The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1889-04-25

he aid not do what Thomas Turner said,
And straightwsy "Mudn became this pilgrim Q
name,
Ibecome so heartsick sometimes over
my trials that often think if could live
my life over again would not take up
the profession of farmer; but we cannot
shape our destiny; as the tree falls 80 must
it lie, so l must press onward IN my
perilous, but noble work, and
| If fall, shall fall
blessed martyr, and 1 shall sue for heavy
damages.
Amid all of my difficulties have hun
dreds of sympathlzing friends who are
always ready to comfort me.
All of the farmers of the state depart
ment, from the governor down to the por-
tiers, send me words of encouragement and
cheering messages, substantially of the
following nature: $50 on Shudad in your
noble crusade against injustice and OPP
preston. In your agricultural warfare
you will doubtless meet with many sad re-
verses and some mighty bad whisky, but
don't get discouraged. Drive away sor-
row and the buffalo gnats, and remember
the battle is not to the strong nor the race
to the swift, but to the fellow who manipu-
lates the primaries and sets up the beer,
and the same will never be left in the
soup" l am also much encouraged
by letter from Hardeman
county, written by friend who
resides in this city, but who is now on
visit to his ranch.
He says that the farmers all through
that country have been greatly benefited
by my advice and experience, and are
anxious that should visit their section
and make some experiments with Pearl
barley on their soil; that all the farmers
are oultivating lye hominy, and some of
the fields are already white and in another
month will be ready for the reaper.
Should go, he assures me that shall
be treated with unwon:ed courtesy and
excellent Bourbon. That settles it, as
Dick Hubbard said when he heard of Har-
rison's election, and, like Dick, Pm 60
ing.
The next letter 1 lay before you is
signed "Albert Crenshaw," and dated
Georgetown"
The writer represents himself as a
grocer, but the letter will speak for it
self:
| GEoRGETowN, Tex, April 8, 1889.
Hon. "Shudad the Bilhite," Austin:
Dear Sir-The "Grocers' Association
at the last meeting of the body, passed
resolutions condemnatory of your pro.
scriptive policy and requested me as their
secretary to confer with you at length,
and, mutual concessions being made, as
certain if amicable relations could not be
established between yourself and the
Grooers' association of Williamson county
of which am secretary. The first thing
we complain of is this: You have, not
only by precept and example, induced the
farmers of Texas to raise their own Pear
Barley and lye hominy, but you have also
persuaded them to plant crops of oat
meal, pearl grits, canned tomatoes and
other goods, all of which we handle
and which we are prepared
to sell cheaper than the farmer
can possibly raise them. The mere article
of starch you have induced the
farmers to raise will not keep like thai
planted and grown in st. Louis. So, a few
weeks after harvesting, the misguided
farmers of this section are left with lot
of rotten corn-starch on their hands, thai
even a Chinaman could not use. You are
certainly aware of this, yet you strive tC
get the wooden-headed farmer to raise
everything from bile bean to a base bal
bat. Until your advent, the farmer Dough,
Pearl grits and canned goods of al
descriptions from the grocer. But under
your teaching the farmer tries to raise al
these himself, which results in no material
benefit to his lown pocket, yet greatly in
jures ours, and if you still persist in your
chimerical policy, the grocers will BIZ
driven out of business through loss Of
their customers, and the farmer
will reap no advantage. You cannot fail
to see the truth of this argument, and il
you are lover of Justice you will at once
ce ase this selfish crusade in behalf of the
farmer and strive to repair the mischief
you have already done. Thus the entente
cordiale between the grocer and the
farmer will be restored through your Of
forts, and the people of Williamson will
ever hold you in dear remembrance
Why should you financially ruin US in ex
perimenting with the farmer? Have we
ever injured you or yours? If not, by
what rule of truth or justice can you e1
cuse your own conduct In your lectures
why do you indulge in such vain rodo
montade about the lovely, simple life OF
the farmer, when he don't wash his face
till the presiding elder comes around, and
his feet, in the summer time, smell like a
hunk of Limburger cheeseP Your actions
resemble more those of a Don Quixote
than those of Martin Luther in creating
a reformation and in redressing the
fancied wrongs of people. In
the name of God, what are you con.
tinually ranting about the poor farmer
forH He is we'll enough off if you will
only let him alone. You call him the bone
and sinew of the land! If he is, he can
take care of himself, and why the Devil
don't you let him alone? 1t makes me
mad to think of it.
Besides, don't we grocers run him half
the year, and sometimes carry him longer
But it is no use to multiply words any
further. If you are open to reason there
will be no trouble; if not, you must abide
the consequences. Here is our ultima
tum: Cease from encouraging the
farmers to raise their groceries at home,
virtually boycotting us, or we will see
what the next session of the legislature
can do with your case. You understand
me. Self-preservation is the first law of
nature, and as Williamson county is poor
enough already, her mainstay, the
grocers, must not be ruined.
Verbum sapientibus est salts. We shall
be glad to hear from you at once. am
very respectfully, ETC.,