The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1899-10-10
WHAT FARMERS ORCANIZ -
TONS HAVE ACCOMPLISHED
IN NORTH CAROLINA.

IN NORTH CAROLINA.
Permanent Good Brought about by the
Temporary Organizations That spraug
Up q Decade Ago What Might be
Accomplished With q Permanent Pow
erfuI Union7
correspondence Of the Progressive Farmer.
It is said that 1.-THE farmers Rave
spasms" and the Grange was one Of
their temporary spasms, the Farmers
Clubs another, and the Farmers Ali
anc9 another. We are informed that
"'these spaems are quite acute at times,
but never kill; they are Of temporary
duration, and the patient soon comes
to his senses aud it is all over" There
may be a tinge Of truth in this state
ment viewed from one side of the qles
ton. But the life of farmers orgauiza
tions proves that if they are spasmodic
they accomplish good. And that good
is not always merely temporary. II
spasmodic CO operation OF a small per
cent. Of our farmers can accomplish
what has been accomplished, what
good perpetual could and would be the
result of a thorough compact orgaai-
zation of all our farm population and q
wise dire csion of their poWers9 Who
can tells
Letus consider the good acc mplished
by the Farmers Clubs, the Grange,
and the Alliance. First let US take
- ~ .~- -rr- ~
COLLEGE,
The Grange ''spasm" was scarcely
cured-the epidemic had not disar-
peared in some sections of the State,
before another spssm appeared in
others. This time violent i!s took hold
of a large number of u people, but
not more than Fl re per cent. took these
fits. They united this time into farm
ers' clubs. Upwards of five hundred
township clubs organized. They ''im.
agined" they had a grievance.
This time the Department OF Agri-
culture had been diverted from the
objects for which it was established
into q kind Of a partisan political ex
change and was run too much for the
politician and too little for the farmer.
And, too, the farmers boys were not
provided with educ tional facilities
adj qIate to the demands Of the times
and the necessities of the case, and
they wanted a college for the prepara-
ton and thorough trair ing of their
sons in the principles and science OF
agriculture.
They decided after mature deliberA
ton that they would demand a re o.
g~aniz9tion OF the Department Of Agri
culture and the establishment Of al
agricultural college.
It was decided to call a convention.
One chosen man from each Of over five
hundred Of these clubs YES delegated
to speak for the club. When this call
was announced a counter call of the op
ponents was made and their c0nven
tion was hurriedly called to meet 6
week ahead Of that OF the farmers
clubs. A special programme wasfxed,
the hall Of tbs H1us3 was secured for
their meeting, the programme was q
ried out. the Board of Agriculture
wbitowashed, and the e0se with which
it YEA done LETT them jubilant,
The farmers came next week no 20
tice Of them was taken of them by the
Solons at first. They had to hire q hall
to meet in. They organized vi 500
strong. A finer, more intelligent, de
termined set Of ''cranks' never as
sembled. They discussed their meas
ures, appointed a committee to drafc
bills and ley them before the Solons,
with the demand emphatic that they
do pass. The presence of this conven
tion soon became known to the 8olons;
they dropped in one at q time TO zee the
fun Until nearly all saw. Yes, they
came, they saw, they were orq1ered.'
And Vhen these bills were presented,
Notwithstanding the blustar and brass
of the opposition among the law max.
ers and from the Department of Agr.
culture, the administration and the
rings, il took but a short time for the
mRu