The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1886-12-08
Ma FARMERS CONVENTION.
We Manage Dur Affairs Some
Plain Words from a Plain-Spoken Man.

Plain Words from a Plain-Spoken Man.
EDITOR PROGRESSIVE FARMER:-I
have watched the proceedings Of
the South CAROLINA Farmers Con-
vention with much interest from its
beginning, but\am ESPECIALLY pleased
to see the stand they are taking
in their demandsffor justice at the
hands of the general assembly.
North Carolina needs such an
organization, can have it and must
have it if they expect proper recog-
n;tion from our law makers.
Take our Board Of Agriculture
and you will find that it is every
where unpopular with the people.
Why? There are several causes.
Al trades and professions are organ
I'D except the agriculturists. All
these prey on the farmer and are
doing all they can to prevent his
protecting himself, either by organi-
zation or by State aid; and when the
State Institutes a Department Of
Agriculture, there must be a direct
tax on something to meet it, so as
not to draw any moneys out Of the
common treasury. Why this dis
elimination? Do the farmers pay
no taxes? Are they entitled to no
State aid? Does agriculture enter
into the industries of North Caro-
lima? All these and many more
questions present themselves to u
minds, and why should we all not
have equal justice?
| believe that the fertilizer tax is
a just one and one that ought to be
imposed, but just as other taxes.
The system of taxation and appro-
priations we could make out with.
but the administration of the depart
ment is largely in the hands of those
who are not agri%culturists. Indeed,
not one of the officers of thc'Depart-
ment is IL practical agricu!tuI1st and
very few members Of the Board are
strictly farmers. Why is this? Well,
one says the farmers have not the
ability to manage their own affairs,
80 we must have lawyers, doctors,
colonies, honorablcs, merchants. &c.
&c, to manage the Department and
administer agricultural lore to the
farmer, thereby insulting their man
hood, and the result is that the
farmers neither cooperate with,
advise nor have anything to do with
the Department, except to cast sIIrS
at it's administration. . ..I E....t
1.-The farmers ought to keep
silence, it will hurt some political
party" says some o~litical sage.
Suppose a farmer without legal
attaiDments were to attempt to ad-
minister Justice on the Superior or
Supreme Court bench, what a cry of
derision would 60 up from the bar.
Or suppose him to meet in the medi-
cal conventions to discuss physics?
Why, every sensible man would at
once brand him as a presumptuous
i~gnordmus, and they would be about
right, but not more so than
some of those who attempt to man.
age u Board of Agriculture and
Agricultural Societies, who know
nothing OF and care less tor the
interests Of the farmers. I say, Mr..
Editor, away with ali such and give
every business and profession the
management of its own affairs, and
we will see better times, more har-
mony, and each profession will then
be responsible for it's own cause.
Till then, adieu prosperity.
hope you will induce the farmers
of the State to meet in Convention
at Raleigh some time in January
and give expression to their views
to the Legislature. .@"o- .:1jI
Call the Convention; if only three
farmers come, possibly we ear have
.fue two years hence.
Respectfully,
FARMER.