The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1899-10-17
An ADDRESS,

"SOES AGGGuTGCS GH EOTEn
Carolina:
Feeling that the time has come for q
general revival and reorganization of
the Alliance in this State, the under
signed were, at the recent session of
the North Carolina State Alliance, ap.
pointed a committee to draft an ad-
dress to the farmers of the State.
This is an epoch Of organization
and cooperation. The class that re-
mains unorgauized is at the mercy
Of those united in organic alton. E.ev-
en- years ago the farmers of North
Carolina, realizing this fact, Joined
hands in an eff )rt to promote their in
terests mentally, morally, socially
and financially" When the jute bag
glng trust attempted to Cypress us,
the farmers defeated it and it was glad
to sell it's product at the old price or
for less. We could deal with any
trust nov existing as we did with the
jute baggjng trust, if we had the same
united cooperation of the farmers Of
the country.
The social condition Of the farmers
and the period Of neighborly good feel
ing for and association with each other
which then existed has never been
equalled in the history of the St lte.
Families that had lived near each
other for years became acquainted,
untavorable opinions of neighbors were
found on acquaintance to be unfounded
and their worth learned aud appre
ciated. The people by associating to
gether and exchanging ideas were
benefited in their business in all de-
partments. By CO operation the 100
per cent. for q few months credit was
destroyed and need supplies bought
at reasonable prices for cash or good
security.
The different state of feeling now ex-
listing among the farmers was coca
stoned to some extent by differences of
opinion on political questions. The
merchants, bankers, ~railroaders, mill
men, lawyers, etc, have organizations
to promote the interests of their re
spective line OF business. When their
assemblies convene no one is made to
feel uncomfortable on account of a diff
terence of political views, but their
confederation is directed to the advance
ment Of the business in which they
have a common interest. Why should
it not be 90 with the farmers9 Is there
anything beneficial gained by rejecting
the example given US by the wild
horses on the Western plains, which,
when attacked, turn their heads to-
gether and use their heels upon their
enemies, and ia initiating the conduct
Of an animal that has neither pride
of ancestry nor hope Of posterity"
turning our ears full length to our
enemies and using our heels upon each
other4 The evil of this course is now
bearing fruit and the Alliance has de
termined that the pledge that a mem
ber's religious and political vie rs shall
not be in any way interfered with shall
be strictly enforced.
As to the course of our organ, The
Progressive Farmer, we are assured
by the business manager and the edi
tor of the paper that it shall be Sc In
dependent, unmuzzled farmers and
Alliance journal and while it will IN
hesitatingly commend the right and
f arles 5ly condemn the wrong it shall
be done as to the matter 10 question
per Sc without reference to the politi
cal party advocating it.
And financially the Alliance is In a
healthy state. Although some mis-
takes have been made, u executive
committee and business agency have
Strengthened out our business and we
now have over So, 900 in North Caro-
lima 4 per cent bonds and cash, besides
our property at Headquarters near
HilIsboro. Tne Alliance also owns the
shoe factory machinery, costing over
Sc 600 and the building in which 1t Is
located, all unencumbered. Tnis prop
erty, security end machinery is for the
benefit of all, new as we'll al old mem
bers.
Evidences that the farmers are
awaking to the benefit such an organ,
ization as the Alliance should be, and
would be to them, come to us from
many sections Of the S iate. We antlcl
pate a considerable revival in the near
future. There were other use than
political rancor which have been in
furious to the order, among them the
membership of unworthy men. Dur
ing the first year or so of the Alliance
few exceDt good neu we're admitted, |