The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1889-09-03
.T1ME FOR COOL, DELIBERATE
ACTION.

NftE Struggle Cu0 COGIOH
farmers of the South and the
jute bagging trust involves issues of
the greatest moment to the farmers
and will have an important bearing
on the industrial development and
commercial power of the South. The
triumph of the farmers will mean the
triumph of right over might; it will
mean that there is yet among the peo-
pie sufficient patriotism and manhood
to resist and defy the arrogant as
sumptions of monopoly and money
lords, and to stand by the great and
eternal principles Of justice upon.
which the rights of the citizen are
founded; it will mean that the pro-
ducers of the great commercial crop
of the world should, and will have
some of the profits of that crop; it will
mean that the South will hereafter
keep the $4,000, 600 at home which
il has annually sent abroad for bag
ging; it will mean hundreds of South
ern mills and thousands of Southern
operatives manufacturing so, 600, 900
yards of bagging and consuming an
nually over 100, 900 bales of Southern
cotton; it will mean an annual saving
of $4,000, 600 in tare which has
hitherto been flched from the farm
ers; it will mean rapid steps forward
IN our industrial progress, when we
shall hear the musicalhu of spindles
Ginning in with the CHEEKY morning
song of the negro cotton picker, and
shall see hundreds of thousands of
bales of spun cotton. instead of raaO
cotton, shipped from our villages and
towns. But better and greater than
all, it will mean that the American
farmer has rights, sacred and ~inalien-
able rights, which he has the courage
and manhood to defend, and scarcely
less important, it will demonstrate to
him the great power of organized, CO.
operative action.
1t is safe to say that at least one
half of the entire cotton crop is In the
hands of the members of the Farmers
Alliance. They are determined to 06ol-
ah the use efJute and substitute cotton.
bGgging.
CAN THEY DO TIP
Let us examine the situation. We
already have in sight sufic.en cotton
bagging to cover over 3, 900, 900 bales,
and mills are constantly coming to-
tie rescue. So that by the end of the.
year we shall be able ID have 4,0OO,-
900 bales wrapped in cotton bagging.
AL the leading American exchanges
have given US. friendly encourage,
ment. A meeting of their represen-
tatives will be held in New Orleans.
On the 18th inst. to see if they can
agree on a uniform method of adjust.
ment of the difference in tare. The
New Orleans Exchange proposes
what should have been done years
ago) that all cotton shall be sold at
net weight, allowing five per cent. off
gross weight for -tare on j~ute-coyered
bales and 81 per cent. off for tare on.
cotton covered bales. That exchange
says in its circular, that "the popular
idea that the farmer is selling the
bagging and ties for the same price
that he is selling his cotton, is only a
simple delusion.n The simple and
square proposition to correct this long
standing wrong by adopting a fair
and equitable tare for the covering
used, viii meet the approval of all
fair.minded men. A measure SO just,
cannot fail of adoption. This done
and iute and cotton covering will be
placed squarely on their merit; tc
each will be accorded "a fair field
and an equal chance This is all the
Alliance asks, and it is gratifed te
know that this just demand is met sc
readily by home exchanges enG
mas the hearty sanction of our Score