The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1898-12-20
HOW DO YOU STAND ON THE
SEOE FACTORY QUESTION:
Bro Parker Writes an Interesting Letter
on Alliance Masters.

Bro Parker Writes an Interesting Letter
on Alliance Matters.
Correspondence Of the Progressive Farmer.
Do you want the shoe factory to con
tinue to run, or do you want it to stand
idle9 The time has arrived when yOu
must decide this question. Up to a
year ago, the responsibility of running
the factory was put on the shoulders
Of the Executive Committee. There
was a general demand from the ALI
ancemen all over the State to put the
factory to work. Almost every one
wanted shoes made at cur factory.
IG was started ann turned out its first
SHOES last J anuary-men's and women's
shoes. The cry then came up for chill
dren's ~ehOes-tha5 there were more
children to buy for than men and wo-
men. Shoes piled up on our hands,
and we shut down for the gummor
months In October we started I'D
again. / told the foreman to make up
some chlldren's shoes. He made them
go d warm shoes, such as children
need in winter. l announced through
The PROGRESSIVE FARMER thGt we
we're running again, turning out shoes
men1sshoes, WOmen's shoes and chill
dreu'S shoes The announcement seems
to have satisfied nearly every one, for
l have heard little about shoes since,
This should not be so. II you went the
factory to ruo, you must buy the out
put. There is not an Allianceman in
the State who has not Bought several
pairs OF shoes since the factory first
started up, and yet not one in ten has
bought shoes made at their own fac
tory. This is poor encouragement to
those Of us who are here on the grounds
with all the responsibilities of the fac
tory resting on our shoulders, and not
knowing where, nor how to turn our
shoes into money, so as to continue the
work and meet the expenses. We have
no available fund that we can fall
back on AID keep running for the
OF the thing" whether we sell shoes or
not. On the contrary, we must &c II
the shoes or shut down. This is plain
English. I leave it to the AlIiancems n
OF the State to decide the matter. IL
rests with them. II they will give
their patronage and il fuence to the
! factory, it can run. II they prefer to
patronIze other factories-Northern
and Western factories, this one will
have to close. l should exceedingly
regret to see it stop. Because a shut
ting down now, would mean a long
time standing IDLE, if indeed it yer
started up again, Hundreds have
auxiously looked forward to the time
when this factor would turn out shoes
hoping that it would be the ~forerunner
Of other manufacturing enterprises
operated by the Alliance. But the zeal
and enthusiasm seems to have died or
fed. 1t seems to me that it would be
exceedingly foolish now that we have
got to the point that we can do s2me
thing, to let the en- Verprise-die for want
OF patronage on u part. l want you
to think abJut this matter seriously,
aud ask yourself the question: Am l
doing my duty by tie shoe factory 2"
Let your ans yer be as it may, go co
your next Alliance meeting ard bring
this Question up and impress on each
memOer the Importance OF doing some
thing at once
If the Alliance has not met in some
time, visit those VINO were formerly
members and get them to come to