The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1897-01-05
TO THE BRETHREN OF Thu p, A.
& I. U. OF NORTH CAROLINA,

SAA "a @0CN
Ivey up to his neck in business. There
was never any confusion or embarrass-
ment in any of his transactions. If
such things had arisen, one smile from
that good lady of his would have dis,
persed the storm cloud and diesipated
the rising tempest. She is amiability
itself, loves everybody, hates nothing
but whiskey and tobacco, which she
regards as the veritable enemy of the
human race.
Some times Bro. Ivey would take the
early train for Durham, returning at
night; this would necessitate his hav.
ing to transact the regular routine of
work at night. It was none of my
concerns as to what business carried
him to Durham, but my duties called
me to that town also. I found that
Bro. Ivey, as our Business Agent, was
at that early date %perfecting plans to
furnish the brethren throut bout the
State with a cheaper, at the zane time
a higher grade fertilizer for the coming
year. Now, brethren, suppose there
had been no one to negotiate this mat
ter for U.S. You all know that you
would be at the mercy of the extor-
toner and the old time prices of S25 to
$50 per ton would be the figures you
would have to have to pay. Now, after
these thorough arrangements have
been made for a reliable article at g
saving of 25 to 80 per cent. to the farm
ers, will they avail themselves of
these favorable conditions worked up
by our State Bus mess Agent9 Will we
appreciate his untiring energy and
perseverance, We now have a trade
agency in this State which is the envy
and admiration of other States. A
business that required the brain work
of years. The ripe experience and
business talent of Polk, Worth, Ivey
Mewboorne, Hileman and others to
consummate. twenty-five years ago
farmers sighed for just such an arrange.
ment as we nov have at our doors
available to all. But still we see men
ou4OA6 O6 WIZ PAO4OA W PA0SO ~
orders with spectators whose business
it is to skin the people, than patronize
their own institution when every dol
lar they expend goes towards making
them more independent, Will we prove
to be so stupid, so dull, so derelict of
our own interests al to allow our
Agency to go down or even suffer for
the want of patronage and thus turn
Shylock loose upon US again9
Every ton of fertilizer sold by Jul
Business Agent and every dollars
worth of goods sold by him pays a Ger.
tain amount in the Alliance Treasury
and assists in starting the shoe factory
and tannery. Every dollar of trade
that goes through our Agents hands
benefits and helps US. Still we e
those that seem to be more interested
in others than in the welfare of their
own families-those near and dear to
them by the ties of nature. This we
cannot account for unless it is that
strange fatality that has driven people
of other countries into that state known
serfdom veritable slavery. God forbid
that such a fate should await the PEG
pie of this country. If it comes We
have no one to blame but ourselves; it
comes through own neglect.
At our last State meeting it was
shown that our Business Agent had
cleared S. 900 last year. # we would
all give him our patronage, how easy
it would be to double, treble or quad
ripple this amount. This s., 600 did
not, as some pessimist might suppose,
go into the pockets of the officers.
Every dollar was honestly accounted
for. Many Sub Alliances have gone
down simply because the members
failed to avail themselves of the bene
fits of the Business Agency. In some
cases the bond required was not easily
made. The brethren are generally
averse to asking persons of more liberal
means to sign bonds with them. In a
few cases some rascal got hold Of the
trade agency of a Sub Alliance and run
it to suit himself and gouge the breth-
rem. When such men r caught up
with they always get out and carry
with them their friends, if possible.
I will suggest a much better plan to
trade through the Agency than by
making a bond. A plan that is always
safe sound and flexible" 10 risk, no
delays and always gives satisfaction.
If you have a few dollars just deposit it
with Bro. Ivey who is under a coed
bond. You have no idea what jdst a
few dollars will enable you to do.
When you make an order and the