The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1900-09-13
men we should spurn the thought.
Wa can maSlsr tho situation VA

men we should spurn the thought.
We can master the situation. We
can cross the "Alps." 1t is not i'm
possible. Nothing that is possible is
impossible to determined men. We
do not lack the strength, but the will;
for we are as strong as we are deter
mined. The impossible belongs to
the weak and vacillating.
By organization. such as the To-
bacco Growers Association is working
for. the tobacco growers can maintain
their position, their respect, their
manhood. Without it. in few years
with present tendencies. they will
have lost much that our forefathers
held neutrality-suspicious.. The pic
ture is not bright to be sure. but it
would be folly for us to spread a veil
over its hideousness. thereby hiding
the truth and deceiving ourselves.
The Association asks the support OF
tobacco growers of the bright tobacco
belt. 1t wants your support. Can it
have it? The strongest appeal that l
could possibly make to you would
pale beside the appeal that comes to
you from your own home. from those
who are dependent on you for the
comforts and advantages that an in
dustrious life in civilized country
entities them to. Neither would it
strike you with the force your disap-
pointed hopes do, when on the ware
house floor your tobacco is knocked
off to the only bidder for that grade
of tobacco at price that barely
covers the cost of cultivation, and
often fails to do that well. You are
asked to give your influence to the
Association and help restore the to-
bacco growers to the same prosper
Gus condition that they occupied ten
years ago when they were reckoned
among the most fortunate farmers in
the State. Will not this appeal from
the farmers, for the restoration of the
prosperity that marked the tobacco
grower, find responsive chord in
your heart? TO say that nothing can
be accomplished is TO surrender with
out effort, an unconditional surren-
der.
The plan" is to organize every
township and county in the bright
tobacco district, and to get every to-
bacco grower in the territory an
active, enthusiastic member. In ter
ritory that has been partially organ
lied, we ask that thorough organiza-
tion be pushed to completion. In
counties where there has been no or
ganiZation, We ask that the tobacco
growers call convention and or
ganize under the plan adopted by the
State Association. Put organizers in
the field and cease not until every
township is thoroughly organized.
Is the task stupendous? Not AS large
as some may think, for there will be
willing helpers to encourage tho or
ganizers. But there must be leaders
in this, as in all successful move
ments. Now is the time to do effec
tive work. AS soon as an Organiza-
tion is effected. notify the State sec
retary, giving names and post-ofiice
addresses of the president and sccre-
tarv. 1t has been said that tobacco
can 60 lower, which is true and may
be verified unless the growers say:
1t shall not 20 lower. In their deter
mination lies the secret of their sue
cess. The reports coming into this
Office show that there has been a
decrease in the acreage of tobacco
planted this year OF not less than 25
per cent, possibly more. That should
mean better prices for the crop. Will
you help to make it bring the in
creased price that a short crop should
bring? Organize, cooperate. Sue
cess depends on these coupled with
determination.
T.. Is. PARKER,
Secretary North Carolina Tobacco
| Growers Association.