The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1889-07-18
VIII They Stick

Since the action oftbe State Alliance
in the adoption CT cotton bagging, and
especially since Tie committee contracted
70! its manufacture, it has been q matter
of frequen. remark, that farmers would
decline to use cotton Sagging, Oh purely
business principles. 1t is belicTeA that
the jutc combination will reduce lhep
Of their product go far below the cost OF
cotton bagging, that farmers, acting in
theig cnr interest and in the practice of
needed economy, sill tu7 the jate and
leave the cotton bagging a!o2c.
1t is very plain that just such an e'ior:
will lie made, and The combination will
have the aid Of those who are to be them.
selves financially damaged by the general
use of cotton bagging. The effort will
not successful for maay reasons. First,
cotton bagging is manufactured ouly as it
is ordered the orders are filled only rs
they are accompanied with guarantee,
satisfactory to the manufacturers, that The
bagging will be taken and paid for when
delivered. One mill in Georgia has
order 70. nearly two million yards OF cot
ton bagging. Farmers, therefore, cannot,
on rure business principles, decline to use
cotton bagging, for they cannot practice
much economy, paying for cotton bagging
and then buying jute afterwards. A bet
ter reason why the effort will fail, is the
farmers have aeid they are determined 10
llae cotton bagging, even q! price above
jute. The policy ofthe combination has
been anticipated by the committee, and
the question has been submitted to every
sub. Alliance in the State. have yet TO
hear from one organization that declines
to help in the destruction Of this unholy
combination. Upon my secretary there
are piles and piles of letters on file, from
Alliances binding themselves to deter
mined effort in this overthrow. These
letters arc deliberate and determined. l
have neycr known anything from differ.
cut men and ,l:Gc!eut sections as uni
form.
Farmers sre not men TO 50 back on
their engagements and desert their prin-
ciples fer price.
They :iaye entered this fight 10 whip,
and they will 80 through, if for 20 other
reason, because they have said they would.
They have reputation. honor and interest
all at stake, and they will carefully pre-
serve them all. Reputation, because all
tho world is looking on the struggle with
great interest and some apprehension
honor, because upon their written state.
rleuts, certain engagements have been
made, which they have promised to full.
ELL; interest, because if this fight fails,
none other such will ever be undertaken,
and the agriculture ofthe country will be
given over to cormorants, trusts and COM.
binations, to the utter destruction of oEr
manhood ard our money. Everything is
hazarded upon this contest and farmers
are sure to stick.
Another reason is, farmers are getting
confidence in themselves, confidence in
each other end confidence in their power.
They have learned more of fwhat is posi-.
bic for them, in the last twelve months,
than they ever believed before in ali their
lives. They see the possibilities ofsuc-
cess under their organization and they
will carry out these purposes, not only
for their immediate interest, but for what
it secures to them in organization for at
tscks in other directions. What does it
matter if we lose seyenty.tive cents or
dollar per bale on our cotton bagglng, II
BY combination we can compel just
price for our cotton seed, and realize
additional three dollars per bale. The
little amount that farmers may lose in
the use Of cotton bagging is really not
lost, but it is an investment for the gath
ering of purpose and strength to protect
and take care of themselves.
Again, farmers are more in sympathy
with each other than ever before. They
are more inclined to counsel and help
| each other. Many farmers in Georgia
are not allowed, because ofcertaiu bust.
ness connections, to become members OF
tho Alliance. Without any expressed
obligation to the order, aud for no per-
sonalreason, except such as may be in
common with the Alliance, they will use
cotton tagging. The war is on and the
world may feel assured the farmers will
stick.-W. ]. NoRTHES, Southern CNt'
tirctor.