The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1902-02-04


year ago in Georgia, is gradually
spTeading out over the entire cotton
belt territory The wide and constant
agitatlon Of the objects and purposes of
the Cotton Growers Protective Associa-
ton, through the columns Of the press
and addresses delivered at different
time before agricultural gatherings have
put the farmers to thinking, and they
are today beginning 10 realize that the
only hope for their future salvation de-
pend upon some system of cooperating
togeth ther in the sale of their farm pro-
duct,
Eyerv farmer will readily admit with
out argument that cooperation is not
only essential to success, but is abSo-
mtely imperative, if agriculture is again
to occupy a high position along the de
sirabIe lines of prosperity The great dlf-
fculty in the way is to perfect any sort
of organization which viii first secure
the enthusiastic endorsement Of the rank
and file Of our people and then hold
then together long enough to realize
good results. Indifference on the part of
the average farmer TO attend to his own
blsiness interests in the markets are the
two chief causes of failure TO bring the
AGRICULTURAL classes close together.
Farmers have, ii seems, only desired
to do he work necessary TO produce and
put mo 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-
gitimate demand OF consumers and regu-
latin the market price of those pro-
due. based upon their true value were
Cd far haN NV hal
aetions appeared to be utterly indiffer-
en- ct 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
keNer legitimate profit the producer is
entitled to when the products are sold.
Put as already stated. the constant agi-
cation of these defects in our system of
handling the products of our farms on
tn market has put the farmers to think
ine and they are now beginning to act.
For two Years we have been gradually
getting together for the purpose of de-
nnanding better prices for our raw cot
to-; ana thousands Of farmers in the
Short staple belt have already been
mad converts and are preaching the
adoCJrjne of cooperation. Recently the
lon2 staple growers have determined 70
NM their forces and by organization
ar concert of action refuse to any
longcr quietly submit to the dictation of
two or three buyers who have hereto
for controlled the long staple cotton
market Of the South and fixed prices at
thoir own figures.
MEETING AT ALACHUA.
2 On January 18TH the meeting of the
To- staple growers OF East Florida was
De- mt Alachua, in that State, as had
De- previously stated in this paper I
had been invited and was present at the
convention 10 assist in perfecting a State
association of the Long Staple Cotton
u Growers Of Florida. The recent success
t. members of local club at
"a lachua had in pooling 1900 bales of cot
t., and by cooperation, forcing the
Irlce OF their staple from 16 cents per
8lound TO u cents before they would sell
"a hereby netting about $4,000 in so days
~ a. sufficient to convince the producers
in that section that permanent organi
~ ation was needful.
z# Several hundred delegates from
- Alachua county and surrounding counties
sN"rc present in the little city of
- iachua on the day fixed for the con-
- ontion. The large auditorium in the
81 andsOEle new brick school building was
crowded, and quite number could not
g IN. 4 large number OF the farmers
W YES and daughters expressed their in
terest in The movement by their presence
dunn the morninG exercises of the con-
Nention and later by taking active charge
o. 1he dinner which was so abundantly
an delightfully."- served during the dinner
hour
After full presentation and general
f1ScussIon of the object and purposes OF
ne Southern Cotton Growers Protective
- aociation, it was unanimously decided
#' at once perfect a State association Of
- long staple cotton growers Of
- lor.da, and q business committee was
alpolnted to at once prepare a constitu-
To-. bylaws, and other details neces
-. ami present back to the convention
II ratification. This committee met in
f@ecUtITe session Immediately after din
-. and after some discussion adopted
81 "t Same constitution and bylaws al
"a 1ty in force in all the other States
~ A''h mad organized under the rules and
81 -otajions Of the Interstate Associa-
~ I14. The following officers were elect
-" al The head OF the Florida State as
soclation:
j- h. Dell president, Gainesville, Fla.
. James Chestnut, vice president, Ala
sschua.
j. q kellum, secretary and treasurer.
AIachua.
s8 me election of the executive commit
winch shall consist of three mem
,eFs from each long staple county in the
= 'aie' was postponed until the next
l'etlhs, which was called to meet at
- iachoa on the second "Wednesday in
February.
III All The details of organization We're
sN' ''feluily worked out and the movement
"a III De pushed On business basis The
z# #lfesidtnt was authorized to proceed al
#Mohce 10 the organization of sub branches