The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1902-02-02

/ are today beginning to realize that the
/, only hope for their future salvation de-
ponds upon some system of cooperating
together in the sale of their farm pro-
ducts.
| Every farmer will readily admit with
out argument that cooperation is not
only essential to success. but is abso-
lutely imperative. if agriculture is again
| to occupy high position along the de-
| sirable lines of prosperity. The great dill
| ficulty in the way is to perfect any sort
of organization which will first secure
the enthusiastic endorsement of the rank
and file of our people and then hold
| them together long enough TO realize
good results. Indifference on the part of
/ the average farmer to attend to his own
business interests in the markets are the
| two chief causes of failure to bring the
| agricultural classes close together.
| Farmers have, it seems, only desired
to do the work necessary to produce and
put into marketable condition their va
| rious products needed for consumption
| by the world So far as perfecting any
system by which the supply of their
products could be made to meet the le-
climate demand of consumers and regu-
ducts based upon their true value were
concerned. the farmers have by their
actions appeared to be utterly indiffer-
| en-. Yet the continued neglect of these
last important essentials has had more
to do with failures on the farm than
all other things combined. We made the
products, and we ought to have what
ever legitimate profit the producer is
IN no
But, as already stated, the constant agi-
tation Of these defects in our system of
handling the products of our farms on
the market has put the farmers to think
ing, and they are now beginning to act
For two years we have been gradually
getting together for the purpose of de-
man6ing better prices for our raw cot
ton: and thousands of farmers in the
short staple belt have already been
made converts and are prea ching the
doctrine of cooperation Recently the
long staple growers have determined to
unite their forces and by organization
and concert of action refuse to any
longer quietly submit to the dictation of
two or three buyers who have hereto
fore controlled the long staple cotton
market of the South and fixed prices at
their own figures.
MEETING AT ALACHUA.
On January 18th. the meeting of the
long staple growers of East Florida was
held ut Alachua. in that State, as had
been previously stated in this paper. I
had been invited and was present at the
convention to assist in perfecting a State
association of the Long Staple Cotton
| Of no
the members of a local club at
Alachua had in pooling 1000 bales of cot
ton. and by cooperation, forcing the
price Of their staple from Is cents per
pound to q cents before they would sell,
thereby netting about $4,000 in 50 days
was sufficient to convince the producers
cation was needful.
Several hundred delegates from
Alachua county and surrounding c euntiess
We're present in the little city OF
Aachua on the day fixed for the con-
vention. The large auditorium in the
handsome new brick school building was
crowded and quite number could not
get in. large number of the farmers
wives and daughters expressed their in
terest in the movement by their presence
vention and later by taking active charge
of the dinner which was SO abundantly
and delightfully."- served during the dinner
hour.
After a full presentation and general
discussion of the object and purposes of
the Southern Cotton Growers Protective
Association. it was unanimously decided
to at once perfect a State association of
81, Of
Florida, and business committee was
appointed to at once prepare a constitu
ton. bylaws, and other details neces-
sary, and present back to the convention
for ratification. This committee met in
executive session Immediately after dim
ner and after some discussion adopted
the same constitution and bylaws al
ready in force in all the other States
which had organized under the rules and
regulations of the Interstate Associa-
ton. The following officers were elect
ed at the head of the Florida State as
ISOLATION:
j. b. Dell. president, Gainesville, Fla.
James Chestnut. vice president, Ala
chua.
j. Kellum, secretary and treasurer
Alachua
The election OF the executive commit
tee which shall consist of three mem
bers from each long staple county in the
State, was postponed until the next
meeting, which was called to meet at
Alachua on the second Wednesday in
February.
All the details of organization were
carefully worked out and the movement
will be pushed on business basis. The
president was authorized to proceed at
once to the organization of sub branches
of the State association in every long
staple county in Florida. and it is con-
fidently predicted that by next season
the long staple growers in that State
will be sufficiently united and posted
on the value of their staple to make the
buyers pay better prices than heretofore.
WAREHOUSE FACILITIES.
The plan of establishing cooperative
warehouses was fully discussed also at
the meeting, and the farmers at Alachua
have determined to construct ware
house in which to store and hold their
cotton, instead of rushing it into the
market as heretofore.
Each county will doubtless adopt the
4 -. ILL