The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1886-03-31
FARMERS CLUBS.

~" ~ 49,
tural clubs have been formed in diff
ferent portions of the State recently,
and others are being formed. These
clubs if properly conducted will
prove of vast benefit to those who
belong to them and the cause
they represent as well as to the
communities in which they exist, in
numerous ways.
This is a day of organization, Of
cooperation. There is no business,
no industry, that has not it's organi-
cations, it's cooperative, it's repre-
sentative bodies, who look after the
interests they represent and shape
policies to govern them.
The men who own and operate
railroads and steamboats,, have their
organizations and meet at stated
periods to discuss the business stu
ton and arrange schedules of rates
for carrying freight and passengers
to avoid ruinous competition and
promote their mutual prosperity.
Bankers have their societies which
meet annually, or oftener if occasion
requires, to review the situation and
discuss matters relating to their
business.
Merchants have their boards of
trade to look after their interests.
The manufacturers of iron, steel,
cotton, wool, &C., have their associa-
tons to look after their interests.
The mechanics and laboring men
who, with the farmer. literally "earn
their bread in the sweat of their
faces" have their organizations that
they may act in concert when occa-
sion requires. To-day the Knights
of Labor r welding a mighty
power, such as no organization of
workers ever welded before in this
or any other country. At the pres
ent rate of increase the day is not
far distant when they will number
million of men, under perfect disci-
pline4, governed, directed and con-
trolled by heads of their own choos-
ing.
The farmers of the United States
humber nearly 100000, about
dOSble the number of men engaged
in AN the other pursuits, and yet,
strange to say, these farmers who
are tho producers of the country's
wealthy who raise the bread and
meat, the cotton and wool, to feed
and clOthe all the others, are the on
ly mem who r without organiza-
tions to foster their own welfare and
look after the interests of the great
and noble industry which they fol-
l0V, but each one plods along in his
own quiet way, blowing, planting,
reaping, while all are at the mercy
Of the minority, which acts in COM
bipations.
|Let us illustrate briefly: The rail
H6ad owners get together in conven->
tion and fix a rate to charge pei
mile for the transportation of grajh/
meat and other farm products, Apd
the farmer has to pay it.
The manufacturers of various
goods get together in convention
and fix a scale of prices at which
they will put their goods upon the
market, and the farmer has to pay it.
The bankers assemble i'm cOnven-
ton and fix the rate of interest they
will charge for the use of money
and the kind of security, and the
farmer has to pay it if he wants the
money, and must furnish the secu-
rity.
The merchants, at least in the cot
ton growing section, where crops
are raised on borrowed money, sup
plies furnished, and leins given on
the coming crop, will fix their own
prices on what they have to sell and
dictate to the planter, who asks for
credit, how many acres of cotton he
must plant and then the stock
gamblers on Wall street and in Liv-
erpool will fix the price six months
before hand what they will pay for
that cotton when it is picked and
marketed.
This is all SO, and will be so until
the farmers of the country begin to
come together as men in other call
have done and are doing, and
organize for their own interests and
for their mutual protection.
The farmers club is the ground
work of such organization and will
be instrumental in promoting the in
terests of farmers in various ways.
1t affords farmers an opportunity
to get together, to discuss matters
appertaining to their calling, to