The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1899-09-24
AN ADDRESS.

10 the FARMERS ana III OG11leT MSUFDeTS
of the Farmers Almance in North
Carolina:
Feeling that the time has come for a
general revival and reorganization of
the Alliance in this State, the under
signed were, at the recent session of
the North Carolina State Alliance, APP
pointed a committee to draft an adj
dress to the farmers of the State.
mis- is an epoch of organization and
cooperation. The class that remains
unorganized is at the mercy of those
united in organization. Eleven years
ago the farmers of North Carolina, re-
alizing this fact, joined hands in all
enort to promote their interests 'men-
tally, morally, socially and financially"
When the jute bagging trust attempted
to oppress us, the farmers defeated it and
it was glad to sell its product at the old
price or for less. We could deal with
any trust now existing as VIE did with
the jute bagging trust, if we had the
same united cooperation of the farmers
of the country.
The social condition of the farmers ard
the period of neighborly good feeling for
and association with each other which
the history of the State Families that
had lived near each other for years be-
came acquainted, lmfayorable opinions
o. ne3ghbors were found on ucquaint-
ance to be mfOunded and their worth
learned and appreciated. The people by
associating together and by exchange of
ideas were benefited in their business
in all departments. BY cooperation The
100 per cent for a few m0ntlhs credit
was destroyed and needed supplies
bought at reasonable prices for cash or
E.good security.
The different state of feeling now OK
listing among the farmers was OCCASION
cd to some extent by difference Of opin-
ion on political questions. The meT
chants bankers, railroaders, mill mel,
lawyers, etc, have organizations to pro-
mote the interests of their respective
lines of business When their assemblies
convene no one is made to feel lmlcCm-
| Portable ON account of a difference of
| political views, hut THEM consideration
is directed to the advancement Of the
business in which they have a common
interest. Why should it mot be SO with
the farmers? Is there anything beneficial
gained by rejecting the example given us
by the wild horses ON the Western plains,
which, wheut attacked, turn their heads
together and use their heels upon their
enenies, and in initiating the conduct of
an animal that has neither
pride OF ancestry nor hope Of
| posterity," turning out ears fun
| length to our enemies and using
our heels upon each other? The evil of
Az. Il Io
Alliance has determined that the pled.;,
that a members religious and political
views shall not be in amy way interior
ed with shall be strictly enforced.
| AS to the course of our organ, The
| Progressive Farmer, we are assured by
| the Business manager and the Editor
of the paper that it shall be AN in,lepend-
| ent unmuZzled farmers and Alliance
| journal and while it will unhesitat ugly
commend the right and fearlessly CON
| dednm the wrong it shall be done US TO
! the matter in question per Sc without re-
! ference to the political party advocating
| it.
! And financially the Alliance is in q
| healthy state. Although sorne mn stakes
have been made, our Executive Commit
tee and Business Agency have straight
emed out our business and we now have
over 100000 i'm North Carolina 1 per
cent. bonds and cash, besides our prop
| erty at Headquarters near Hmlsbor1.
,1Ae Alliance also owns the shoe factory
machinery, costing over 100000 an ];
the building in which it is located all
unencumbered. This property, security
and machinery is for the benefit of all,
new as fell as old members
| Evidences that the farmers are awak-
cning to the benefits of such AN organizd-
| tion as the Alliance should be and
would be to them, come to us from many
sections of the State. We anticipate Il
considerable revival in the near future
There We're other causes than political
rancor which have been injurious TO the
Order. among them the membership Of
unworthy men. During the first year or
so of the Alliance few except good men
were admitted, and that One was am Al
lianceman was generally evidence that
no was "A trustworthy person, but as the
greed for membership grew NEARLY every
one who applied was admitted, and many
bad members We're received The con-
duct of some of these in business mat
ters caused many good Advancement TO
quit the Order for their own personal
protection.
In reorganization there should be vigil
ance as to the reception of members.
The Committee ON Examination should
examine carefully, and the Alliance be
protected from the entrance of unworthy
members, who would be of no benefit and
whose membership would prevent desir-
able persons from joining
The N. C. T.. S. Alliance has for the
present severed its connection with the
National Order, and is governed only by