The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1888-12-25

OuColS huu nIc GAc pSII1ducutJ SGdUt0
and solid class on which the prosperity
of all others depend and to which all
must look to judge of the future of
the land.
Causes that tend to depress and en-
slave this important element of our
country, which may be well designated
as the foundation of the superstruc-
ture, must surely endanger the very
structure itself and tend towards ulti-
mate dissolu ion and loss of all con-
troll. Strange as the assertion may
sound, it is nevertheless true, that we
have two classes Of anarchists in this
country; one the ayowed anarchists,
who oppose all law and order, and the
other blindly selfish class who would
loudly disclaim anarchy but advocate
conditions that so surely sap the vitals
of productive labor that the result is
ten times more productive of results
ripe for anarchy than all the agitation
of the avowed anarchists. If our
order means anything, it means JUS
tice, right, law and order and there
fore must be the very antipode of all
forms of anarchy, both avowed and
disguised. So just cause may well
command great devotion and energy,
but when in addition to the justice of
the principles involved in the move
ment it's magnitude and Importance
and the necessity for action are con-
sidered, the command will be recog-
nized and accepted as imperative by
all those who have allied themselves
TO the order AS to the magnitude
and Importance of the business, you,
IS the representative Of the member
ship at large, are to be congratulated
upon the
WONDERFUL GROWTH THE ORDER HAS
MADE
in so short time~ AS will be shown
by the report of your secretary, there
are now about ten thousand Sub-Alli-
ances; these are associated into about
eight hundred County Alliances and
represent an Individual membership
of about four hundred thousand.
Twelve States are working under
charters from this body and three or
four more are about ready to be char
tered. While this is a good showing
for the time and means employed, it is
but a start compared with what may
be done in the same field, and may
well and forcibly impress you with
the Importance of providing a more
efficient system of securing laborers
and more means with which to prose
cute the work AS to the necessity
for action, all will perhaps admit that
it exists and that it calls for imme-
diate activity. All other occupations
are organized and are constantly striv-
ing to draw the lines of their organiza-
tion closer, and the progress of mate
rial development has brought about
such peculiar conditions in this day
and time that to avoid organization is
to refuse the benefits of enlightened
CO. operation and suffer from the evil
effects of trusts and combines, that
seem to have no limit to their greed
and heed no resistance except organi
zation. That this is understood and
recognized by the masses is evinced
by the avidity with which they en-
brace an opportunity to unite with the
and this should 6e care
fully noted as an Indication Of the re-
sponsibility resting on this body
TO provide such laws and rules
within the order. as will insure
@ it's members the benefits of enlight-
ened cooperation in fact; and such |
laws as will assist them in acting as
\ unit to resist the encroachments of
organized power.
Questions of great delicacy and i'm
portance will be presented to this body
for solution and unfortunately the
limited time that the majority will
probably agree to stay may render a
proper consideration and discussion of |
Ill the subjects impossible. 1t is,
therefore, suggested that you try to
get all the business presented to the
body on the first day and referred to
.he committees; that the committees
be made small and expected to work /
and report promptly. So great an
amount of work as you have before
you must necessarily be done largely
by committees, unless much time is
in its eyec11tiOn