The Banner-Democrat. [volume] (Lake Providence, East Carroll Parish, La.) 1892-current, 1898-12-10
HOWARD. La, Nov. 9, 1898

HOWARD. La, Nov. 9, 1898.
Hon. F. l.. Maxwell. President of the
Cotton Growers Union:
My Dear Sir-Your favor appoint
| ing me vice. president for the state OF
Louisiana of the Cotton Growers Union
| is before me. accept the trust and
thank you for the honor; also for the
confidence manifested in your letter
conveying said appointment. In ac-
cepting this office do so with full
knowledge of the responsibility resting
upon me in the discharge of my duties.
| also recognize the herculean task the
| Cotton Growers Union have before
them to bringing order out OF chaos,
in returning the cotton planter aud
cotton farmer to that era of prosperity
they formerly enjoyed. The absorb
Ing. question is, can we do it, and how
is it to be done? 1t can be done and
there is a way to do it. the result of
which cap be couched in four words /:
..Be true to ourselves"
! The skeptical laugh and ridicule the
idea of farmers standing together and
being true to themselves If the skep-
tics are right, then we should bear the
cross we are now carrying and contin-
tinue to be hewers of wood and draw
ers of water until our diving day. do
not indorse the skeptics. know the
farmers of this broad land and they are
true men. They are as steadfast in
their integrity and in their loyalty as
any set OF people on Gods green earth.
They are the foundation stones of this
American government. Their valor
on the fields of battle and their wisdom
i'm the halls of state will contribute
and does contribute to some of the
brightest pages of American history
1t is false when men say that farmers
will not stand together. What they
want is steadfast and systematic organ-
ization of government in which they
will have confidence and that will
bring results which rebound TO their
individual as well as their general
prosperity, and. my word for 1t. They
will stand together and uphold that
government with as much honor and
fidelity as they now enjoy in protect.
ing the flag of their country.
I, Can we bring about this system Of
governments say yes! 1t is not GO
ing to be easily done. The Cotton
Planters Association up to this hour
has amounted to nau2ht. Delegation;
have met at Atlanta, Memphis and
other places, but they have vertualIy
accomplished nothing. And whyi
Because they have simply '.resoluted,
adjourned and went home and left it tc
} the farmer to read Their resolutions ant
act accordingly. without any system
concer: of action, or government tc
protect the people who make the cot
, ton. Their work has been force. L
{ is time for all this thing to stop. ant
for us to follow different path of pros
perity-to get $40 or $50 per bale fol
cotton instead of $20--and to establish
: cotton manufactures in our own south
, land instead of shipping the raw ma
terial thousands Of miles away from
us, to be returned in cloth at doubl,
3 freight rates. We can correct all o
these evils if we right about face anC
pursue different lines based on a thor
/ ough system Of government and fxe,
laws.
Ii is going to take brains, energy ant
D money to do this. If we succeed, W,
e make the south what her resources ant
/, position entitle her to be-the riches
and most prosperous country under thu
!, sun.
: How is this universe runp BY as ys
: tenn of laws and government fixed by
the Creator. How is all of Europ,
: runp By fixed laws of government
r How is our great country run? B,
D fixed laws of government. How are til,
great banking and railroad interest
runP BY a combination and fixed law
T of government. How arc all the grea
2 monopolies Of tins country run? B,
! close corporations who have and liv'
up to fixed laws of government. How
3 are the Scotch and English syndicates
IL -.