The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1886-08-25
rHE NEED OF COOPERATION.

We have read with much interest
a strongly written communication
from Mr. Francis Joyner,/ Zone of the
thinking farmers of Pity County, on
the subject Of co-oper3tion among
farmers, which appeared in the
Democratic Standard IF the>3d inst.
Referring to the little attentiop that
is paid to the demands of the farmer
in national and state Legislative halls
he places the cause where it rightly
belongs-to the fact that there is
not concert of action among farmers
to bring their claims before legisla-
tive bodies, nor to secure representa-
tives in these bodies to urge these
claims and insist upon their being
heard, as all other interests Of the
country do. He truly says that it
is in great measure the fault of the
farmers themselves that this is so,
in 50 long quietly letting others do
the thinking for them and the lead
ing, while they submissively and
obediently followed, without ques-
tioning the leadership. He thinks
it is time that farmers should have
voice in their own government,
and some show in selecting the rep
resentatives who make the laws to
govern. 1--WE need he says, schools,
where our youths can be taught the
practical as we'll as the theoretical
part Of agriculture, where they can
be taught to think logically and sys-
tematically for their own interests;
where they can learn selfreliance,
where they may be taught to plow,
not only for the years crop, but for
the general good of the country, and
having plans let them be aggressive
enough to lay them before the pub
lie. We need training to enable us
to lay hold of the labor question as
it so rapidly makes it appearance in
different localities; we need train
ing and combined action to stand
against the pressure of professional
politicians and the infringements of
the monied men upon our rights and
our possessions. It is evident that
trained men are few in the agricul-
tural ranks, and that cooperation
is a thing unknown among us. The
former can only be obtained by the
latter; the spirit Denomination that
has so long made other callings SO
formidable, has already taken hold
upon the American farmers and
from North to South and from East
to West they are coming together
| as unit to work some good for
this, the noblest calling in the world.
X X X j: j: X
The people of North Carolina should
never rest until she has an industrial
school for the education Of her
youth. Other States have them, our
State agricultural department was
the second Of the States and nearly
every other State has one modelled
after that of our State. Let us not
be the last in a noble enterprise
This question with others of vital
importance will come before the
next Legislature and our people, if
they would have a voice in these
matters, as it is their duty to do,
must begin to discuss the matter
and look out for the men best quail
fed to represent the interest Of
Pitt county.
We need progressive and aggressive
men, those who are not afraid of
criticism but having at heart the
interest of the whole State will have
the courage to stand by their con-
victions. The farmers money has
already been misapplied. Money
given by the Government for an in
dustrial school in North Carolina
has been from year to year devoted
to the State University until the
amount, interest and all reaches
over one hundred and twenty-five
thousand dollars, and no benefit to
the farmers yet, except one sends
his son there to be educated to some
profession. Shall we enquire into
this matter or let it pass on as before ?
Fellow farmers, let us stop and cal
culate the cost of having others to
think for US.
This has the right ring in it, and
if all the farmers, or even a consid-
erable number of them, talked out
as spiritedly as Mr.. Joyner does, it
would not be long before that land