they become possessed
of such knowledge and protection as
will guard them against the impOsi-
tons of speculative combinations, in
corporated monopolies and monied
rings, who usually pocket the almost
entire profits of their labors?
How shall they obtain the enact
ment of such laws as will be best for
their interest in the protection of their
property and otherwise?
How can they be best prepared to
lend aid and encouragement to such
manufacturing enterprises and other
improvements that may be deemed
best for their interest?
How can they best aid in developing
the wealth and promoting the general
interest of the state, socially, tinan-
cially and otherwise
How shall they be enabled to act
more ef1ectually, more promptly and
more intelligently as regards all mat
tiers connected with their interest?
How can all of this and much more
be accomplished?
If accomplished at all it must be
done through the aid of combination,
union and cooperation, under proper
system of organization.
| have during my life occupied va
rious positions that required my resi-
dence in towns and cities and con-
slant intercourse with nearly all classes
of every trade or profession, This
enabled me to see and learn much
connected with the interest of agri-
Ok. hot 70 1fNf nr.al1r