The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1889-07-09

Se0u went up 70 rs Genus b00E0 was
competition. When the trust was
formed the price came down to 16
cents, but the manufactured goods re-
manned the same. In other words,
the farmers were being robbed at the
rate OF Z cents on every bushel of cot
ton seed manufactured, the loss being
many hundreds of thousands of dol
lars since the trust was formed. The
trust men got every cent. Is there a
man in North Carolina that will not
rejoice that this gang of thieves have
at last been SO badly crippled in their
persistent roguery that a new role
must be assumed The trust has
robbed the cotton -raisers of more
money in this way than it has cost
to organize and run the Alliance
since in began. Il. we were to disor-
ganize to-day, it could not be truthful
ly said that any of the trouble had
been for nothing, but this would have
gone on for years and years and the
robbers would have become even
worse.
Another gigantic force has been
after our Southern people: the much.
talked-o jute bagging trust. 1t is so
well known that l would not refer to
it here but for the stupendous interests
involved-not for what it has been or
is, but for what it might have been and
what it wtU be. An uncalIed for ad-
vance of 6 cents per yard was made
last season, and our farmers fought it
valiantly. They did so well and used
SO many substitutes, that the trust
made no money. Mr.. Gratz, who, if
reports be true, must be about as i'm
pudent as Satan himself, stated before
the investigating committee of the
United States Senate, "that he
would not attempt any explanation of
the reasons for the advance more than
that the trust men expected to make
millions of dollars out of it; that they
failed to make any money last year,
but that they were better prepared for
another campaign and that the farm.
ers would be compelled to buy from
them" Seven million yards of cotton
bagging is now being made to fill
Alliance orders, and doubtless nine.
tenths of the present cotton crop will
be baled in other than jute bagging.
The cotton bagging this year will cost
more than the jute, but it will keep
the money in the South and encour-
age our home manufacturers. 1t will
require many thousand bales of low
grade cotton, heretofore hard to sell,
and it is hoped that the price will be
enhanced in that way. The trust ex-
pected to make $3,OOO,O 900 annually
out of the scheme. The probability
is that they will lose several millions
this year and cotton bagging may be
a substitute for jute for all time to
come, thereby breaking down the ute
business entirely. Another reason
why the Alliance has not been a fail
ure.
Many things of less magnitude have
been done, In many places co-opera-
tive stores have been started. 1t is
contrary to Alliance principles to en-
gage in mercantile pursuits extern
sively. It has only been done in q
few places in this and a number of
other Alliance States. In many coun-
ties satisfactory trade arrangements
have been made. In many others
such contracts have not yet been
made. 1t is only in such sections as
are thought to be absolutely in need
of Alliance business houses that they
have been started. In many portions
of the cotton-growing States we have
Alliance cotton-buyers. This is too
new to get in good shape, but in most
instances this has paid the farmers.
We have one tobacco factory in this
State and two tobacco warehouses.
1.-TWO factories and five warehouses
Ed. PROGRESSIVE FARMER.) There are
many small cooperative manufacture
ing concerns in operation already or
under way. All must admit that
these things r perfectly legitimate
in a free country. If the farmers
see proper to merchandise, manufac.
ture, establish cotton and tobacco
agencies or anything for their own
comfort, it is their right given by the
Constitution of the State and nation.
If they could own all such concerns
it would be nobody's business. Nc
doubt but they have been badly
treated, and if by organization they
can reform themselves first, and ther
such other people as need to be, then
the Alliance will not be in vain. Why
not without the trouble and cost o.
an organization For the same rea
son that an army must be drilled anG
Offered, 10 must the farmers have
leaders. They must be organized fol
the same reason that a boy requires
school discipline in order that he may
become a scholar. Without discipline
he would know but little and care less
that is the trouble with some farmers