The state chronicle. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1883-1893, 1888-01-19
THE FARMERS IN SESSION.
A LARGE ATTENDANCE AND AN
INTERESTING SESSION..
They Want the Homestead Law Repeal
ed. Better Public Road Law, an
Agri'al and Mechanical College, &c.
Editorial CORRESPONDENCE

GREENSBORO, N c., Jan. 12, 1SSS.-The
first session of the Farmers Convention
was held in Raleigh just one year ago. 1t
was organized with view to securing
needed cooperation among the farmers of
the State who feel the need of standing
together in advocacy of those measures
which will help the tillers of the earth.
The call was first made, after consultation
with leading farmers, by Col L. L. Polk.
Its success was problematical. Another
convention, which proved failure, was
called by other parties at the same time.
Failure was predicted for this Farmers
Convention, and in certain quarters 1t was
ignored and ridiculed; and it was said that
nobody would attend. The day came for
the holding of the convention: Raleigh
was full and running over. There had
never been, in the history of North Caro-
lima, so large a number of intelligent,
progressive and earnest farmers gathered
together. The result of the work of that
convention is known of all men. 1t was
called, in attempt at derision, ''Legisla-
ture No. e. because it devoted so much
of its time to discussion of legislative
questions that affect the farming interests
of the State But, however much the
"Legislature No. 2" was laughed at by
smart Alecks, this is true: Its recommen-
dations had great weight with legislators
and received the endorsement of the peo-
pie of the State. The chief work of that
first convention was to declare for re-
duction of the expenses Of the Agricul
tural Department. This was done. And
second, for starting the work of erecting
an Agricultural and Mechanical College.
This was done. The other recommends
tions were considered, and some were
adopted.
Having made so great an impression by
their first convention, the second session of
the Farmers Convention was looked for
ward to with interest. 1t met in this town
Wednesday, Mr.. Elias Carr, prosperous
and popular farmer of Edgecombe (they
talk of running him for GOVERNOR was re-
elected President and presided during the
session Hon. d. E. Caldwell (''Uncle
Frank is the familiar title which hun
dreds of friends give him) welcomed the
farmers to Greensboro IN characteristic
and ringing speech. Col. L. L. Polk, who
has the rare talent of knowing how, at all
times. to say pleasant thing pleasantly,
responded to the address in felictous
manner.
President Carr's Address.
President Carr's address was full Of
s'meat." He reviewed the progress of or
ganization among farmers in the State and
said that there had been organized in the
State in the past year 400 Agricultural
Clubs, 252 Farmers Alliances in fifteen
counties alone, and that / 800 new mem
bers had been added to the Grange. He
discussed the perplexities and difficulties
attending profitable farming, and gave it
as his opinion that the Agricultural and
Mechanical College would do much to give
practical help to the farming interests of
North Carolina. Concluding, he discussed
the tariff. l quote the following extract
from the address, and urge every farmer
reader Of the CHRONICLE to read and re-
read it. He said
Zone of the boldest and most audacious
feats of the arch protectionist and monop
olst is the complete capture of the so
called National Farmers Congress at Chi
cago. One, Mr.. Ammidown, an extensive
wooden manufacturer of New York, and
Mr.. Dudley of New Jersey together with
others got themselves appointed as dele
gates and attended the Congress loaded
and primed with protectionist ammunition,
and determined to give, if possible, to the
public under cover of the name by which
the Congress is known, the erroneous i'm
preston that the farmers of these United
States are in favor of protective tariff.
| They succeeded but too we'll as will be
| seen by reference to the Tariff League
| Bulletin copy of which l have here.
| These two gentlemen named were not only
| protectionists but one is President and the
other President of that high sound
| ing order, The American Protective Tariff
| League-wolves for our shepherds! Far
mers look to your fiocksl
| ''The claim that the protective system is
| a benefit to labor or that its repeal would
| degrade American labOrers to the level of
the pauper labor of Europe is the veriest
bosh as evidenced by the removal of the
were only three manufacturers of quinine
in the United States. They had completely
monopolized the business and were so
effectually protected in their monopoly,
that they throttled all domestic competi-
ton and drove off foreign interference
with the aid of government. A move was
at last made to remove the heavy duties
and lower the price of this necessary OF
life to the loor. Answer was made by
the protectionist, that foreigners would
drive out our domestic manufacture en-
tlrely, establish monopoly and put the
price to $40 per ounce, the price being
| then So The tariff was removed; the
price declined till now it can be had al
retail at 75c per ounce, other manufacto
ries have sprung up and as to the degratior
of the labor employed by these companie:
l would respectfully refer you to the labor
statistician. | would suggest that a mos
fitting disposition of the tariff question 10y
the association would be an endorsement
of President Cleveland's most excellent
message upon the subject"
Notwithstanding this wise recommenda
ton Of President Carr, and the almos
unanimous sentiment of the delegates, il
the hurry of the work of the session, u
resolution on the tariff was introduced
1t would have passed with whoop, ant
would have voiced the sentiment of tn
farmers of the entire State, but it was no
done hoped to see the iniquity Of tn
tariff shown up by the passage of resolu
ti0n demanding high tariff upon all th