The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1896-07-28

look is brig htening, is indeed lncourag-
| ing. We who have been faith II should
| take on new courage. There is a bright
| future before us, there is much more
| for us to do than we ever have done.
| And the number of those in sympathy
with our objects, aims and work are
multiplying, and the field is broaden
ing daily.
There is being prepared a beautiful
banner which is to be presented at the
State meeting in 1897, to the county
which makes the best showing at the
meeting. That banner will be carried
with pride from that meeting and held
by the county winning it, only SO long
as that county stands worthy Of it. It's
to be returned to the State Alliance at
each annual meeting, then to be award
ed to the county deserving it. What
county will bear off that banner In
| 1872 in 1898? in 1892 in 1900. The
| conditions upon which the banner will
be awarded are briefly stated, about
as follows:
Taking the elligable population Ct
each county county a. the basis of u
calculations, the county making the
largest aggregate of per cent. will be
the banner county. The P )ints to be
as follows:
1. The per cent. of ellegible popu-
lation in good standing in the Order.
2 The amount per capita Of stock
held in the B. A. fund.
3 The per cent of population hold
ing stock in the B A. fund.
4 The per capita amount Of pur
chases through the B. A. except fer
tiliz are), OF population.
5. The per capita amount of pur
chases except fertilizers) of member
ship.
6 The per cent. Of increase of mem
bership during the year.
Z. Paid up subscribers to The Pro
GREssIvE FARMER.
(a) The per cent. of actual mem
bership.
(t) The per cent. OF eIlegIOle pop
ulation.
s The average attendance of mem
bers at regular Sub meetings.
9 Inc average attendance Of dele
gates at regular County meetings.
10. The county in which is origin
ated and properly formulated the best
plan for increasing, and keeping the
membership of the Order. This plan
must be adopted or endorsed by a Sub
Alliance, and then endorsed by the
County Alliance and presented to the
| State Alliance for final decision. For
this plan the county will be allowed to
add 20 the aggregate of the general
averages above. Number to be de-
cided yet.
There may be some little changes
made in these conditions, but they will
stand mainly as given above. Now
the q lestion is, what county will win
| this banner.
This announcement is made at this
time that ell may be appraised of it al the
the same time and take a running start.
Forget the past, brethren. Let every
member Of the Order now tasten his
eyes, his Imagination, upon that beau
CIiul and appropriate banner, and
run for it. Every county is a candi
date. What county will get it frst2
1t is designed to have the best Al
lance orator or it may be the Ptesi-
| cent of the United States on hand to
| deliver the banner. The meeting Of
the State Alliance in 1896, will be an
important meeting. The one in 1897
will be larger and more important.
Though small in actual membership as
compared to what it has been, the in
fuence of the Order is being felt
throughout the world, and is forcing
changes in policies. Membership will
now begin to grow again, and by the
close of this century its power cannot
Be overcome, If we are true to the
trust committed to US.