The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1886-09-29
. ADDRESS
TO THE FARMERS OF NORTH
CAROLINA.
BY The Forsyth County Faymers' Club.

BY The Forsyth County Farmers Club.
At the first reguIar.m meeting of the
Forsyth County FARMERS Club, held
in Winston, N. C>>Yug 9TH, 1886,
and composed of Representative
farmers Of our coun ty, the following
resolution was unaa aimously adopted
Resolved, lst, That committee, COM
posed of one member from each club
here represented, be appointed to pre-
pare an address to the farmers of our
State, presenting the object and pur-
poses OF this organization, to the end
that we may secure their cooperation in
promoting the same.
The plan of organization adopted
in our county is very simple, yet we
believe sufficiently comprehensive
to serve as basis for an effectual
and permanent organization of the
farmers of our State. Briefly, it
establishes township clubs, from
these the county club is organized
and from the county club a State
Association is to be established. The
township Or subordinate clubs are
the foundation of the whole struc-
ture, the county and State organi-
cations to be representative bodies,
the ratio of representation being
impartial and uniform throughout.
Membership is restricted to such
persons only as are practically
engaged in agriculture.
This organization is intended in
! no way to interfere with the relig
! ious opinions or party affiliations of
its members. No fees are imposed.
All the proceedings Of all the clubs
are open to the public. We have
nothing to conceal.
The object and purpose of this
organization, in the language of our
constitution is ''tO mprOre the con-
ditiOn Of the farmers and to promote
themterests of agriculture" The under
signed committee, appointed in pur-
suance ofthe resolution quoted above,
beg respectfully to submit briefly
for your careful and earnest thought
some of the considerations which
prompted this movement.
The agricuituralists of this coun-
try constitute 81 per cent. of all
those engaged in the various occu-
pations and pay 80 per cent. Of the
taxes of the country. Last year
our domestic exports amounted to
s726,OOO,O00, OF which $3.50. 900, 900,
or 73 per cent. of the whole, were
the products Of agriculture. What
is done by the Government to encour-
age and foster this great source of its
wealth and power? What is done to
uphold and strengthen the hands of
those who feed and clothe its sixty
millions Of people and the products
of whose labor and skill constitute
the very life of its commerce? How
does it compare with other govern
ments? In 1885, France, for the
promotion of her agricultural inter
ests, appropriated $20,000,0O0; Bra
zil S12,0O0,O00; Russia 81 100000;
Austria s5.OO0,000; Japan 81 ,000,O
and the United States gave $780,
600 to the support of our National
Department Of Agriculture. During
the past six years, from 1881 to
1886 inclusive, our government has
appropriated s2,4S2,7OO (about one
ninth of the amount given by France
in one Year, and sum about suffi-
cient to pay for the eggs which
were imported into this country in
1885.
The Legislative branch Of our gov
ernment should be the guardian
power to which we should look for
encouragement and protection. Of
whom is it composed? OF the 4O1
members of the House and Senate
of the U. S. Congress only eleven
farmers are found on the roll One
representative to every 697, ,317 per-
sons engaged in agriculture. Every
lO,7O8 physicians have represen-
tatlve in Congress-every 294 Bank
officials have one-every 1873 Rail
Road officials have one-every 200
lawyers and professional office hold
ers have one; or to state it differently: