People's party paper. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1891-1898, 1896-09-04
: NJ. McMICHAEL ADDRESS.
DaIivered Before the Farmers
Union at their Meeting in
Jackson.

thoughts upon the condition and
prospects of our Union, rs well as to
rive short summary 4. what has
been accomplished,
All those who were imbued with
the brotherhood spirit Of the ALI
ance have much cause for congrata-
ton upon the results, whilst those
who only went into the movement
from motives Of personal gain have
no cause for disappointment.
The organ and progress Of this
business dating back to the old ALI
ance Ware House, have demonstrate
ed through seven y ars in which po-
litioal prejudice, personal quarrels
and business rivalry have each in
turn levelled their guns sgainsnt us,
that the principle of co operation
has taken deep root in the hearts and
affections of our members and has
come to stay and will play an impor-
tant part in the future of this com
munity.
Seven years ago the Alliance Ware
House was organized without one
dollar Of capital and nothing but a
band of brave hearts united by the
ties of common interest aud believ-
ing in the brotherly principle of CO.
operation for their capital stock,
they shouldered debt Of $4,000
for the purchase Of Ware House,
it was grand sight to see that band
Of united farmers organize them
selves and easily take the front rank
in the Ware House business and in
the short spaoe Of three years accu-
INFLATED capital Of 100000, and
that by only operating the small
branch of business known as cotton
weighing. Just as we began to teel
our power, born of union and were
upon the threshold of greatest expan-
sion of business, the voice of politi-
cal prejudice was listened to and
resulted in breaking up this grand
enterprise. Out of the ashes of this
one, however, rosa Phoenix like, the
Farmers Union. Immediately, how
ever, after one years successful bust
ness the other competitive ware
house resolved upon our destruction
and entered upon a course never be-
-SaFe heard of IN jackson, Wig, Weigh
ing cotton free and cutting down the
profits on guano to absolute cost.
No one has ever doubted the object
of this crusade against us, suffice it
to say, however, that they have
signally failed and have acknowl-
edged their failure by making the
first proposition TO return to the old
Alliance ware house charges. 1t is,
however, an i'll wind that blows no
one any good. During this warfare
upon us the farmers of the whole
county are well as our members have
been recipients Of the following
amounts either in dividends or saw
ings. On the item Of weighing cot
ton in dividends $62500, free weigh
ing for the whole town the nextyears
on all the cotton $4,000, also for
the past year on cotton, $4,000;
earned by The Union but not de-
clared as dividends, $1,400.00. An
average reduction on Guano below
other communities the past two years
of S. 90 per ton on 1900 tons per
annum, making q total in divid ends
and reductions Of $22,400. This
prinoely sum of money has been
kept in the pockets of Butts county
farmers by the operations of the
Farmers Union. This is certainly
q great work to attract so little at
tention and to be done with so small
G capital.
The good work, however, has not
been confined to saving money, but
we aave been an object lesson to
others and the past year another
mutual company of farmers has been
formed in Butts county and is being
run on the same plan but confines it.
self to the guano business. Thus
have we been the humble agents
in spreading the doctrine Of cooper
alton instead of competition.
Light seems to be breaking across
the political SKY and if the finances
of our country get in better shape
we could easily expand our business