Goldsboro weekly argus. [volume] (Goldsboro, N.C.) 1885-1909, 1899-11-02
ADDRESS
of Sp cial Committee to Alliance
men and Farmers of North
Carolina.

men and Farmers OF North
Carolina.
To the Farmers and Former Mem
bers of the Farmers Alliance il
North Carolina:
Feeling that the time has come fol
a general revival and reorganization
of the Alliance in this State, the un
dersigned were, at the recent session
! of the North Carolina State Alliance
| appointed committee to draft al
address to the farmers of the State
| This is an epoch of organization
and co operation. The class that re
mains unorganized is at the mercy
of those united in organization
Eleven years ago the farmers o1
North Carolina, realizing this fact
joined hands in an effort to promote
their interests mentally, morally;
socially and financially" When the
iute bagging trust attempted to op
o. ess 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 now existing as we
did with the jute bagging trust il
we had the same united cooperation
of the farmers of the country.
The social condition of the farm
ers and the period of neighborly
good feeling for and associatian with
each other which then existed has
never peen equalled in the history OF
the State. Families that had lived
| near each other for years became
t1C 70 hi of
neighbors were found on acquaint-
worth learned and appreciated. The
people, by associat1ng together and
exchanging of ideas, were benefited
in their business in all departments.
By CO operation the 100 per cent
for few months credit was destroy
ed, and needed supplies bought at
reasonable prices for cash or good
security.
The different state of feeling now
existing among the farmers was oc-
casioned to some extent by the diff
ference of opinion on political ques-
tions. The merchants. bankers,
ra1lroaders, mill men, lawyers, etc.
have organizations to promote the
interests of their respective lines of
business. When their assemblies
convene no one is made to feel un-
comfortable on account of differ
ence of political views, but their
consideration is directed to the ad
vancement of the business in which
they have common interest. Why
should it not be so with the farmers?
Is there any thing beneficial gained
by rejecting the example given US
by the wild horses on the Western
plains, which, when attacked, turn
their heads together and use their
heels upon their enemies, and in i'm
itating the conduct of an animal that
has neither pride of ancestry nor
hope of posterity" turning ears full
length to our enemies and using our
heels upon each other? The evil of
this course is now bearing fruit and
the Alliance has determined that the
pledge that a member s religious and
political views 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
editor of the paper that it shall be
an independent, unmuzzled farmers
and Alliance journal, and while it
will unhesitatingly commend the
right and fearlessly condemn the
wrong, it shall be done as to the
matter in question per Sc, without
reference to the political party ad-
vocating it.
And financially the Alliance is in
healthy state. Although some mis-
takes have been made, our Execu-
tive Committee and Business Agency
have Strengthened out our business,
and we now have over $4,000 in
North Carolina 4 per cent. bonds
and cash, besides our property at
Headquarters near Hillsboro. The
Alliance also owns the shoe factory
the building in which it is located,
all unencumbered. This property,
security and machinery, is for the
benefit of all new as well as old mem
bers.
Evidences that the farmers are
awakening to the benefits that such
an organization as the Alliance
should be, and would be to them.
come to us from many sections of
the State We anticipate consider
able revival IN the near future There
were other causes than political ran
cor 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 an Allianceman was gener-
ally evidence that he was trust
worthy person, but as the greed for
membership grew nearly every one
who applied was admitted, and many
bad members were received. The
conduct of some of these in business
matters caused many good Alliance
tmen to quit the Order for their own
personal protect1on.
In reorganization there should be
vigilance as to the reception of mem
bers. The Committee on Examina-
tion should examine carefully, and
the Alliance protected from the en-
trance of unworthy members, who
would be of no benefit, and whose
membership would prevent desirable
persons from joining.
The N.O.F. S.Alliance has for the
present severed it's connection with
the National Order, and is governed
only by it's own Constitution and
regulations. Should it ever become
desirable to resume connection with
| the National Alliance it can be done
In some sections of the State
there is contention for new far :
mers' organization. Under the
liberal charter granted US by the
| State. the Alliance can be made to