The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1899-10-31
An Atheniau Analogy

(Athens Wide Awake Georgian,")
RIP Van Wrinkle, when he awoke
from his twenty years sleep, found that
the world had marched steadily on,
while he had not kept up with the pro-
ceSSlOn. Amusement mingles with pity
as we look upon this character of fic-
ton habited in the condition of ar age
long past. We, the people Of America,
boastful of our progressiveness, lead
ing the world in ingenious inventions,
have been as though sleeping, concern
ing n of our vital interests, and that
for a period of time in comparison with
which Rip Van Wrinkles was but $40
WlnkS" of a summer afternoon!
See the American ginner and cotton
man sending to market, year after
year, the irregular, ragged, unsightly
cotton bale, covered sometimes with
three strips. often with none, or worse
still with old, secondhand bagging,
sometimes hard, sometimes soft, occa-
sionally broken in two, but always ir-
regular. In comparison does not the
shiftless Rip seem a progressive citi-
zen?
Our consuls ait every port of the
world have e~ndeavored for years to
awaken us to our own interest and to
remove the reprOach from our system
of bailing the greatest product of the
country.
This awakening was first evidenced
by the announcement that a round bale
system had been invented by means of
which COMPRISING would be done away
with, insurance and freight rates re-
duced, and many other advantages de-
rived. Europe and America welcomed
the news and We're ready to unite to
introduce the improved system. 1t
soon developed, however, that the in
vention, with it's merits or dement's, was
not for the people. but was 10 be held
by and operated for the benefit of a
corporation which sought to monopo-
lie the entire cotton trade, to control
its movements n regulate it's prices.
Under the contract Of the corporation,
the ginner cannot own The plant; he
must lease it; must guarantee the cor
pOratiOn a certain sum; must hold all
subject to the orders of the corporation,
and give it all up whenever the cor
poration shall demand. In other words,
must put himself entirely in the hands
of the corporation.
Alluring pictures Of largely increased
business, due to advanced prices for
cotton in the round bale, were painted,
and by their attractiveness caused
MANY an unSuspecting ginner to sign
the contract and begin operating the
round bale press. Their experiences
are written with a pen mightier than
a sword, dipped in the black ink Of
disappointment.
But the writing Of the history of the
round bale has no all been dark. The
cry of disappointment has aroused cur
people to a movement, which promises
no fulfill the hopes awakened by the
glowing promises of the round bale
people. After much study and expert
ment. it has been proven that h ex-
penditure Of a few dollars is sufficient
to produce in the existing presses a
standard bale of uniform size, which
will secure for the people all of the
promised advantages claimed for the
round bale. and allow them to retain
their liberties and rights Of which the
round bale contract sought to deprive
them.
Against the millions Of money behind
the round bale system, We can only op-
pose our sound judgment and united
action. Let every ginner adopt the
standard press box, "a by "a inside
measurement, and every farmer insist
upon having his cotton packed with
only two strips (six yards) of new,
sound bagging- and u liberties are as
sured"