The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1899-11-14
ILIANcE AN EDUCATOR.
Miss Jennie Miller Before RO-
essay S.,,tv Farmers Alliance.

RepOF'Su ~arooabllIty this feature Of the
u ia not properly understood by
AIp n our American citiz ms, and
nSp' much discussed in the Alliance
d.. houId be l believe it is q sub
ssH that should be frequently dis
J8'' in our Subs ; and thus those
cusors Who attend the Alliance can
aontrs.e their ideas and experiences
GU n a short time learn what it might
%.ruise take yesrs to learn. / have
" 70 regret that I am not able to do
w. U-,ios TO a subject that has such an
~gnbounded territory.
Lean. at this TINA, notice only a few
points.
-.o,s ago, and then look at those who
.vs been regular attendants at the
.uisne3 meetings, and you will readily
10 that they have greatly advanced in
BUSINESS capacity and agricultural
work.
Then they scarcely knew what it took
?, make q quorum, how TO put q ques-
,i,n or even how to vote on it when it
wos nut before the house. Then they
vare subject to the bosses, believed
THAT they said, we're governed by what
,bsv commanded and did what they
ordered. But now, many of those
know nothing clod hopper farmers
know much about parliamentary rule g,
What q quorum IL, how to put a mo-
| rim, how to do business in q business
vsy. aud how to read, think, and act
for themselves. Bring up a subject
tr discussion and these farmers will
hold a hand with the bosses-tell them
what is right, correcs them when they
20 wrong and stop them when they
try to run over them. What has done
all thisR Isnswer, the Alliance school.
Ask these farmers in regard to u
government, what salary our legisla-
tors and Congressman get, and they
will answer these questions readily
and perhaps hundreds Of others Of
which they were ignorant fifteen or
twenty years ago.
And this education is not only in the
male membership of the Alliance, but
the ladies are also rapidly advancing
in business capacity; and to day they
can c~ficiate in such q way as would
formerly have thrown many Of the
gentlemen in the shade.
Then, too, the Alliance is an edu-
Fator in sociability, ~liOerality, hospit-
llity and morals. Here We learn to
Fess each other as brothers and sisters,
b 81 mpathiZs with each other In soH-
oWs and sufferings, to help the needy,
b support the weak, TO hold up the
seb!e hand, to speak a kind and en-
ouraging word to the dependent, to
3 fellow helpers to the truth and to
bear one another's burdens and so
Ilhl the law OF Christ" We are here
Aught TO reclaim the wandering, to
eproVe immortality, to encourage
FUtherly love, TO keep down strife and
luulE, to evade law cults. to abhor
runkenness and profanity, to en-
Purage Cnristisn living and to try 70
lVe souls from eternal death. Can
find a school Of any name or place
has is more noble in its disposition,
pore helpful iu it's work, or more
Farita Ole in it's principles. Is it not
great auxiliary to the church and q
hgenJ helper to the cause Of Christi
Toe alliance is also a rapid educator
agriculture. Here the subj ct ia
fcussed lE iss various phases. Some
re farm papers, and some do not;
ne take hem from the North; others
pm the South or West. Some have
kind Of s)il, others have different;
ne use n thing for improving the
ID while others take a different
Prse. Some SOW clover, others peas;
De turn the peas under, others cut
of Some turn their ground
i, others late, etc., etc. But here
UtlnS our diff trent experiences tC-
ntr Int-rcAsnge our views and util,
cur ku0 =IedRe to the good OF each
G. No~ how long would it take
man to try all these differ Mt thiDgs
ways, while here in a short time
esn become expert farmers. Not
80, those who are not able to pay
farm paper can here get q foun-
OF knowledge without even read
Surely the Alliance is the poor
fer's friend, the rich farmers
Pr add An improver of our country
hh the proDer attention to, and at
auPa ar this uohool tho 0oopook o1d