Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1889-08-24
Southern Interstate Farmers Association.
New Orleans Times-D Democrat.

Southern Interstate Farmers Association.
New Orleans Times Democrat.
The necessity of organization among
the agricultural classes of the country
has long been recognized. This neces-
sity has led to the formation OF state and
county oranges and agricultural societies,
to the Interstate farmers association
and to the National wheel and Farmers
alliance.
The necessity of perfected organization
of this kind is now beng demonstrated
more and more, year by year, since the
formation of monopOlies and trusts tnaC
impose heavy and unjust taxation upon
the agricultural classes and seek to de-
prive them of large share of the prod
ucts and the profits Of their toll.
The industries of agriculture, the
source of a nation s wealth, have never
received proper recognition from our
government, and they have long been
made subjects of the rapacity of those
engaged in other pursuits and industries.
1t may be said that all other industries
and pursuits are dependent upon agri-
culture, and that without it commerce,
manufactures and mining would be forced
to come to final stop.
Yet all these other industries have been
organized, while the agricultural indus
tries have been carried on in q scattering
way to enrich every other interest IN the
world except themselves.
A thorough organization of agriculture
lists all over the country would certainly
result in great benefit to its millions of
farmers and planters. Thus every agri-
cultural convention held in any part of
the country must be the means of doing
good; as tending toward this complete
organization suggested.
A very important convention Of this
kind is now being held in Montgomery A,
Ala That convention is composed of
delegates from Alabama, Tennessee,
Florida, South and North Carolina, Vir-
gina, Louisiana, Texas and Arkansas.
Georgia would have large attendance
at this congress, but the convention OF
the state alliance is now being held in
that state.
AS large as the attendance of represen-
| tatives from the Southern Interstate far
| mers' association at that convention is,
| it should be far larger. There are ques-
tons which might be brought I'D and de-
! cided at that farmers congress which
affect the entire South.
One subject alone has come up for its
consideration which would warrant the
| presence of delegates from every county
| and agricultural society in the cotton
| belt This is the use of cotton bagging
! instead of jute. A final settlement of
| this question would save cotton planters
! of the South annually about So, 600, goo,
and increase their prosperity by the de-
! Yelopment of a new industry in their
! states, which would consume at home
their lower grades of cotton.
Another very important subject that it
! is investigating is even of more moment
| than the first mentioned; this is legisla-
| tive action in support of schools for
manual training and agricultural and
mechanical colleges. Scientific agricult-
ure is of the greatest value to the South.
Almost every progressive land in the
| world now applies science to its agrIcult-
ure, while IN a large part OF the South
! primitive methods prevail and the ira
ditionaI negro and mule are to the fore,
scratching a scant harvest out of soil that
should be made to TEEN with rich AND
| bounteous products.
In our public school systems, we have
our youth taught Latin, Greek and
| higher literature, fancy equipments fol
the hard battle of life; while we withhold
a knowledge of the arts and sciences
which would make them bread winners
the moment they had completed theiI
education.
IF that agricultural congress in Mont
| gomerY could keep in session month
and be attended by delegates from every
county and parish in the South, if could
not consider one-half the momentum!
questions which might come up before it
| But it can do an immense amount OF
good; and it should be attended by full
| representation from every Southern state