The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1897-12-22
FARMERS ON THE RIGHT TRACK.

The American Cotton Growers Protec-
tive Association recently in session at
Memphis, Tenn. adopted the following
resolutions:
1.-THE object Of this association shall be
10 educate the otton-growers of America
as to their rights and duties and TO devise
ways and means for the improvement OF
their condition. In order TO carry out the
principles Of the association we shall
strive by the thorough organization Of all
the cotton-growing States. counties and
districts to unite all growers in an earnest
effort to reduce the acreage Of cotton each
year TO such a point as will insure a fair
average price to every grower. This or
ganization will take no part in national.
State or local politics and will permit no
persons to use it for personal advance
mer.t or purely political purposes.
This association shall aim above all
things TO teach the American cotton
grower:
'First-To reduce the cost of the pro-
duction OF cotton.
"Second--To practice the principles Of
thrift and economy which shall enable
him to escape debt and make his cotton
a real money crop.
"Third-To make all his own supplies al
home to the end that the crop when pro-
duced may be all his own.
"Fourth-To hold his crop each year
until he can sell 1t to the best advantage
"Fifth-To build factories for manufac-
turing cotton near the cotton fields, so
that the South may receive the largest
returns from each annual cotton crop,
and that home markets may be built UP
for other farm products"
Here is good sense at last and II the
cotton growers OF the South will all unite
earnestly ard honestly in this movement.
the condition OF the farmer will undoubt-
edly be benefited.
We are gratiied to note that these reso-
buttons are a complete vindication of the
position which The Times has occupied
on this question. We have stoutly main
10y rules which no makes for himself
rather than by laws which the govern
ment makes for him. We have stoutly
maintained that the farmer is TO receive
his benefits by attending to his own af-
fairs, by hard work and intelligent con-
duct of his farming operations, rather
than by dabbling into politics.
Because we have said this some of our
esteemed contemporaries in the rural dis
tricts have conceived the idea that we
are opposed to the farmer In politics
Never a greater error. The farmers or
this country are the backbone and sinew
OF the land and we love 10 see them inter
ested in their country's affairs. Il is the
duty OF every farmer TO take part in
political conventions, TO vote at every
election and TO lend his valuable aid in
putting the best mel. in the Office and in
framing the laws by which the country
is governed.
But we have said and we stu say that
when farmers organize themselves for the
purpose of getting special legislation
which shall help them to make money at
the expense OF somebody else. they are
departing from the cardinal principles of
Democracy and will always coma short
OF the benefit anticipated.
And this is clearly the view taken by
the American Cotton Growers Associa-
ton. This association sets out with the
declaration that It will take no part as
an. organization in national, State or ls-
cal politics, and will permit no person to
use It for personal advancement or poll
tlcal purposes. Very good for the start.
Having eschewed politics the association
declares that it will endeavor to organize
the farmers into a movement whose OBJ
ject is first TO reduce the cost of produc-
ton OF cotton: second. 10 practice the
principles OF thrift and economy; third,
to make their own supplies at home;
fourth, TO hold their crops until they car
sell 10 advantage: and fifth, 10 aid in
the development OF the cotton manufac-
turing industry.
We congratulate the farmers OF the
South upon this sensible movement. this
healthy business like organization. II