The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1891-03-03
TOWNSEND CENTRE, MASS,
Success to your paper.
Fraternally,
w. M. MARTIN.
Feb. II, 1891.

100000
Feb. II, 1891.
Mr.. EDITOR:-You have not found
room for my ''screed" in papers re
ceived but see you are overwhelmed.
l have "been there" myself.
Don't send me more than one copy
except when [ request it-and then
only when you can spare them, easily.
I have circulated the extra copies, and
some who have received them have
acknowledged receipt and spoken well
of them-but I don't know that any of
them have subscribed-and that's the
main point.
I am forming a general association
for mutual help, and 1 hope we shall
grow large enough to affiliate with
your Alliance.
I am an old organizer, but have not
the energy I formerly had, and cannot
be confident of being able to insure the
success of the M. H. A. yet I have
hopes, and have, already, got nuclei of
branches in seven States, and expect to
have others in four or five more States
in a few days.
Idon't ask you to print the whole
matter of the circular-thOugh it is
mainly general matter, suitable for all
workers-NOrth or South, but perhaps
you may notice it. Don't, if it is not
convenient to do sO.)
I've got another "screed" for you
when your pressure" is not so great.
Yours fraternally,
WIN. HARRISON RILEY.
WINToN, N. G.
respectfully present the following
plan for dispOsing of the cotton crop.
to the Hartford County Farmers Ali
ance with the recommendation that if
it meets with their approval it be sub
mitted to each State Alliance in the
cotton growing States, and should it be
adopted by the different Alliances of
the whole South. [ am confident that
the cotton crop could not only be dis
posed of atmuch less cost to the farmer,
but that the price could also to a great
extent be controlled by them.
/. That the cotton States be divided
into districts as may hereafter seem
best, and that there be called a conven-
ton of all Alliances in said district.
gates from each County Alliance In the
district (and that like conventions be
held in each district at the same time,)
and after organizing they proceed to
elect one man for each cotton port, or
whenever it may seem best to locate an
agent, such agent to be known as the
Alliance cotton agent. He shall be a
member of the Farmers Alliance in
good standing and be a resident of the
port district in which he is to be To-
Gated, He is to hold the position dur
ing good behavior or so long as the
different Alliances in the district NAV
think best.
2. There shall be a committee ap-
pointed in each district known as the.
finance committee, whose duty it shall
be to make arrangements with one or.
more banks in the town OF city where.
the agency is located for the advance
ments of money on bills of lading for
cotton shipped to the agency in their
town, the arrangements to be made so
as to secure the largest possible, ad-
vance at a reasonable rate of interest.
3. The agent shall receive a commits
sion on all sales such as will in the
aggregate amount to a fair salary and
allow him to hire such help as may be
necessary to conduct the business Of
his agency. This commission to be
determined by the finance committee
of his district.
4. There shall be a meeting of the
National Alliance composing the cotton
States, and at that meeting there shall
be appointed a general supervisor of
the agencies at the different ports of
all the cotton States, his head quarters
to be at some central point. His duties
shall be to inspect, personally, the
books of each agency as often as he
may see fit and report once each year
to the finance committee, and Oftener
should he-deem it necessary. He should
also keep himself informed as to the
state OF the foreign market, and by
that regulate the amount of cotton put
upon the market each day, And should