The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1886-09-29

country have only II representa-
tives in Congress, while the physi-
clans have 8; Bank presidents Is;
Railroad officials IL; aYd the law
yers and professional office holders
have 3O7; or t,oenty/igM times as
many as the agrieultflralists.
On these remafkable facts we
have no commeht to \effer. They
should speak Hterms 'moSe eloquent
than any language we couN employ.
In 1880 we had in our State 49O,-
1877 persons engaged in all Kinds Of
occupations. Ofthese, 36O,937 were
engaged in agriculture, or IS per
cent. of the whole 1t is not only
the occupation of three-fourths of
the people in the State belonging to
our Industrial classes, but it is the
great foundation on which rests the
hope, the prosperity, the glory
and the very life Of the State 1t
behooves every citizen, therefore, Of
whatever condition or relation, to
aid and encourage by every honor
able means, the healthful growth
and development Of this great indus
try. Especially is it incumbent on
the farmers of the State to bring to
its support all the available forces
which have or may be supplied by
experience, by research, by indus
try, education, science and legisla-
ton.
We recognize the stern fact that
the farmers OF the country must
arouse themselves to true compre-
hension Of the situation. In matters
of public concern, affecting their
interests directly, the farmers Of
the South especially must be more
vigilant, do more of their own think
ing, rely more on their own iudg--
ment and stand more manfully and
loyalty by their own interests. The
most conservative in character and
the most powerful at the ballot box,
Of any one class Of our people, we
should strive to preserve and foster
that harmony of action between all
the great interests Of the country
that is SO essential to our prosperity
and happiness. We should elevate
and dignity our vocation and thus
build up a higher type Of manhood
and womanhood among the masses.
And how are these desirable ends
to be accomplished? Mantestlyand
only by cooperative effort.
Cooperation is the watchword|
of the age 1t is the mighty power
that is moving the world-the very\
essence Of progress. We must not
cannot longer ignore this power
fill agency, SO etfectually employed
by all other interests for their pro-
motion and advancement. 1t is Il
law of Nature-a law Of God-that
must be systemized, consolidated
and directed by organization. All
classes and all interests, except one,
throughout the civilized world recog-
nize its potency and are fostered;
encouraged and strengthened and
protected by it, and that one is agri-
culture-the greatest and most
important Of all. Miners, printers,
mechanics, artizans, professionals,
HlCfClldnlS, OIdtuoSIiIoll, I1ldHuIdCCuT-
ers, spectators, shippers, bankers.
railroads, each and all have their
organizations. They each have a
common principle of action. They
each know that ain union there is
strength" We, as farmers, are seq
regated, isolated, divided and help
less prey to all who may take
advantage OF us. Without organi-
zation we cannot cooperate and
without cooperation we can have
no system, without system we can
have nothing. Look at the miser-
able character Of employed labor in
our State to-day Utterly unman-
ageble and almost worthless and
daily growing worse. The South
is the only agricultural community
in the civilized world where labor
controls and shapes the policy of
the land owners Why? Simply
because there is no cooperation of
effort on the part Of the farmers to
direct and control it.
Under the so called tenant sys-
tenn, our lands are butchered and
destroyed and our sons are thus
driven from the old homestead with
all it's endearing associations to seek
a home elsewhere. With such a