The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1894-11-20

that our Alliance brethren especially
are ready to think of something besides
politics, for a while at least. We don't
mean for them to take their eye off of
their servants whom they have elected
to make and execute their laws. But,
brethren, we must not forget the great
educational work before us along other
lines. You know we are try ing to in
form you, we wish to give you the
truth only, and we wish you'd watch
us as closely es you do your elected
servants, and when we go wrong tell
us plainly. We will take it kindly.
Looking into the manufacturing sta
tisticS-census returns of 189O-we dis
covered that the total value of plants
and machinery of all the shoe factories
in the country was $21, 527, 4O3, while
the net profit on one years operations
was SO, go, 932, or a net profit OF $L.68
per year on every dollar invested In
ma chinery. Of course it took other
capital to work the machinery.
Again, the total value of the product
of a years run of these factories was
1920, GAG, 358. There were 62, 1922, $50 OF
population. This makes an output OF
8, 521 per capita. This is for the whole.
nation. The population Of North Caro-
lima was 1,617, 947. Then her proper
ton of this output was 1 617, 947 times
So 525, which is S., 7O3, 1853 II which is
what the people of North Carolina pay,
at factory prices. Then remember that
the factory price is but about half the
price you pay at your store for the
goods, and you will see where you are
at.
But, again We have seen that these
factories have cleared a profit. and we
find that profit amounted to $50. 27O, 932
in one year. That year there we're
81, 622 $50 people in the United States.
This, figured out, shows the net profit
to have been So cents per capita for
whole population. North Cardinals
population, 1.617, 949, multiplied by So
cents makes the profit paid by u
State ID the So factories $938, 400. 26-
nearly a million dollars. Did you be-
lieve it,
Reports show that we have 80 900
Alliance members in North Carolina.
Each one of these thirty thousand pur-
cheses shoes for at least three people.
1t will average this at least. Then each
one is paying to a factory outside Of
the State, which takes his circulating
medium from among us 81. "a a year.
Multiply this by 10000 and the aggre-
gate you will find it to be $50, 200.
We have found that the shoes we
wear cost, at the factory, So 523 per
year, on an average, per capita; that
the factory clears a net profit Of So
cents per capita, and that if each Of
our 30 900 Alliaucemen purchases shoes
for three people on an average, then
each one pays so. 573 for shoes on
which the factory clears a net profit Of
81 "A, making the whole member
ship pay for shoes at the factory $317,-
$50, on which the factory clares a net
profit of $4,000. While we are paying
this $317,25O which goes directly to
the factory, we are paying at least an
equal amount to the middle men
through whom we re eeive the goods.
Now, brother, in all seriousness we
ask you to examine these figures with
all care. If you do not understand
them, get some one to help you. They
are simple facts, unvarnished. Tell US
in all candor, can we afford to pay
these profits to those who are stripping
us of our wealth and our means of &C
cumulating wealth, our circulating me
dunn, when by contributing and com
bining our contributions we can save
five times as much in one year as it
will cost Is to put in running order a
shoe factory that will save it to us.
You are asked for SO, 900. You have
been told what we can do with it. 1t
is for your good. There never was a
fairer proposition made to you. We
want and must have at least half of
this amount by December 1st. Your
net savings in n year will more than
double what you are expected to con-
tribute. Do not delay this longer, you
cannot afford to. Every brother who
can possibly do so should contribute a
dollar a head for the number of per-
sons he has to purchase supplies for. 1t
will more than come back to you. We
need not reiterate. The election is over
now. Make a thank offering. Make it
at once and let us get the machine ago
ing. Has your lodge taken any action
in this matter7 Blanks and circulars