Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1902-01-13
COOPERATION OF FARMERS.

W UT EnN itON VI NtfWGtS'
II has been insisted upon 10y many that
the farmers II the south. particularly
those engaged in the production 81 cotton.
viii never organize or cooperate 10 any
great extent I'm the handling OF their
products On the markets OF the country
While this has been largely true OF the
mast nearly. II not quite all. organizations
among the farmers having failed 10 ac-
complish the objects desired. IL = also
true that there were good reasons pre-
seuted why many Of these organizations
died and ought 10 have failed. Originally.
many OF those organizations which hang
upon our memories had splendid objects
IN view. and the rank and file OF their
membership were composed OF men who
were earnest in the work they had I'M
dertaken 20 perform
But the politician was allowed TO come
into the organizations. and engineer the
voting machinery thereof 70 advance his
own political and selfish ends
Men may well agree upon a business
proposition and cooperate together with
cut fear ~ dissolution. but experience
has fully demcnstrated that men will DIFF
fer and differ materially. upon men and
issues in the field Of politics.
Hence. the impossibiIity- Of politician
holding any Organizs ton together eN-
cept An organization specially held
10 meet the views and political issues held
BY himself. A body OF men organized TO
carry out certain business ideas beneficial
10 each and every individual in the COM
muuity or state may yet have very dis
tinct and contrary ideas upon matters
political Therefore. the organizations Of
the future among southern farmers must
be freed from the faint OF political COM
petition with this knowledge of the
prime cause Of all the troubles had with
our organizations in the past. born OF ex-
perience which has not only been costly 20
the individual but 10 the country at
large. IL Is quite evident that the farmers
viii quickly place their seal OF condsmna-
ton on the efforts Of the politician 10
again invade their business affairs That
there Is need for cooperation. based upon
a business system which win be effective.
no man now engaged I'm southern agri-
culture will deny. The utter helplessness
81 the individual farmer in selling his
products. or buying the uecessaries Of
life. against the combined cooperative in
which he deals. Is too apparent for srgu-
ment-
Cotton Growers Organizing.
For the past two years much hard work
and wide agitation have been given 10 the
organization OF the Southern Cotton
Growers Protective association through
out those OF the southern states where
cotton is the principle product on the
farms In the fall Of 1850 the farmers or
large numbers Of them. by standing well
together and refusing 20 part with their
staple AZ the usual prices offered b. the
buyers. succeeded in steadily advancing
prices until the crop sold finally for the
largest sum ever realized since the pro-
duction of cotton began ia this country
The people paid their obligations I'm full
and the south generally entered upon an
era OF unusual prosperity. Unfortunately,
however. some people in every community
held too long and sold finally at lower
prices than they could have gotten at
one time. Prices began TO break when the
Texas farmers who were not at that
time organized undertook 10 unload an
enormous crop on the market i'm short
time BUYERS who could not break the
market east OF the Mississippi river went
at once 10 New Orleans. Galveston and
Houston TO purchase cotton for export,
and the Mississippi growers falling
20 stand ny us. prices could no longer be
maintained. As some who held through
high prices and sold at lower figure in
the spring were naturally disappointed.
the doctrine OF selling rapidly at the open
ing OF each season Was once more preach
I'd and backed up by the buyers. This pol
icy was largely pursued al the opening
Of the past season and the bulk Of the
crop was marketed quickly. forcing down
prices 20 = low level. even I'm the face OF
facts which indicated a much shorter crOD
for 1871. than the one Of 1850 which sold
for ~ cents per pound.
The crop Of 1871 which is estimated a
million bales nearly short OF the 1900 crop
was quite an expensive crop 20 cultivate
and harvest. When il sold therefore for
cents. IL netted the farmer no profit.
simply paying the cost Of production and
leaving the producers generally IN bad
financial condition Now provisions Of all
kinds. mules and guano are unprecedent-
edIy high I'm price. the cat crop injured
hy the late freeze and but little home
made corn and meat I'm the eric the pros
pect does not look bright for the cotton
growers this year unless they can be in
duced TO come together on business basis
and determine 20 advance the price OF
their STAPLE next fan To its true value
7-he short staple growers while covering
50 wide an extent Of territory. can never
theless organize themselves into a pow
erful association IL they viii only deter
mine TO come together in each community
- business men To carry out the object
they have In view.
State Organization Perfected.
state associations have been organized
81 the following states since the summer Of
1900. namely. North and South Carolina.
Georgia Alabama and Texas. ] will go
TO Florida ON the 18th OF this month TO
organize that state. and expect TO meet
the farmers Of southern Alabama for the
same purpose early IN February In 1901
there vas not sufficiently active steps
taken bv the heads 81 the different state
associations TO secure local sub-organiza-
Iions O. the counties. except In Texas.
where good work has already been accom-
plished. Every effort viii be- made this
year 70 infuse new life and activity into
the movement 10 the end that branch
- the organization may. II possible he
perfected iu every cotton growing county
~ the south
Reduced To- its last analysis. there are
hut three leading objects the association
has IN View first. that each individual
cotton grower viii earnestly strive 10
make his business seif-sustaining raise
his bread and meat at home. 50 that ne
viii not be- forced 10 sell his cotton 10
meet obligations made TO make the crop:
second. 10 furnish an infOrms ton bureau
through which the true condition 81 the
crop may DC gathered and f.s value and