The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1889-02-12
ALLIANCE LETTER FROM vIR-
GINA.
FoREsr ALLIANoE, No. 10,

January 70, 1889.
Col. T.. L. PoLK.-Dear Sir Our
Alliance having appointed me to write
q communication for The PROGRESSIVE
FARMER, the adopted organ of the
State Farmers Alliance of Virginia,
/ concluded to pen you a brief COM
municatien and show you what a mis-
take they made when they appointed
me to discharge that duty. | know
my weakness, but / always try to do
my duty.
We have been pleased recently to
learn that our order is getting a little
more strength in the old Common
wealth. Virginians, you know, are
slow to take hold of new things. L
believe we are over-cautious; it would
be better for us If we would try to
keep up a little nearer the head of the
column of progress. l feel very sure
it would be better for the farmers and
laboring classif they would fall rapidly
into the ranks of the Farmers ALI
ance, and thus help to push on the
glorious cause of the producers and
feeders of the world. Unfortunately
for this part of our State, we have
many persons who are p~rejudiced
against secret organizations, which
prejudice originated long since when
Masonry was the pri~ncipaIsecret order,
if not the only one, and which was
intensified when the Sons of Temper
ance, Odd Fellows and later the
Patrons of Husbandry, or Changers
as they are termed, all of which were
and are good orders in their way,
made their appearance; but | sincerely
hope the Farmers Alliance is destined
to accomplish more for ourcommunity
at large than any of the orders men
toned, and the greatest impeachment
to lis accomplishing its ultimate and
great results, is the difficulty of getting
those who are eligible for membership
to see what is best for their own in
terest, and satisfy them that there is
no deception in the purposes of the
order, and that ait has come to stay"
The Patrons of Husbandry had a
short existence in this country. Your
correspondent tried to effect an organ
ization in this vicinity, but before
anything could be, or was done in that
direction, some of the Oranges in the
county disbanded, owing, as | learned,
to a disposition manifested by some
to "rule the roost." We have with
us, too, a religious denomination COM
posed of many of u wealthiest and
most influential men, who are vir-
ulently opposed to all secret organiza-
tions, but who admit that there is a
necessity of something being done like
that which the Alliance is aiming at.
We are gratifed to be assured that
our State Business Agent has made
satisfactory arrangements with a
mandatory of fertilizers by which
we expect to get . good fertilizer r.
p Pc co. crafty 1Cwar tIzT W
nave been paying for i similar grade
of goods. He has also made arrange
ments for the purchase of a controlling
interest in a mandatory of farming
implements, which if it is consumated
will enable Alliance men to get
their ploughs, &C., much cheaper than
we have been paying for them by dis
pensing with the "middlemen."
Our State Business Agent has been
indefatigable in his efforts to do all
that lies in his power to accomplish
good for his brethren. Much de-
ponds upon the energy and business
qualifications of County and State
Agents and much depends upon the
efforts of each Individual member to
make the order a grand success.
When and how can the proceedings
of the last meeting of the National
Alliance be procured 3?
Perhaps to continue my commuica-
ton will be occupying too much space
in your valuable paper, should you
think it worth publishing; therefore,
wishing TIE PROGRESSIVE FARMER, its
publishers and the Alliance complete
success, l am,
Fraternally yours,
MILTON TAYLOR, Pres't,