davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1889-12-17
FROM SAMPSON COUNTY.
HAwLEY's s sroRE, Nov. 20, 'S9.

HAwLEY's STORE, Nov. 20, 'S9.
Mr.. EDIToR:-lf you will give me
space in your valuable paper will
let the brethren know that Cedar
Hill Alliance, No. $50, is yet alive,
and stands by the true principles of
Allianceism. At our last meeting we
resolved not to patronize any trading
agent except he be authorized by the
All ance so to act. Our lodge is in
good order and may be said to be
prosperous We have seventy seven
members in good standing, and they
are of as good citizens as the county
affords. They are men eminent for
truth, honesty, good sense, morality
and religion; and, composed of such
material, of course they are as true to
the Farmers Alliance as the needle is
to the pole.
I am pleased to know that the order
is making rapid progress throughout
the State, and I am satisfied that if
the brethrea will remain steadfast and
faithful We will gain grand and
glorious victory over our enemies in
the near future, and peace, prosperity
and plenty will again smile upon our
sweet, sunny land. Our enemies have
heretofore had both ends of the rope,
while they have kept us in the middle,
but it really begins to look as if we
had slipped from them one end and
that we are now in possession of the
biggest half of the rope. There must
be no let up, and in a very short time
the procession will be gin to move in
the opposite direction
So, brethren, be encouraged; be
firm in your resolutions, never yield
an inch. Brethren, work with your
hands and work with your brains and
we will be sure to succeed.
Alliancemen, don't leave out God,
but get Him into your homes, then into
your Alliance hall; learn of Him His
will to;do and we will surely prosper
With best wishes for the success of
THE PRoaREssIvE FARMER, and the
earnest, heartfelt hope that an all wise
God will bless the Alliance in its eff
forts j. do good, am
Fraternally yours,
j. A. JACKSON, Asst Sec'y.
The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1889-12-17
ONSLOW ITEMS.
CATHARlNE LAKE, Onslow Co, N. G..
Noxy or 1000

CATHARlNE LAKE, OnSIOW 20 N. u,
Nov. 25, 1889.
Mr.. EDIToR:-It has been a long
time nee | have written anything
for your paper thinking it best to give
way for such valuable articles as come
from the pen of Old Fogy and others.
No 24l holds her own yet. We
heartily endorse the insurance feature.
Our Alliance seems to think that one
cent per head would be about right,
though we are willing to abide by the
decision of the majority One thing
do know, this small amount would
leave the most of us better off than,
we are at present. We want the
brethren throughout the State to take
hold of this matter right away. Can't
it be settled at the county meeting in
January. Our next county meeting
of the Onslow County Alliance will
be held at Catharine Lake.
Crops are at least one-third short;
lots of people won't be able to run a
crop another year; can't begin to pay
out.
The Onslow railroad is drawing all
the able bodied hands from the farm.
Should it last next year somebody's
land will rest
A heavy wind storm passed over
this section last week doing consider
able damage to houses, fences, tember
and stock.
Our lodge will send about twenty
FIVE dollars TO the agency fund soon.
| will close by saying our order is
proud of The PROGRESSIVE FARMER
and its noble editor, and we intend to
prove this by paying up our subscrip-
tion soon.
Very truly, ETC.,
JOHN THOMAS.
The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1889-12-17
FROM VANCE COUNTY.

WILLIAMSBURG, n. @.
Mr.. EDIToR:-We organized Flint
Hill Alliance, in Vance county, with
fourteen or fifteen members, about
two months ago, with thesbes men in
the community, and they are men OF
nerve and backbone. We have the
work of the Alliance at heart, and are
willing to stand by and defend its
principles unto death. Most of our
members read The PROGRESSIVE FAR
MER, and are wide awake to all ques-
tions that are being agitated by our
State organ.
We are heartily in favor of the in
sursnce policy which many of our
leading brethren are thinking and
writing about of late, and hope that
soon some plan will be formulated
that will be just and equitable. Why
not the Alliance be great insurance
company?' We are unit in standing
by our noble order in opposing mon
opolies and combines; sometimes some
of our brethren become eloquent on
the subject. We think the Alliance
next in Importance to the Church of
the living God, and God speed the
day when we shall triumph over those
who oppose US.
There is a move on the part of the
sisters to join our Alliance, which I
think is move in the right direction.
There will be ten who will join our
Alliance at the next meeting. When
we get all the farmers and working
men, with their wives and daughters,
in one solid phalanx, combines will
have to crumble.
J. A. T. SHoTwELL, Sec'y.
The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1889-12-17
FROM WATAUGA COUNTY.
Boone, N. c., Dec. 2, 1885

BOONE, N. c., Dec. 2, 1889.
Mr.. ED1ToR:-Not seeing any com,
munication in your paper relative to
the Farmers Alliance in Watauga
county, l have decided to write few
facts about the history and progress
of the work. 1'ne first two Alliances
were organized early in last April by
Bro. J. S. Davidson, of, or near, Char
lotte. He was in a hurry, and could
not remain to prosecute the work.
Last of May, without any solicitation
upon my part, but at the unanimous
request of both Alliances, I was COM
missioned organizer for the county.
AS opportunities offered l made ap-
pointments, and talked to the people
from my limited fund of Alliance in
formation, and organized five other
Alliances, making seven in al. l
then invited Bro. w. A. Graham to
visit us, make a public address, and
assist me in organizing County ALI
ance. This he did to the entire salts
foction of all, greatly enlarging my
stock of Alliance doctrine.
After the meeting of the State
Alliance in Fayetteville | was recon
missioned, and have organized seven
teen Alliances in all, making l9 in
the county, with one or two more to
organize. The smallest [ organized
was with FIVE, and the largest AZ. l
think the report of the County Secre-
tary at next meeting of the County
Alliance will show us five hundred
strong in the county, and growing
every week Possibly we have made
the same mistake that nearly all others
have made by getting in material
that ought to have been kept out.
However we have, as yet, had to sus
pend or exclude but very few, and
none have withdrawn, so far as |
know. We,need very much the visit
of a good lecturer to better inform
The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1889-12-17
FROM LINCOLN.
ALLIANCE No. 1877


North BROOK, n. c., Nov. %, '89.
Mr.. EDlToR:-Not having seen any
thing in The PROGRESSIVE FARMER
relative to the North Brook Alliance,
and at the request of our brethren, |
endeavor to send you this communi-
cation to enable all the brethren to
know what we have and are doing.
We are much behind in the great
cause of our order, out by true prin-
ciples and faithful labor we expect to
chino the ladder so long as the ALI
ance lives, (which is, we hope, for
ever) until the climax is reached.
We we're organized only one year
ago with Is members. We have con-
tinued to increase until our lodge
numbers As members who are men of
the right grit. We have contributed
by individual subscription to the busi-
ness agency fund $40. And at the
call for every Alliance to senG as
much of Treasury fund as possible,
we responded with SIS more, and to-
day our list of subscription is com
pleted by every member paying $40
additional which makes $38, with a
total to business agency fund of $53.
We hope and trust that each Alliance
may do their best and the fund will
be raised. Tnen, aud then only, can
we manage the objects for which we
are earnestly laboring.
We are glad to know our oppressors
IN q great measure have been whipped
out, and 10y our cooperation and
union we may be enabled to keep
them out.
Now, brethren, let us work in uni
son and with such men only as The
Alliance advocate We may be knit to-
gether and feel as if we are one
brotherhood, fighting the battles of
those trusts, combines and monopolies
under one national flag. We have
men who are true, strong, determined
and of pure fidelity, The enlighten.
ing, the moral and social development
OF our order is being felt throughout
the country, and in all Alliances relso-
lutions against profane swearing,
drunkenness, etc, are having its de-
sired effect.
With much love for the Alliance
and success to. The PROGRESSIVE
FARMER, | am,
Fraternally,
t. PATE jerks, Sec'y.
The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1889-12-17
FROM BLADEN COUNTY.
CoLLY, n. c.. Nov. 27. 1888

CoLLY, n. c., Nov 27, 1899
Mr. EDIToR:-I have concluded to
write you a few lines. The people
in this section are about done gather
ing crops. Corn is hardly an average,
sorgum is short, about one fourth.
A. B. Brooks, a member of our ALI
ance, made 200 gallons of syrup upon
one acre, and about 800 bushels of
corn upon five acres in Lyon Swamp,
Bladen county, and | believe his en-
tire field in the same swamp would
have gathered 40 bushels to the acre
and there are thousands of acres of the
same kind of land in this section that
can be bought at from five to ten dol
lars per acre. That being the case,
why should our young or old men
leave the State? [ was conversing
some time ago with gentleman that
had travelled through several of the
Southern States, and. he said he had
never seen any land South that would
yield moro to the acre than the Lyon
Swamp lands in Bladen county. It
is also very good for potatoes and
field peas, and if man should fail to
make his meat, occasionally, he can go
into the samps and kill bear, like
one of my neighbors did about two
weeks ago.
But, Colonel, our lands won't pro-
duce jute worth cent, for they would
not have jute bag if it was given to
them. Goodbye old friend iute, you
have been good friend but you are
controlled by the wrong company.
And now adieu, King Ju,e, we are
going next for Queen Coffee. Now,
Colonel, let all the Alliances pass a
resolution and stand to it that we will
not use coffee but once day for six
months, and the coffee trust will soon
have more coffee on hand than they
can hold, and as consequence it will
go down to ten cents a pound. Col
onel, you can just put Furman Ali.
ance down as solid on all that per-
tains to the good Of the order and es
pecially on resolutions passed by the
National and State Alliance in re
spect to combines and trusts. Breth-
ren, let us stand as firm as the rocky
mountains, and the day is not far
distant when we will be free people.
Colonel, I will send to the State
The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1889-12-17
LIFE INSURANCE AGAIN.

have noticed recently that there is
disposition among the brethren to
establish plan for life insurance for
the benefit Of the members Of the
Alliance
Now it would be very nice thing
indeed for our wives and children if
such plan could be put into success
full operation, but am OF the opinion
that it cannot be done, and I am
afraid that any attempt to turn the
Alliance into big life insurance asso.
citation would result in great injury to
the Alliance. OCher organizations
have tried the same thing, and have
not been benefited thereby, but on the
contrary some of them have been
very much crippled. notice, too,
that life insurance associations that
are formed on the assessment plan
usually fail.
If any life insurance association or
company expects to be successful their
business must be conducted in a skill
full, business like manner and they
must be backed by capital.
Now if the Alliance feels rich
enough to contribute a fund to start
with, and will only insure such candi-
dates as could be insured in any first
class insurance company, then | think
the business can be made success;
but if the brethren think Of insuring
all the aged, sick and consumptive
who now belong to the order, or Uho
matght JOIN hereafter for the benefit of the
insurance, and depend on passing the
hat around to raise the money, they
will find hat it will not work.
To shoS you the magnitude of the
undertaking: in the very paper
which contained the proposition for
each Sub-Alliance to pay 81 every
time member died, also contained,
l think eight or nine obituaries. Since
that time obituary notices have taken
up so much space that the editor of
The PROGRESSIVE FARMER has been
obliged to state that hereafter he can
only insert short notice. Now if
the average is only eight per week, it
will amount to 4l6 deaths per year.
At 81 each, every Sub-Alliance would
be taxed $4l6. Pretty heavy isn't
it2
Well one brother at least has seen
that his proposition will not do, and
so he has come to the front with a
new our, to wit: When member of
the Alliance dies each survivor shall
pay three cents for the support of the
deceased brothers family.
That sounds possible and three
cents does not seem to be very large
sum, but let US look into it little.
Suppose there are 10000 members in
the State, and suppose one in every
The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1889-12-17

B ssiness Agent soon another good
sum to swell the business agency
fund, and it is to be hoped that those
Alliances that have not contributed
anything yet will wake up to their
duty and help to raise the business
agency fund as soon as possible, for it
is certain we will then be able to get
goods just. as cheap as the largest
me reliant gets them North.
Colonel, your speech at Atlanta has
made for you lots of friends outside
of the Alliance Ct say outside) for you
have nothing bat friends in the Ali
ance.
Colonel, tell your Pitt county cor
respondent that we agree with him
when be said it was unjust and un-
constitutional to tax the whites to
educate the colored race They have
had their freedom now about twenty
four years, and if they have not ac-
cumulated anything in all this time it
is not our fault, and I for one Speak
ing, too, believe, the sentiment Of at
least eight-ninths Of the white people),
do here and now enter my protest
against that unjust aud, believe,
unconstitutional law
Long may the editor and PROGRESS
s1vE FARMER live to advance the in
terests Of the farmers and laboring
men of this country.
Fraterpally yours,
A. J. BORDEAUX, Sec'y.
The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1889-12-17

so dies each year. That will amount
to 1900 deaths, and at three cents
each will make tax of $50 to every
member of the Alliance.
The brethren either have not counted
the cost or else they have unlimited
confidence in their ability to raise
money; if the latter I would respect
fully suggest that they let the insur-
ance idea alone, and turn their atten-
tion to the State business agency
fund. 1t is upon that fund, more than
any one thing, that the success of the
Alliance depends.
ALLIANCEMAM
The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1889-12-17
,grcToRY OF FARMERS Or
D''> CARNATIONS.

sOErH CAROLINA FARMERS STATE ALLIANCE
p-..ident-Elias Carr, Old Sparta, NC.
rice-President-A. II. Hayes, Bird
town, O%ns,retarv-L. G, L. Polk, Raleigh, N. G.
Tooss1rer-J. D. Allen, Falls, N. @.
1actnrer-Thos. B. Long, Longs, n. G.
Assistant Locturer-R B. Hunter, Char
l0t5f' Cb'aplain-J. J. Scott AlfOrdsville,
n noor " Keeper-W. II. Tomlinson, Fay
stteville, N. Q.
fSsn5 Ssserpe5ant-at-Arms- s. Holt, Chalk
Level. N. @.
state Business Agent-W. H. Worth,
Raleigh, N. G.. u
Trustee Business Agency Fund-W. A.
Graham, Machpelah, N. c.
s,gcUr17E COMMITTEE OF THE NORTH CARO-
LIMA FARMERS STATE ALLIANCE.
8 B. Alexander, Chariot e, N. c.,
Chair an; J. NJ. Mewborne, Klnston N.
C.JS. Johnston, Rufin, N. Q.
orFroERs OF THE VIRGINIA STATE ALLIANCE.
President-G. T. B.rbee, Bridgewater,
Va
Vice-Pres dent-Eaj. Marin Page,
Brandon, Va. =,
Secretary-J. J. Silvey, Arnissille, Va.
Treas lrer- Isaiah Printz, Stonypan,
Va
Lecturer-J. D. Shepperson, Smithville,
Va
ant-Lecturer-P. H. Strobe, Step
hen City, Va.
Doorkeeper-B. Frank Beahen, Kim
Observation-Disclosures, G.. E. Brubaker,
Luray, Va.
Sergeant -at-Arms-Mitton Pence, For
estvile, Va,
State Business Agents. P A. Bruba-
ker, Luray, Va.
Chmn Elk. Cons. T. Brumback,
Va. Ida,
The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1889-12-17
INSURANCE "AGAIN."
RlvERDALE ALLIANCE, No. 1908,
Thurman, N. G..

Thurman, n. G.
Mr. ED1roR:-On opening my paper
last night, my eyes Immediately saw
"insurance again, by Old Hickory"
and after reading, thought is it
possible that a brother who calls
himself an Alliance man, could have
written such. cold Hickory" per-
haps has never read the 7th paragraph
on lst page of the Constitution. Per-
haps he does not remember his obliga-
ton. "Old Hickory" claims the
promise of God, "He that tilleth the
soil, verify shall be fed. I believe
there are many widows and poor
fatherless children who are not able to
till the soil The Bible commands US
to help such, and as God fearing and
God loving and Christian hearted ALI
ance men, | think it our duty to aid
the helpless and bereaved, and al
though d" Old Hickory" may be worth
lots of money, and may not need the
aid of the tramp and deadhead,"
still it is his imperative duty to aid
those of our bereaved ones, whom
death and misfortune has made desc
late. know of no better plan to aid
those in distress than some we'll con.
Quoted insurance. I do not intend
for the seat of my ats to be patched
for Incidence, and hope by the help of
God, that at my death my family will
not be paupers. Yet feel like we
ought all to help the needy, and 1 for
one am willing to pay my pro rata to
help support the helpless. l believe
God would prosper us more if we
would give more of our means to
charitable purposes. l would say to
our brother, "Old Hickory" Come
over and help us. If you are wealthy,
we need you the more.
Yours fraternally,
GABRIEL L. HARDIsoN, Sec'y.
The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1889-12-17
THE UBIQUITOUS TOBACCO
y TRUST.
What Shall we do About It7

- MIDDLEBURG ALLIANCE, No. 492.
Mr.. EDIToR:-It may we'll be asked
what we are to do in regard to the
tobacco trust. 1t behooves every
grower of toba;co to commence think
ing what action should be taken in
order to defeat their object. That
action, immediate and decisive, is
necessary, no one can for a moment
doubt. Then, brethren, what shall
that action be? We all know with
what success the united action of our
grand order has been crowned in the
fight with the jute trust. Now, to
my mind, the present trust on tobacco
can be much more easily, quickly and
effectively put down than the one
which has been so successfully de-
teated. But some brother, perhaps,
will ask how is it to be done? Well,
nT object in writing this is to put
every one to thinking, and let US see
whether or not some one, or all of us
together, cannot devise some plan by
which the desired end can be accom-
phshed. Violent diseases require
prompt and decisive treatment. Then
let US commence at the root of this
matter and see whether or not we can
discover the necessary remedy and
then apply it as vigorously as possible.
10 begin at the beginning, suppose
every Allianceman constitute himself
committee of one, whose immediate
and urgent duty it is to go to work
and try to induce every man in his
vicinity, who is outside the Alliance,
70 JOIN forthwith, and urge all who
cannot join to act in concert with us,
Ior 1t cannot but be evident to the
FULLEST mind that all, whether in or
out OF the order, are equally interested
ID tne matter. This being done, let
teVery Alliance within the bright to.
oacco belt, and indeed in the whole
country, call meeting at the earliest
ame practicable and proceed on the
{ !ollowlng or some similar and equally
u ueclSlVe plan, viz: Draw up a pream.
Ole setting forth the grievances we
wish redressed, and such a set of reso.
9uons as is necessary to the accom-.
Pnshment OF that end; resolutions not
merely to be resolved and dropped
without further thought las fear is
700 often the CASEY but to be vigorous
@d perslstently pushed. Something
VI instance, similar to the following;
WHEREAS, 1t has come to our
taoW!edge that certain parties have
.Ormed themselves into what is known
Is trust, with capital of sos, 900.
ssuO, for the purpose of crushinp ont
Alr and open competition, and threaten
70 boycott all buyers who dare hid
against them, and that in the verv
@eth of the law forbidding such com.
O1ahons, therefore it, by this Alliace
ResOlOed, That we will not under
any circumstances, knowingly, allow
e1ny member of said trust, or any Of
saelf servile agents, to buy our tobacco
- any price whatever.
The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1889-12-17
AN ERROR.

The notions which so closely con.
meet the invention and application of
machinery with the non employment
of labor are among the results of a
want of knowledge most devoutly to
be deprecated.
Gould the machinery of this coun-
try be by one stroke of giant arm
annihilated, what tongue can tell the
results, the tremendous results, of
misery that would instantly be realized2
No siege of city, however protracted;
no war, however bloody and desolat-
ing; no revolution, however wild and
ferocious, has ever shown parallel
for the misery that would instantly
descend upon the heads Of millions,
could any such idea be realized. The
means, not onl ly of clothing but of
food and migration, would instantly
fail US; we should be shut up from the
result of the world; we should be re-
duced into state in which it would
not be strange if even cannioalism
were to ensue. The hostility to ma
'chinery, Co be consistent, must be uni
versal. Each class of workmen has
the same right; and if the agricultu
raj laborer be justifable in destroying
the threshing machine, the weaver has
a right to destroy the power loom; the
printers pressman would be right In
DESTROYING the steam press; and so,
throughout the whole compass Of SO
ciety we shoul be thrown back into
a stat of privAt.on, helplessness, and
utter barbali>ln.-N r Ledger,
u;rt,,o o,d bo,o, ora moro valuobla
The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1889-12-17

Virtue and houor are more valuable
than gold and diamonds
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-04-24
Constituting "a Pension Act.

Commissioner of Pensions Tanner announces
that the following principles will be adhered to
in the construction of the act of August f. 1886,
granting pension of go per month for the
loss of hand or foot or the total disability of
the same:
First. Whenever disability exists by reason
of wound, injury or disease below the elbow or
knee. in degree sufficient to debar a claimant
from using the hand or foot in the perform
ance of ordinary manual labor, total disability
In that hand or foot will be assumed TO exist
Second. Whenever a disability exists by rea-
son of wound, injury or disease in any part OF
the affected member, in a degree sufficient to
render that member useless III the performance
of ordinary manual labor. total disability OF
arm or leg will be assumed to exist.
Third. In case the hand or foot is totally dis
abled under the construction given above, by
reason of wound. injury or disease located at OF
above the elbow or knee joint it shall be held
that total disability of the whole limb exists
and rating allowed accordingly.
BY ordinary manual labor" in the above
ruling Is meant such work as is commonly
done by day-laborers in the ordinary acceptance
of that term.
The same construction will also be applied to
the provision Of the act granting pension OF
$50 per month to those losing either arm at OF
above the elbow or a leg above the knee OF
who have been totally disabled in the same.