The clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1883-1888, 1883-12-26

6ne4htsoh. DAT W8 can trace ali
ifoublcs 81 ihe pasi.
AT your lset session by untniil
Yote, you urged upon Con9re4a tne ne
sity 81 further aid 70 education. Mo
il not Be wise to provide that IN AZ
stitutions receiving such AID the
ments Of agricultural and mechanI
arts should be- taught Our farA
boys would be Impressed IN the mo
ing Of life with the dignity Of labor q
the valre Of scientific and practic
knowledge.
AT I former session the value Of q
nual farm statistics and reports Of tt
growing crops through State officers ant
bureaus were fully discussed.
The experience Of every year shows
the importance Of immediate action bv
our State authorities on this subject
No policy would demonstrate so clearly
and fully the folly Of the One-crop svs.
TEN and the credit or mOrtage system
of raising crops. The statistics would
enable farmers 10 compare States with
States, counties with counties. and
neighborhoOds with neighhoorhoods.
The figures would show farmers where
there Is the greatest prosperity and the
causes for it. They viii prove 10 tie
cotton, wheat and tobacco producers
that they viii be poor so long as they
raise a single crop, make no supplies and
buy on 8 credit. Il matters not how
rich the soil may be, or valuable It's pro-
ducts, or how great the industry and
economy of the landlord and tenant 4
the twenty to 100 per cent profit paid
as profit and for credit viii keep them
Ia chains.
No legislation may reach this great
evil, but this council of farmers may do
something in directing the public mind
TO this dangerous course. II Is impossi-
bic TO exaggerate the value Of reliable
crop reports in this age of gambling
corners and moneyed combinations Take
cotton as an illustration. The estimates
vary under the present system million
TO two million bales every season. The
foreign and domestic buyers base their
action on the very highest estimate, aud
the cotton under mortgage Is pushed
forward and sold without regard 10 the
value or cost of production. This is
our most reliable commercial crop, and
strange to say, all who touch il are en-
riched, except the men who make it.
The farmers Of the whole country are
interested in seeing cotton producers
combine for their own protection, and
thereby secure control over the fruits of
their own labor. We are told that the
Western man gets rich growing grain or
gasses at from SIS to $50 per acre, while
the cotton-grower, getting $50 or sac, is
unable to pay his debts. Every friend
to our material growth is interested in
knowing the cause of this difference and
to aid in its removal.
Briefly, have noticed some Of the
questions you may think it necessary "a
consider. During my term of Office, and
long before the existence of this organi
zation, have labored with all the zeal
and energy Z possessed to arouse our
farmers to the great need of a national
agricultural organizatiOn-one with rep.
resentatiyes from all sections that could
speak in their name. The future is
bright and cheering if we will do our
whole duty here and in the States We
represent.
The North, East and West are fully
awake, and the great Exposition at At
lanta, the Southern Eposition at Louis
vile and the deep interest taken in the
Worlds Exposition at New Orleans in
1884 show that the Southern farmer in
tends to keep pace with the onwara
movements, and will leave nothing un-
done that labor and toll will accomplish.
My term of Office closes with your
present session. / can serve you no
longer. / am sensible of the high honors
conferred upon me, aud will
ever remember your kindness and indul.
gence. AS private in the ranks,
ever again a member of this
body or not, | shall ever work for the
great industry of which you are the
hOnored Representatives.