The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1894-08-28
VIRGINIA STATE ALLIANCE.

President Winston's Annual Address -
He Discusses the State and National
characterization of the Order
in the State.
Especial to Richmond Times)
LYNCHBURG, Va, Aug. 81.
The annual convention of the Vir
ginia State Farmers Alliance met at
the Arlington Hotel, in this city, to
day. DR.. L. B. Winston, of Hanover,
President, presided over the meeting.
The only business transacted to day
was the reading Of the Presidents re-
port.
The report is as follows:
To the Officers and Delegates of the
Virginia State Farmers Alliance:
THE PRESIDENT s ADDRESS.
1t becomes my duty to render to you
an account of my stewardship during
the past year, and to make such sug-
gestions for your consideration as, in
my Judgment, would promote the pros
perity of UT Order.
At t. beginning of my term of office,
the treasury was depleted all the gen
eral funds of the Order, as well as the
funds belonging to the lecture system,
having been used for the purpose OF
defraying the expenses of the delegates
to the last State meeting, For this
reason, it was impossible, up to a few
months ago, for the State Lecturer to
carry on his work; and when our
finances would admit, sickness in his
family prevented him from leaving
home; consequently, l have been I'm
able to make the lecture system an
effective feature of our Order. I am
happy to state, however, that there is
now to it's credit sufficient funds to
push with vigort the work in this depart
ment, and if used with judgment, lam
satisfied that most gratifying results
will follow.
THE FINANCES.
The general financial condition IF the
of the State Alliance, considering the
peculiar and trying circumstances with
which We have been surrounded dur
ing the past year or more, is particu
larly pleasing. The credit for this is
due the Executive Committee, who
have discharged their duty faithfully,
and with marked ability. For q de-
tailed statement in regard to the
finances of the Order, I would refer
you to the report of the Secretary
Treasurer.
There is at present manifested
throughout the State an interest in the
Order which is specially encouraging,
and a large number of members, who
withdrew from the organization for
various reasons, evince a disposition to
rally around the flag" again. In fact,
in many places they r already doing
so, and l am gratiied to be able to
state that in my own county the County
Alliance has been re organized under
very favorable circumstances, and
with a determination on the part of
the members to push forward the work
of the Order with energy and vim. The
Importance of the farmers organiza
ton is SO manifest that it may seem to
some to be almost unnecessary for me
to say anything on that subject, but I
am satisfied a large number of our citi-
zzns fail to appreciate its necessity.
OTHER ORGANIZATIONS.
Every profession and trade is to day
more or less thoroughly organized,
and where those organizations have
been conducted In a conservative man
ner and with a due regard for the
rights Of others, benefits-decided bene-
q s-have unquestionably followed To
all organizations whose object is the
4 O1ON C4SAOL4 III 4SdA2 SAIAACl1SIl1p, dA4N
and the prosperity of the American
laborer, the farmer wishes God speed;
but on the other hand, where organiza-
tions, under whatever name, disregard
law and order, or by the concentration
of capital so influence legislation as to
give rise to trusts and monopolies, they
should be looked upon as enemies Of
our cOuamon country and dangerous to
our very civilization, and against such
the farmers cannot organize too
strongly.
Surrounded, as we are, by the evils
arising from Iawlessness, which in
many sections of the Union almost
amount to anarchy, and from the bur-
dens imposed upon us by the formation
of trusts and monopolies, it becomes
our duty as citizens to strengthen our
organization so as to aid in perpetual
ing republican principles and estab
fishing equal rights to all and special
privileges to none"
But these are not the only reasons
why farmers should organize. Tilling
the soil ceased to be a remunerative
occupation, even to those whose skill
and energy are uuqUestioned, and who
practice the strictest economy. If the
Improbable prices for farm products
is the result of the well known law of
supply and demand, which / seriously
question, the destiny of the farmer is
in the hands of a higher power than
man, and there is nothing for him to
do, except to adapt himself as best he